The Hermit "The Hermit"
The stupid ideology of 'yes is more'.
The late 20th century saw an increasing fear by numerous politicians and political organizations of diversity, and especially respect for nature.
Respect itself was feared more than anything else - especially respect for the people.
It was believed by those politicians who had the least of respect - that no one but mostly their special interest connections should respect them - and this would hold particularly true for various corrupt economic and architectural factions.
These 'soulless architects' would suffer a terrible and dreadful fate which serves as a reminder to our children of what will happen if they do stupid things and play with Nature and behave carelessly.
They would become cursed to wander across the Earth, unable to use their money to assist anyone but themselves.
And they would only be able to operate in countries whose people depend upon dept, and whose central banks are centralized rather than decentralized.
They would attack sacred sites in envy which they would focus toward those who lived there, and call their attacks 'construction'.
They would then claim critics of those attacks - realists and people who knew common sense and mystics 'people who oppose construction'.
When the future lies in the creation of architecture which blends into and does not fly into the face of the environment with the aim to literally eat it and every other house which is in alignment with that environment.
And it was this particular race of beings, although dying who had chosen to separate themselves from the rest of humanity, and who are only now beginning to suffer the consequences of having done so.
They look like humans, but don't feel like people do and are thus unable to put themselves into other peoples'shoes - and therefore unable to relive their feelings.
Because of this, anything they do is devoid of feeling, and they like any obsolete and useless ideology, because basically they're in a way 'invalids'( ideologically).
Perhaps there will be a time in the near future when more people have enough of these stupid people, and rise up in more numbers than those who are already rising up, demanding that nature be respected, and honoured and not abused.
Because the right to exist in nature itself is a civil right and if you haven't earned yourself that right, chances are that very soon you will be losing it.
People live in different times now than they used to - and it is no wonder that criticism like this is rare.
But in light of the fact that there are people out there who are seriously against the right of nature to exist in her own right - it is understandable that they are now backwards in comparision with this civilization, and are continuously unable to face that - so they'd naturally separate themselves from humanity and the rest of the human condition due to the enormous amounts of money they were handed into their hands which they then used to rape and attack anyone else's environment which they felt they could claim their dirty hands on, with their stupid ideology.
It is understandable that no one listens to them anymore.
This book is a joke.
I saw this book today, and I laughed my arse off how stupid people can be in their thinking that architecture which just doesn't work actually does.
It's like the age old stupid trick of trying to 'prove'to as many people as possible that 2 plus 2 equals five and not four.
What is even funnier and sadder at the same time is how each of these ideologically infertile architects ignored the advise of ideologically fertile architects, and competed with each other over who was more stupid - not who would help people to sustain themselves and redesign old houses which had been swept away from their natural habitats by useless construction projects aimed to create as much needless suffering for them as possible - but who would do all they could to be useless while claiming that they were actually being useful.
The idea is to remove a particular spot somewhere in nature - where people come together, fill it with a black space, and fill that black space with spy cameras, and then just laugh them in their face off.
This ideology doesn't work anymore - and that is the point
It doesn't, because it's stupid, because it costs too much money, because nobody benefits from it, and because those behind it are invalids - in my terms of 'invalid'it'd mean in this case those who are of simply no use to anyone anywhere because they do something that's so stupid everyone can see how stupid it is but most people will think someone else will protest and so the rest of the people in that particular area won't protest much.
But today that has changed - with increased understanding concerning the relevance of nature comes increased opposition towards useless eaters - including useless eaters of vast natural reservoirs which could be used to feed large populations and keep civilizations sustainable.
And that is why their civilization is now dying, and the present civilization continues to thrive while it laughs them their arses off.
Sometimes yes doesn't have to mean more.
Sometimes yes may have been expressed at the wrong moment and the wrong occasion in the wrong circumstances.
If you're going to build a house somewhere, ask Spirit first - do you have permission to build it there, or not?
If not, enjoy the place anyway if you can.
The late 20th century saw an increasing fear by numerous politicians and political organizations of diversity, and especially respect for nature.
Respect itself was feared more than anything else - especially respect for the people.
It was believed by those politicians who had the least of respect - that no one but mostly their special interest connections should respect them - and this would hold particularly true for various corrupt economic and architectural factions.
These 'soulless architects' would suffer a terrible and dreadful fate which serves as a reminder to our children of what will happen if they do stupid things and play with Nature and behave carelessly.
They would become cursed to wander across the Earth, unable to use their money to assist anyone but themselves.
And they would only be able to operate in countries whose people depend upon dept, and whose central banks are centralized rather than decentralized.
They would attack sacred sites in envy which they would focus toward those who lived there, and call their attacks 'construction'.
They would then claim critics of those attacks - realists and people who knew common sense and mystics 'people who oppose construction'.
When the future lies in the creation of architecture which blends into and does not fly into the face of the environment with the aim to literally eat it and every other house which is in alignment with that environment.
And it was this particular race of beings, although dying who had chosen to separate themselves from the rest of humanity, and who are only now beginning to suffer the consequences of having done so.
They look like humans, but don't feel like people do and are thus unable to put themselves into other peoples'shoes - and therefore unable to relive their feelings.
Because of this, anything they do is devoid of feeling, and they like any obsolete and useless ideology, because basically they're in a way 'invalids'( ideologically).
Perhaps there will be a time in the near future when more people have enough of these stupid people, and rise up in more numbers than those who are already rising up, demanding that nature be respected, and honoured and not abused.
Because the right to exist in nature itself is a civil right and if you haven't earned yourself that right, chances are that very soon you will be losing it.
People live in different times now than they used to - and it is no wonder that criticism like this is rare.
But in light of the fact that there are people out there who are seriously against the right of nature to exist in her own right - it is understandable that they are now backwards in comparision with this civilization, and are continuously unable to face that - so they'd naturally separate themselves from humanity and the rest of the human condition due to the enormous amounts of money they were handed into their hands which they then used to rape and attack anyone else's environment which they felt they could claim their dirty hands on, with their stupid ideology.
It is understandable that no one listens to them anymore.
This book is a joke.
I saw this book today, and I laughed my arse off how stupid people can be in their thinking that architecture which just doesn't work actually does.
