Adam Hardy
Encyclopedia
Adam Hardy is an architectural historian
at the Welsh School of Architecture
. He is Director of PRASADA : The British Association for South Asian Studies
His research is largely in the history of architecture
in South Asia
, particularly Indian temple
architecture
(Buddhist, Hindu
, Jain). Going against a prevailing tendency to focus narrowly, his work has embraced most of the subcontinent
, and a very long time span, while at the same time involving detailed formal analysis. He has tried to bring to light a meaningful way of looking at what at first sight seem bewilderingly complex structures. The work has revealed striking structural homologies between architecture
and other branches of culture, and shown how, within a number of regional traditions, forms evolve in a characteristic way, notwithstanding conspicuous artistic inventiveness. Drawings have played an important role in his research, not only for explanation but also as a means of analysis.
Architectural historian
A architectural historian is a person who studies and writes about the history of architecture, and is regarded as an authority on it Similar profession are known widely such as Historian, Art historian and Archaeologist. Architectural historians survey areas that are often threatened by extinction...
at the Welsh School of Architecture
Welsh School of Architecture
The Welsh School of Architecture is an academic school of Cardiff University. It is located in the Bute Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cathays Park, Cardiff, Wales....
. He is Director of PRASADA : The British Association for South Asian Studies
His research is largely in the history of architecture
History of architecture
The history of architecture traces the changes in architecture through various traditions, regions, overarching stylistic trends, and dates.-Neolithic architecture:Neolithic architecture is the architecture of the Neolithic period...
in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, particularly Indian temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
(Buddhist, Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
, Jain). Going against a prevailing tendency to focus narrowly, his work has embraced most of the subcontinent
Subcontinent
A subcontinent is a large, relatively self-contained landmass forming a subdivision of a continent. By dictionary entries, the term subcontinent signifies "having a certain geographical or political independence" from the rest of the continent, or "a vast and more or less self-contained subdivision...
, and a very long time span, while at the same time involving detailed formal analysis. He has tried to bring to light a meaningful way of looking at what at first sight seem bewilderingly complex structures. The work has revealed striking structural homologies between architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
and other branches of culture, and shown how, within a number of regional traditions, forms evolve in a characteristic way, notwithstanding conspicuous artistic inventiveness. Drawings have played an important role in his research, not only for explanation but also as a means of analysis.
Roles
- Director, PRASADA
- Chair, Architectural History and Theory Group, Welsh School of ArchitectureWelsh School of ArchitectureThe Welsh School of Architecture is an academic school of Cardiff University. It is located in the Bute Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cathays Park, Cardiff, Wales....
- Principal Investigator, The Indian Temple: Production, Place, Patronage (AHRC project)
- Editor of South Asian Studies
- Editorial Board member for Context, Abacus, Pakistan Heritage
- Advisory Editor to OUP Online Bibliographies, Hinduism module
- Council member, British Association for South Asian Studies
- Executive Committee member, European Association of South Asian Art and Archaeology
- Member of AHRC Peer Review Academy
Books
- The Medieval and its Monuments in India and Europe (ed.), e-book
- The Temple Architecture of India (Chichester: Wiley, 2007)
- The Temple in South Asia (ed.)(London: British Academy, 2007)
- Architectural History and the Studio, edited with Necdet Teymur (London: ?tion Press, 1997)
- Indian Temple Architecture: Form and Transformation, Foreword by Kapila Vatsyayan (New Delhi: Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, 1995)
See also
- Architectural historianArchitectural historianA architectural historian is a person who studies and writes about the history of architecture, and is regarded as an authority on it Similar profession are known widely such as Historian, Art historian and Archaeologist. Architectural historians survey areas that are often threatened by extinction...
- History of architectureHistory of architectureThe history of architecture traces the changes in architecture through various traditions, regions, overarching stylistic trends, and dates.-Neolithic architecture:Neolithic architecture is the architecture of the Neolithic period...
- List of architectural historians