It's like the age old stupid trick of trying to 'prove'to as many people as possible that 2 plus 2 equals five and not four.
What is even funnier and sadder at the same time is how each of these ideologically infertile architects ignored the advise of ideologically fertile architects, and competed with each other over who was more stupid - not who would help people to sustain themselves and redesign old houses which had been swept away from their natural habitats by useless construction projects aimed to create as much needless suffering for them as possible - but who would do all they could to be useless while claiming that they were actually being useful.
The idea is to remove a particular spot somewhere in nature - where people come together, fill it with a black space, and fill that black space with spy cameras, and then just laugh them in their face off.
This ideology doesn't work anymore - and that is the point
It doesn't, because it's stupid, because it costs too much money, because nobody benefits from it, and because those behind it are invalids - in my terms of 'invalid'it'd mean in this case those who are of simply no use to anyone anywhere because they do something that's so stupid everyone can see how stupid it is but most people will think someone else will protest and so the rest of the people in that particular area won't protest much.
But today that has changed - with increased understanding concerning the relevance of nature comes increased opposition towards useless eaters - including useless eaters of vast natural reservoirs which could be used to feed large populations and keep civilizations sustainable.
And that is why their civilization is now dying, and the present civilization continues to thrive while it laughs them their arses off.
Sometimes yes doesn't have to mean more.
Sometimes yes may have been expressed at the wrong moment and the wrong occasion in the wrong circumstances.
If you're going to build a house somewhere, ask Spirit first - do you have permission to build it there, or not?
If not, enjoy the place anyway if you can.
rusogirauden
my book has not came yet.my book has not came yet.my book has not came yet.my book has not came yet.
Paola Medina
I have problems with my item, it still in miami stand by because you doesnt write the NUMBER PTY.. CAN YOU NOTIFY MY NUMBER PTY IS 13,522. PLEASEEE IM WAITING TOO MUCH.
Progressive Habitats Foundation
I received a copy of this book as a christmas gift. As an architect, I tell you the guy who gave it to me scored some major brownie points from me that holiday.
Rem Koolhaas defies tradition both in his architecture and his literature. He is foremost a journalist before fully shifting gears to architecture. In this book, he engages the reader by making you realize that while an immediate impression of intimidation engulfs you at first glance of its sheer density, once you start flipping the pages, you realize that you don't have to follow any order in reading it. There are no rules or boundaries on how you read the book: you can flip, you can toss, you can flicker, and in each and every method you will find amusement with the visual eye candy the images, graphics, and text, this book gives you. Nice addition to any architecture book collection/library/coffee table.
Rem Koolhaas defies tradition both in his architecture and his literature. He is foremost a journalist before fully shifting gears to architecture. In this book, he engages the reader by making you realize that while an immediate impression of intimidation engulfs you at first glance of its sheer density, once you start flipping the pages, you realize that you don't have to follow any order in reading it. There are no rules or boundaries on how you read the book: you can flip, you can toss, you can flicker, and in each and every method you will find amusement with the visual eye candy the images, graphics, and text, this book gives you. Nice addition to any architecture book collection/library/coffee table.
Girts Runis "gigi 83"
I am grateful and happy to have in my presence one of the greatest urbanism clasic books of 20th century. Remarkable book. I learn a lot! Rem is outstanding and extraordinary.
Joshua Anderson
Well, to some this is the of architecture (i find that simply hilarious - must be a second-year student) and to others a complete piece of rubbish. I saw one review call it Corbusian, but did not mean that as a complement. While Corbu did have a flair for the grandiose, he's was much more intelligent and thoughtful than Rem.
I have to say I find this book rather dull. The opening piece from AA was like a more boring version of anything done by Superstudio - though it was nicely spruced up with poor grammar and a youthful exuberance for syllables.
Mau's offices' contribution is also somewhat typical to me. The silver cover is cliche. Any zine made by some small-time punk has more interesting imagery and provocative material. I give this a C, because at least it gets the Corbu-hater upset. That's always a nice thing.
I have to say I find this book rather dull. The opening piece from AA was like a more boring version of anything done by Superstudio - though it was nicely spruced up with poor grammar and a youthful exuberance for syllables.
Mau's offices' contribution is also somewhat typical to me. The silver cover is cliche. Any zine made by some small-time punk has more interesting imagery and provocative material. I give this a C, because at least it gets the Corbu-hater upset. That's always a nice thing.
jpcooper "jerry cooper"
A well priced and handsomely produced book. It is not, however, without a few shortcomings. If you assume, as the cover might suggest, that this book is exclusively fine art read the product description closely. The book contains a broad selection of decorative arts, fashion and photography as well. This is not a criticism just an observation. What is presented is well chosen and beautifully reproduced. The Edwardian Era is a period that has received very little focus and as a consequence Mr. Trumble's work is a valuable addition. There are a number of important artists represented and all the images are of the highest quality. As many reviewers have commented regarding these large coffee-table productions - its all about the pictures. It is in this regard I felt the book could have achieved more. There is a bit more text here than will suit the average art lover. Secondly, many of the images are too small to fully appreciate their detail. With over 400 pages to work with - I'll take mine super-sized. With those criticisms stated I still weigh in with five stars. What is here is well worth the price and draws attention to a neglected era in its relationship to the arts. Keep in mind, too, that this book is a Yale publication and that should satisfy any concerns as to production quality.
Kudos for a nicely designed jacket, by the way.
Kudos for a nicely designed jacket, by the way.
E. Dent
It is an overview of the period, of course, but such a beautiful one. And gives you enough of a taste to want to find out more.
user5
[user#M. Moore of repeated "pregnancies."
it's really well written. funny. uses, like above, a somewhat inefficient vocabulary but remains in the same vein throughout. it is also a graphic design hubris consuming every page, even the left-justified text, showing off koolhaas's interpretation of the importance to combine scholarship and marketing.
buy it. it's a very good book.
it's really well written. funny. uses, like above, a somewhat inefficient vocabulary but remains in the same vein throughout. it is also a graphic design hubris consuming every page, even the left-justified text, showing off koolhaas's interpretation of the importance to combine scholarship and marketing.
buy it. it's a very good book.
Sub-Kontinental
While has its fair share of archispeak, Mr. Koolhaas pulls off an intelligent, fun and thought-provoking take on the early 20th century building culture of New York.
One of the quirkier (and frankly, awesome/bravadoish) aspects of is Mr. Koolhaas's analysis of Coney Island: an As a reader, one initially questions the inclusion of such a trashy place in such a lofty manifesto. However, as the chapter progresses, you start to see Mr. Koolhaas's iconoclastic brilliance. He pays an amazing homage to that was Coney Island, illuminating the vital role it played in the building philosophies that would emerge later in Manhattan.
Scattered throughout also, are compelling supporting images that Mr. Koolhaas clearly spent a lot of time digging up. In fact, flipping through the book for the images alone makes for a near-equivalent, and fun, learning experience.
However, unlike his tasteful use of images, Mr. Koolhaaas's flamboyant use of scholarly English makes his writing difficult to digest at times:
image. While such a decision may be understandable, his brilliance as a writer often gets overshadowed by the sheer irritation of trying to understand him.
Ultimately, proves itself to be a very intelligent synopsis---just as delirious and congested the themes Mr. Koolhaas puts forth. For the most part, it's a pleasure to read, and it also reflects the exhaustive research on Mr. Koolhaas's end. Much like Mr. Koolhaas's buildings, is on the cusp of being as grand as it intends to be.
One of the quirkier (and frankly, awesome/bravadoish) aspects of is Mr. Koolhaas's analysis of Coney Island: an As a reader, one initially questions the inclusion of such a trashy place in such a lofty manifesto. However, as the chapter progresses, you start to see Mr. Koolhaas's iconoclastic brilliance. He pays an amazing homage to that was Coney Island, illuminating the vital role it played in the building philosophies that would emerge later in Manhattan.
Scattered throughout also, are compelling supporting images that Mr. Koolhaas clearly spent a lot of time digging up. In fact, flipping through the book for the images alone makes for a near-equivalent, and fun, learning experience.
However, unlike his tasteful use of images, Mr. Koolhaaas's flamboyant use of scholarly English makes his writing difficult to digest at times:
image. While such a decision may be understandable, his brilliance as a writer often gets overshadowed by the sheer irritation of trying to understand him.
Ultimately, proves itself to be a very intelligent synopsis---just as delirious and congested the themes Mr. Koolhaas puts forth. For the most part, it's a pleasure to read, and it also reflects the exhaustive research on Mr. Koolhaas's end. Much like Mr. Koolhaas's buildings, is on the cusp of being as grand as it intends to be.
Pierre Gauthier
The author presents in concise fashion his own version of New York City's urban development history.
One may or may not be convinced by his thesis that there is a specific New York City psyche that is reflected over time in a wide variety of constructions.
But one can only be enthralled by his intimate knowledge of the City and of projects ranging from Coney Island to the Empire State Building to the 1964 World Fair.
The surprising and at times bizarre illustrations add to the incredibly rich text. They include for instance a vintage photograph of famous architects actually costumed as their own creations: the Fuller Building, the Waldorf-Astoria, the Squibb Building, the Chrysler Building, etc.
Written over 30 years ago and thus also a reflection of the 1970's, this work is definitely a classic well worth reading today for anyone interested in New York or in cities in general.
One may or may not be convinced by his thesis that there is a specific New York City psyche that is reflected over time in a wide variety of constructions.
But one can only be enthralled by his intimate knowledge of the City and of projects ranging from Coney Island to the Empire State Building to the 1964 World Fair.
The surprising and at times bizarre illustrations add to the incredibly rich text. They include for instance a vintage photograph of famous architects actually costumed as their own creations: the Fuller Building, the Waldorf-Astoria, the Squibb Building, the Chrysler Building, etc.
Written over 30 years ago and thus also a reflection of the 1970's, this work is definitely a classic well worth reading today for anyone interested in New York or in cities in general.
Michele Ankduda "NY Architect"
I stumbled across this book after my father in law died. What a gem of a book - so well written, extensively researched and compelling. The book is a dense integration of New York City History, Politics, Architecture, Real Estate and the Rockefeller family's influence on the built environment.
Each chapter is almost a novel unto itself. The author accurately conveys the architectural rivalry and the forced cooperation of the Associated Architects led by Raymond Hood to collectively design this complex. The Rockefeller Center Project was built during the Depression, when there was no other construction, except for the Empire State Building.
So many forward looking urban design concepts were incorporated into the Master Plan of the complex. The story of how the building designs were tailored to match the major Tenant's needs is also fascinating. Also, the decision to include the work of a variety of contemporary artists keeps this complex distinctive to this day.
The information about New York City was enlightening, even though I've lived and worked as an architect in New York City for many years. The biographical sketches and in depth portraits of the hundreds of people involved in assembling, designing, building and leasing the site is amazing in its depth and breadth.
This book is a slow read because of the shear volume of information covered by this fact filled book. A great read for anyone who is fascinated by New York City and its architecture and social history - an excellent book.
Each chapter is almost a novel unto itself. The author accurately conveys the architectural rivalry and the forced cooperation of the Associated Architects led by Raymond Hood to collectively design this complex. The Rockefeller Center Project was built during the Depression, when there was no other construction, except for the Empire State Building.
So many forward looking urban design concepts were incorporated into the Master Plan of the complex. The story of how the building designs were tailored to match the major Tenant's needs is also fascinating. Also, the decision to include the work of a variety of contemporary artists keeps this complex distinctive to this day.
The information about New York City was enlightening, even though I've lived and worked as an architect in New York City for many years. The biographical sketches and in depth portraits of the hundreds of people involved in assembling, designing, building and leasing the site is amazing in its depth and breadth.
This book is a slow read because of the shear volume of information covered by this fact filled book. A great read for anyone who is fascinated by New York City and its architecture and social history - an excellent book.
Donald R. Longley "Hiapo"
It was a long read for me, just a little to much information in my opionion. Overall a good book, but wasnt as interesting as I was hopeing it would be.
user3
[user#David Schweizer we learn much about the family itself. As always, Nelson comes off as a bully, so unlike his father and siblings. The story of Radio City Music Hall is terribly interesting, especially for those interested in show biz. The biography of a building would not seem the proper lens through which to tell the history of an era, but Okrent's treatment succeeds. The Center is a success story, after all, an enlightening story, finally, about wealth leading to greatness. It doesn't happen often.
Nikos Kten�s
- the only problem is the small format of the 25th anniversary - texts are minuscule to read. Format reduction must be done within certain limits !!!
Greeper
This book is huge and heavy and hard to hold, but is the ultimate collection of photos (mostly B/W) and descriptions of Neutra and his work. It's written in 3 languages, which means that a lot of the volume of the book (2/3 of the text) is wasted space, though the book is easily 50% photos. A detailed (roughly 15% of the book) nontechinical history, light bio, and analysis is included at the beginning, which is well written for a mass audience (ie, you dont need to be an architect to understand it). There is little to criticize. If you are reading the reviews for this book, that means you are looking for a book on Neutra specifically, and you aren't going to do much better than this.
David J. Morgan
I love modernist architecture, and I have found that the stories about the most famous houses are fascinating. Modernist houses were built for an interesting cross-section of America--not just the rich. So, it was with great anticipation that I ordered this book, widely acknowledged as the definitive Neutra volume. Here's the rub: it's printed in the three languages (English, French, and German). This book would probably be 30% shorter if it was an English-only version.
The larger issue, however, is that this book suffers from a typical problem of books intended for reference: in the authors' drive to include everything, it covers almost nothing. Most houses in this book get a couple of paragraphs--maybe 4 or 5 at the most. The photography is mostly original from the period, which is great, but there's not much of it per house. Thus, it's very hard to get a feel for any particular house in this book because each one is covered so perfunctorily. You get to see front, pool, and perhaps the kitchen and a bedroom. Maybe a living room shot, too. Most are small.
I would have liked to see the authors lavish some space on at least a few interesting or significant works--perhaps 4-6 pages for these, with more/larger color photos. As it is now, it's more like a architectural photography book (ooh, interesting shot!) than a book of Neutra houses. It reads like a card catalog of Neutra houses with minor factoids doodled in the margins.
The larger issue, however, is that this book suffers from a typical problem of books intended for reference: in the authors' drive to include everything, it covers almost nothing. Most houses in this book get a couple of paragraphs--maybe 4 or 5 at the most. The photography is mostly original from the period, which is great, but there's not much of it per house. Thus, it's very hard to get a feel for any particular house in this book because each one is covered so perfunctorily. You get to see front, pool, and perhaps the kitchen and a bedroom. Maybe a living room shot, too. Most are small.
I would have liked to see the authors lavish some space on at least a few interesting or significant works--perhaps 4-6 pages for these, with more/larger color photos. As it is now, it's more like a architectural photography book (ooh, interesting shot!) than a book of Neutra houses. It reads like a card catalog of Neutra houses with minor factoids doodled in the margins.
V. Vesper "Voracious Reader"
It was so much fun guessing (based on this book) when houses near us were built - and then checking answers on the county's real estate tax website, which gives year of construction. The fun thing about this book is that it covers the different regions and the difference between "folk" houses and more expensive houses. It's not just the mansions of the wealthy.
I also enjoyed the pictorial on renovations. It showed a group of houses in one neighborhood which were all very similar when built, but which have been updated differently over the last 70 years or so.
The book is very readable and gives information on why different building styles became common in different parts of the country. Lots of good information here. The pictures are small, but still serve their purpose.
I also enjoyed the pictorial on renovations. It showed a group of houses in one neighborhood which were all very similar when built, but which have been updated differently over the last 70 years or so.
The book is very readable and gives information on why different building styles became common in different parts of the country. Lots of good information here. The pictures are small, but still serve their purpose.
wallstreet
This book is excellent ! My contractor buddies wife suggested I add this book to my stack of trade publications and am I ever glad I did. Great pricing and great condition ofthe book even though it was listed as "Used".
Joy
Very organized. Easy to read and understand. Great pictures (though a little small and black and white - they clearly were good examples though) and illustrations. Great explanations for historical backgrounds. Informative read, used it to try to gain an idea of what style home I like.
Matthew A. Tompkins
Great product for the price!!! sure the first edition collections would have been great but the cost is not affordable. this reprint is wonderful!
John
It IS a wonderful compendium of the work of all the great architects working in California.............I guess what upsets me is that Taschen has this book at a vastly lesser price than what I was forced to pay for it when it was 1st published. On one hand I AM glad that there is now a edition available to young people at a VASTLY lesser price than I paid, but, on the other hand, considering that my copy cost almost $200 it makes me think that I was as the old saying goes. Not only this book, but also the Neutra book, which I bought in Paris at about $175, and threw out underwear, shirts and socks so that I could drag it back to the US. Oh well, at 66 it does not really matter anymore. My 3-4 thousand volume library of architecture, interior design, gardens and archeology will all go to schools, and they can decide what to do with all of this....keep it or sell it...it won't really matter BUT I still feel that Taschen vastly over-priced the 1st edition.
Brooklyn Mom
I bought this as a gift for my photographer husband who loves architecture. The photos are gorgeous and there is lots to absorb. He loves it. It is a smaller edition, so the type is really, really small.
H. Richards "always with a project to do, a b...
Art students and architectural students should read this book. Fascinating story of the building of the dome in Florence. Read then go see. All art students MUST travel to Rome, Florence, .....Italy. Put it on the TO-DO list and don't put it off till you are retired. (too tired !) So take the advice and go, go , go...to Italy and stay as long as it takes to absorb the glory that is theirs.
Bri
I took an architectural history class and my teacher suggested we read this book for a more detailed look at the building of the dome at Santa Maria del Fiore.
I enjoyed the details: the sketches, the pictures, the history, the foods eaten while constructing the dome. It was refreshingly thorough while remaining a quick read.This is a fun and fascinating book. I recommend it.
I enjoyed the details: the sketches, the pictures, the history, the foods eaten while constructing the dome. It was refreshingly thorough while remaining a quick read.This is a fun and fascinating book. I recommend it.
Cee Gee
You'll love this book. It has pictures. Buy used books and do something for the environment and your brain at the same time.
Eytan Fichman
Speer was a member of Hitler's central leadership. Hitler employed Speer as an architect(ural propagandist) and as a central administrator in the 3rd Reich. It is sad to see a member of that most evil group given this adulatory treatment.
jpcooper "jerry cooper"
It was predictable that the publication of this book might generate a measure of controversy. Being a reprint, however, much of the expected furor will have likely dissipated. I think Monacelli provided a valuable service (and an exhibition of backbone) in the reprinting of this work. On several levels this book has merit and elevating Albert Speer's stature as a Nazi operative does not appear to be among them. The existence of the Third Reich is an historical reality and pretending otherwise is just delusional. Maybe ripping out the autobahn will erase its origins from our collective memories as well? It's rather curious that the same sensitivities are not evoked when the old Soviet Union is examined.
This work offers an important insight into both Speer's mind and that of his notorious client. There is no question Speer was a very talented architect and he was given the heady and challenging assignment to redesign one of Europe's greatest cities. Wether or not his plan ever had the remotest chance of realization the vision is none the less intriguing. Considering these two factors, alone, the book deserves to be in print.
Given the atrocities of the Third Reich, that the Allied powers would wish to destroy any and all vestiges of that regime is certainly understandable. From the luxury of a seventy-year interval architects and historians might view it otherwise. The Coliseum in Rome was the venue for the feeding of the Christians to the lions. The Aztec pyramids in Mexico provided the altars for hundreds of thousand of human sacrifices. And one can only imagine the treatment of those employed in the construction of the Great Pyramids of Egypt or the Great Wall of China. Should these structures have been destroyed for their association with evil? I'm not suggesting that the Reich Chancellery or any other Third Reich edifice had the same significance or merit as those notable ancient sites, but I do believe the principle is the same. There are even those who view the world's skyscrapers as symbols of capitalist exploitation and would gladly see them razed. To appreciate the historical or aesthetic merits of a given society's artifacts should not suggest an endorsement of that group's actions or philosophy. Again, it doesn't seem as though this standard is very evenly applied by the critics.
I found this book very interesting - a noteworthy example of classical government architecture and a peak into the megalomania of Adolf Hitler. The book is well produced and with Amazon's generous discounts, well priced. My only complaint, and it may not be justifiable, is that some of the photography is a bit grainy. I don't know if these old images could have been improved upon - but with a little photoshop magic - who knows? A worthwhile purchase for any college library or for the collector of architectural monographs.
This work offers an important insight into both Speer's mind and that of his notorious client. There is no question Speer was a very talented architect and he was given the heady and challenging assignment to redesign one of Europe's greatest cities. Wether or not his plan ever had the remotest chance of realization the vision is none the less intriguing. Considering these two factors, alone, the book deserves to be in print.
Given the atrocities of the Third Reich, that the Allied powers would wish to destroy any and all vestiges of that regime is certainly understandable. From the luxury of a seventy-year interval architects and historians might view it otherwise. The Coliseum in Rome was the venue for the feeding of the Christians to the lions. The Aztec pyramids in Mexico provided the altars for hundreds of thousand of human sacrifices. And one can only imagine the treatment of those employed in the construction of the Great Pyramids of Egypt or the Great Wall of China. Should these structures have been destroyed for their association with evil? I'm not suggesting that the Reich Chancellery or any other Third Reich edifice had the same significance or merit as those notable ancient sites, but I do believe the principle is the same. There are even those who view the world's skyscrapers as symbols of capitalist exploitation and would gladly see them razed. To appreciate the historical or aesthetic merits of a given society's artifacts should not suggest an endorsement of that group's actions or philosophy. Again, it doesn't seem as though this standard is very evenly applied by the critics.
I found this book very interesting - a noteworthy example of classical government architecture and a peak into the megalomania of Adolf Hitler. The book is well produced and with Amazon's generous discounts, well priced. My only complaint, and it may not be justifiable, is that some of the photography is a bit grainy. I don't know if these old images could have been improved upon - but with a little photoshop magic - who knows? A worthwhile purchase for any college library or for the collector of architectural monographs.
Conan That speaker was the author Krier, who apparently has answered the question raised in this book, His answer is yes. Krier conveniently skirts (overlooks, likely avoids) the question of the moral dimension of architecture. Possibly he might also find
is in a delerious thrall to a malevolent aesthetic."
Bruce M. Coleman "Architecture Prof"
For one of the most important buildings of the modern era, and one that has been written about so many times, this book finally delivers enough of the inside story to truly understand the "Why" of much of the building. Told from Lampert's inside seat it has to be considered the definitive version. Many of the photographs are seen for the first time.
To be sure, one has to be a fan of the building and really want to know much more than has already been delivered by so many others. It is also fascinating to hear the story of what happened after its construction, the life of the building and how easily it could have all gone astray.
Well done.
To be sure, one has to be a fan of the building and really want to know much more than has already been delivered by so many others. It is also fascinating to hear the story of what happened after its construction, the life of the building and how easily it could have all gone astray.
Well done.
tankowner
A very well presented and documented book , as an architect I found this an excellent book to add to my library. QUITE SIMPLE AN EXCELLENT BOOK > > >
SuZne
This is a book of pictures. It does show mostly European container businesses and college dorms and multi dwellings but few homes. It was written in metric dimensions so its hard to follow. It doesn't give you plans just pictures and a lot of architects that build container homes out of the country. This book is too expensive for the little it gives.
Gilo
Great and inspiring book for a very good price. it is not very informative as far as project description, and it would have been more helpful to know the budget for each project. never the less I recommend it warmly.
Unlucky Frank
When I first opened this, I couldn't believe I only paid 10 doll-hairs for this elegantly designed Hardbound Coffee Table book on The History of Bauhaus. I never expected the book to be as big, full of photos, or as gorgeous as it really is. Large print text by art historian Magdalena Droste. Beautiful Black & White and Color reproductions (some full page) of the art, design, textiles, interiors, metal work, furniture, theatre, workshops, buildings, and architecture of the Bauhaus School (1913-1933). I have only skimmed over the writing which seems to provide an adequate, and at times, detailed overview of the Bauhaus. The binding appears to be good, but I would suggest you handle it with care. How this is being published for so little is beyond me. Taschen seems to have made quite a splash in the world of publishing with their affordable 25th Anniversary Archive Series.
Contents include:
Preface
1. On the Origins of the Bauhaus.
2. Weimar Bauhaus-Expressionist Bauhaus.
3. Art and Technology-A New Unity.
4. Dessau Bauhaus: Institute of Design.
5. Hannes Meyer: Necessities, not Luxuries.
6. Mies van der Rohe: The Bauhaus Becomes a School of Architecture.
7. Appendix. (Which includes a nice list of Photo Biographies of the major players.)
I have not included Sub-chapters within the individual Chapter headings. (Look inside the book for these.) There is no Index.
A wonderful and affordable book that belongs in every designer and artist's library, about a school of principles, design, and aesthetics that are still influential in the world of contemporary art and design.
Nice Work TASCHEN! I'm very pleased.
Enjoy.
Contents include:
Preface
1. On the Origins of the Bauhaus.
2. Weimar Bauhaus-Expressionist Bauhaus.
3. Art and Technology-A New Unity.
4. Dessau Bauhaus: Institute of Design.
5. Hannes Meyer: Necessities, not Luxuries.
6. Mies van der Rohe: The Bauhaus Becomes a School of Architecture.
7. Appendix. (Which includes a nice list of Photo Biographies of the major players.)
I have not included Sub-chapters within the individual Chapter headings. (Look inside the book for these.) There is no Index.
A wonderful and affordable book that belongs in every designer and artist's library, about a school of principles, design, and aesthetics that are still influential in the world of contemporary art and design.
Nice Work TASCHEN! I'm very pleased.
Enjoy.
Peter Isaacson "PENFOLD"
Taschen always puts out a great product. I have a number of their books on my shelves.
I originally bought this at the gift shop at NYC MOMA over 20 years ago.
While making for an excellent coffee table book, it's also good enough for a scholar's bookshelf.
This is a nice starter book for those wishing to learn about an Art/Design School that laid the ground work for the future of modern industrial design.
I originally bought this at the gift shop at NYC MOMA over 20 years ago.
While making for an excellent coffee table book, it's also good enough for a scholar's bookshelf.
This is a nice starter book for those wishing to learn about an Art/Design School that laid the ground work for the future of modern industrial design.
Nikalo
I recieved this book promptly, in perfect (new) condition, still wrapped in the cellophane. It is a wonderful summary of the Bauhaus school, with full-page illustrations and tons of pictures of art from students and masters from the school. There is also a great little biography section for many of the who emerged from the school, at the end of the book. I would definately buy this book again, especially for the price!
Marilyn Duncan
This is a beautiful book with a fascinating premise; a look at the inside of artists' homes and work spaces. My experience is limited to seeing and enjoying photography in museum exhibits, usually by well known artists, but this new book has opened my eyes to the possibilities of modern photography and the interesting stories which lie behind the pictures. Leslie Williamson has a bright future ahead of her and we can take in hand to peruse at our leisure and for much personal pleasure.
norman meunier
Well written text. Great photos of wonderful mid century modern homes. All the artists own! Like walking into a museum.
mkm
Many of the artists/architects/designers whose homes are the subjects of this book, had never before allowed someone to capture (let alone publish) their home or such details of them. They chose to let Leslie Williamson inside to see how they actually live/lived. As I savored this book, I enjoyed thinking about why. Why her? Certainly, it wasn't because she's a disinterested photojournalist or architectural photographer. I've googled around and seen some of her other work--a photojournalist or architectural photographer she is not. She's a fine-art photographer.
I think that they saw, as I do, that she's a very thorough, thoughtful and appreciative artist who, if given a chance, might reveal a bit more to the world about what their own work means. They wanted to be seen by HER. I am glad for that.
The act of choosing her subjects, courting them and then deciding how to photograph their homes is an artistic act. Some of the images are poetic. Others are down right funny. All of them are beautiful and do justice to their subject.
I think that they saw, as I do, that she's a very thorough, thoughtful and appreciative artist who, if given a chance, might reveal a bit more to the world about what their own work means. They wanted to be seen by HER. I am glad for that.
The act of choosing her subjects, courting them and then deciding how to photograph their homes is an artistic act. Some of the images are poetic. Others are down right funny. All of them are beautiful and do justice to their subject.
Pen Name and That A
"tabula rasa of a colonized Manchuria": Just because you're all arty and more-postmodern-than-thou does not mean that it is right to deny genocide and invasion. Just for the record, Japan did not conquer an entire continent, either. I must say, it was brave for you to publish a book about expansionist Japanese architecture, at all. But then, you said that it got underway in 1960, so go figure?
anonymous
an incredible, ambitious collection of all things metabolist- materials from every possible source from friends, lovers ti colleagues from the past and present. a great handbook for aspiring and practicing architects to see how one generation succeeded in an architecture/ media/ policy/ masterplanning mash up that still holds as one of the most legendary group efforts to this day.
nomadic architect
A great collected history of a truly radical movement caught into, and trying to steer,a rapidly changing society.
This book is neccessary for architects right now: The thorough archiving and indexing of an avant-garde movement reminds us that architects once fearlessly and courageously embraced the transformational qualities of architecture. It really makes you lament the absence of such a strong contemporary agenda to react to-I can't imagine all those pritzker prize winners actually consolidating their respective intelligence into a cohesive idea like the metabolists did.
It's a massive and dense volume though-I havent been able to finish it yet. It is very well illustrated and is bound to provide inspiration, almost too dense to go through all at once.
This book is neccessary for architects right now: The thorough archiving and indexing of an avant-garde movement reminds us that architects once fearlessly and courageously embraced the transformational qualities of architecture. It really makes you lament the absence of such a strong contemporary agenda to react to-I can't imagine all those pritzker prize winners actually consolidating their respective intelligence into a cohesive idea like the metabolists did.
It's a massive and dense volume though-I havent been able to finish it yet. It is very well illustrated and is bound to provide inspiration, almost too dense to go through all at once.
Annie Kelly
Michael Lassell, Metropolitan Home magazine December 2008.
pomo design "pomo design"
After reading several reviews of this book in various home magazines, I was excited about its content and purchased it right away. I was initially delighted to see the variety of homes featured by both prominent and lesser known architects. Where the book falls flat however, is in the depth of the photographic coverage and the lack of visual subject matter to back up the text. The author has certainly done his homework relative to the history of each house and its unique features, but many times the photographs do not back up the text and there are far too few photographs per house. Many of the houses only receive two pages of coverage in this oversized monograph. The other area I was disappointed with was the photography. Although the book is beautifully composed and printed, the photographs themselves lack the drama and depth one has come to expect from seeing these houses in previous publications. I was very surprised to see that the author did not take any cues from Julius Shulman and shoot some of these houses in black and white to give them a sense of timelessness. The photos come off like very nice travel photos. Overall, I would agree with the other review that this is a nice coffee table book, but for those wanting the power and detail of a California Architectural monograph, you should probably hold out for something better.
Florencemathis "book maven"
Congratulation, on a spectacular opus.
Timeless and poetic photos make this book a treasure, an unique testament of Los Angeles, view by a master photographer, Tim Street Porter. Bravo , a great gift and a must have in any library.
f.m ( ny)
Timeless and poetic photos make this book a treasure, an unique testament of Los Angeles, view by a master photographer, Tim Street Porter. Bravo , a great gift and a must have in any library.
f.m ( ny)
Anderson G. Resende "andyresende"
I gave up in trying to read this book. The language is too advanced for someone simply studying 20th cenury architecture class, unless this is your field of studies or you are going to write a thesis.
Ana P. Acosta
this is a really good reference book becuase it provides many precedents of architecture that are really good to look at for ideas and cocepts.
Patrick M. Stawski "godlyke1"
I had to purchase this book as my required textbook for a Modernism class. Needless to say, when the quarter is over, this book is not getting resold! It's well bound, fabulous pictures, and very captivating reading. Yes, it's a textbook, but it's by Taschen and it's something to keep on your bookshelf as a handy reference, and idea generator in the future. I could go on and on...
Midwest Book Review
The making of buildings from natural materials is older than the recorded history of the human race. Even in paleolithic and neolithic eras there were remarkable, complex, and enduring structures as evidenced by archaeological discoveries. The collaborative work of the team of Michael Fazio (Professor Emeritus of Architecture, Mississippi State University), Marian Moffett and Lawrence Wodehouse (both of whom have extensive careers teaching architecture at the university level), and now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, begins with the advent of the city state architecture beginning with the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Hittites, Assyrians, and Egyptians, then proceeds with an architectural survey of the ancient Greece, India, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and the Romans. There are detailed chapters covering the distinctive architecture of the Early Christians and Byzantines, Islam, medieval and romanesque Europe. Also presented are informative chapters on Gothic architecture, indigenous American and African architecture, as well as the buildings and structures of the Renaissance and Baroque eras. The final four (and extensive) chapters deal with 18th, 19th, and 20th century architectural advances, as well as 'Modernisms in the Mid- and Late Twenty-First Century and Beyond'. Superbly illustrated throughout, the text is consistently informed and informative, making a critically essential addition to academic and community library Architectural Studies collections -- and is especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in architectural history.
Peter E. Purdy
I got this book for my Architecture class this fall. It was cheaper online than at any of the university bookstores and it shipped VERY quickly. It was also sent in a secure package, and arrived intact, which is problem I ran into with some other books I ordered this summer, not from this seller however.
Prof
This Second Edition of is an exact reprint of (I teach architecture at a Community College so price is very important to me). While I understand that the publishers have to make a profit, how is that that they can to sell this book for $41 while an exact copy of the higher education version is $92?
I welcome the addition of notable examples in the last chapter but I have a problem with the removal of many other buildings. Just to name a few that were present in the First Edition and are missing from the Second: Biskupin, Ishtar Gate, Temple of Ramesses II, Great Stupa at Borobodur, Caernarvon Castle etc. I am not sure what this cleansing is all about, both editions are 592 pages. Granted something had to give since there are new examples throughout.
I am only writing this in a hope that the Third Edition would include the missing examples from First Edition. If number of pages is fixed, just make some of the photographs smaller. Come on McGraw-Hill, you can do it!
I welcome the addition of notable examples in the last chapter but I have a problem with the removal of many other buildings. Just to name a few that were present in the First Edition and are missing from the Second: Biskupin, Ishtar Gate, Temple of Ramesses II, Great Stupa at Borobodur, Caernarvon Castle etc. I am not sure what this cleansing is all about, both editions are 592 pages. Granted something had to give since there are new examples throughout.
I am only writing this in a hope that the Third Edition would include the missing examples from First Edition. If number of pages is fixed, just make some of the photographs smaller. Come on McGraw-Hill, you can do it!
zlamp
The product arrived on time. It arrived in great condition. The book is great and I recommend to anyone who wants to think about the business of architecture.
Thanks
Thanks
das_arkitekt
Excellent book! Well thought out with TONS of graphics and information about the firm. Perfect for even the most discriminating architect.
Kirk Wooller
Put simply, this book is a must-have for architecture students and young professionals who not only want to see their designs realized, but who also wish to retain more control over the design process and final built object.
SHoP has crafted a successful architectural practice around the not-so-ancient idea of positioning the architect towards the operational center of each project. While this carries more risk, it is a strategic and arguably necessary move that counters the unproductive, and increasingly obsolete, traditional model that isolates architects from the economics and construction of buildings.
This book - SHoP's first monograph - is well illustrated with drawings, models, renderings and photos of completed works, complimented by snippets of text that help explain the objectives, hurdles, and design moves deployed to assist the realization of each project. What the contents page (`click to LOOK INSIDE') doesn't reveal is that the green highlighted headings (practice, politics, finance, technology, and sustainability) are insightful 3-page summaries of SHoP's observations on these aspects of architectural culture. And their observations are astute. For example, in the Finance section they stress, "isolating architecture from the `dirty' world of money has done a disservice both to the education of young designers and to the practice of mature architects. (...) A refusal to engage with the financial structure of a project weakens not only the individual architect but the profession as a whole."
Whether of not you like the `look' of their projects, this book will be a welcome and more importantly useful collection to your bookshelf.
SHoP has crafted a successful architectural practice around the not-so-ancient idea of positioning the architect towards the operational center of each project. While this carries more risk, it is a strategic and arguably necessary move that counters the unproductive, and increasingly obsolete, traditional model that isolates architects from the economics and construction of buildings.
This book - SHoP's first monograph - is well illustrated with drawings, models, renderings and photos of completed works, complimented by snippets of text that help explain the objectives, hurdles, and design moves deployed to assist the realization of each project. What the contents page (`click to LOOK INSIDE') doesn't reveal is that the green highlighted headings (practice, politics, finance, technology, and sustainability) are insightful 3-page summaries of SHoP's observations on these aspects of architectural culture. And their observations are astute. For example, in the Finance section they stress, "isolating architecture from the `dirty' world of money has done a disservice both to the education of young designers and to the practice of mature architects. (...) A refusal to engage with the financial structure of a project weakens not only the individual architect but the profession as a whole."
Whether of not you like the `look' of their projects, this book will be a welcome and more importantly useful collection to your bookshelf.
Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz "Roxanne Dunbar Ortiz, w...
Shulamith Firestone, author of the classic feminist text "Dialectic of Sex" and important early women's liberation activist in the late Sixties has turned her considerable writing skill to fiction. Every word, every sentence, every paragraph, every story is polished and honed to perfection like a stone rounded and smooth by water.
Mark Twain "becquer"
For those of us, who have (somehow) avoided mental institutions, Ms Firestone is our proxyguide of 'what to avoid'. The amazing thing about her writing, is its clarity within the fog enshrouded material (her one-year confinement in Bellevue). I cannot praise, sufficently, the effort contained within this slim opus. I love Shulamith Firestone!
bee madd
A snafu, once again, with the Amazon ordering process. I received a duplicate book shipment. Now, I have to make a trip to the post office to return, at my expense!
user2
[user#R. Wiese people. Often, it seems like architecture books only showcase the high budget projects which are spectacular eye candy. After reading the book, I found myself wishing that there were some more exterior pictures of some of the houses although there may not have been good angles from which to take them. Some plan diagrams of the projects would also help orient the reader to the photos taken in the book and get an idea of room layout. Overall, this book would make a great addition to the library of someone who is interested in ranch houses, or just house design in general.
Another positive note: the pages didn't come out of the binding the first time I opened it, which I can't say for some of my more expensive architecture books.
Another positive note: the pages didn't come out of the binding the first time I opened it, which I can't say for some of my more expensive architecture books.
Z. Felton
I recommend this book to all those that admire designs that are ahead of their times and are timeless in themselves
Kerry E. Hannon
Laurie Ossman brings a skilled eye to reveal the inner workings of these amazing homes rich in history and beauty. Her writing style teaches and amuses us, while the beauty of the photographs makes you feel you are visiting as you read along. Read this book. Then hit the road to visit firsthand!
Javier Barrios
I just received this book and though I'm delighted with the quality of publication and the content -including choice of houses, many of them unfamiliar to me- I have to say that many of the best illustrations are often put two to a page plus captions and printed text, thus making it difficult to admire all the details -alas I realize this is probably due to space constraints, but it would have been lovely had more page space been provided for said illustrations. Still, a worthwhile book on par with Wendell Garrett's Victorian America ( which however does give full page cover to most of its images).
Addison Mizner "bookdoctor"
This is a GREAT book about great architecture. The format was extremely readable and the photographs were outstanding. It is too bad that this writer did not do the book on great Florida houses which was such a disappointment. Lets hope that Laurie Ossman writes again soon and often.
mzslb
This book was a great reflection on the work of Charles and Ray Eames. Their most popular designs and little known facts were included. Very helpful and interesting and just a plain great read too! Very inspiring, highly recommend if you love mid-century modern design.
Jessa D. Hersberger "biochem"
Everyone should have an introduction to the incredible world of Charles and Ray eames. Like other books on the subject, it is not an in depth look at their lives but more of a general overview that focuses on their major works together. It successfully conveys the creative environment in their studio as well as their personal quests to make everything they touched better than it was.
Arclight
Good read. I would like more depth on the construction process. Nice photos. I would have liked a larger size. Coffee table book size. Overall well worth the price.
K. Taylor
Just a bunch of art photos. Sure, some of them are beautiful. But this book is classified in the home section. If you are looking for ideas or inspiration for your house, this is definitely not the book. Casa California is far better for that purpose. Many of the photos in this book are of a tiny tiny detail. The book itself is gigantic and very heavy. It's a very self-indulgent work by the author and publishing house.
EJ "EJ"
I was disappointed with California Romantica. The use of a black seems to dominate. The photos are framed with a black border and pages with text are black with white lettering. For me,some photos were difficult to appreciate due to the darkness. One,in particular, the photo of huge old tree, using two pages,the foreground on the right side was black with just an outline of what one knew was a cactus. The left page had a dirt road lite by the sun giving a cooperish glow. The tree is underexposed making it very dark, therefore the focus is the cooperish dirt road. I love trees and I wish this one did not look dead since it seems to be a
beautiful place to sit and stay awhile, to read a book or meditate. The architectural features of the villas,the walls, floors, ceilings, stairs, balconies, tile work, doorways,wooden doors, pools, windows, wrought iron work, the furnishings, were creatively portrayed. I did enjoy photos showing what one would see out of specific windows, such as the window on the all black page with just a patch of blue which we know is the ocean!
I will keep the book since I love old houses and I have a great respect for Diane Keaton's efforts to renovate and restore these wonderful homes preserving California's past. Thank you Miss Keaton. Keep up the good work.
beautiful place to sit and stay awhile, to read a book or meditate. The architectural features of the villas,the walls, floors, ceilings, stairs, balconies, tile work, doorways,wooden doors, pools, windows, wrought iron work, the furnishings, were creatively portrayed. I did enjoy photos showing what one would see out of specific windows, such as the window on the all black page with just a patch of blue which we know is the ocean!
I will keep the book since I love old houses and I have a great respect for Diane Keaton's efforts to renovate and restore these wonderful homes preserving California's past. Thank you Miss Keaton. Keep up the good work.
Gina Rose St John
I love looking at Spanish colonial architecture. I have a viceral reaction to it, as does/did Diane Keaton, who is also a Californian. I would love to look at each and every photo in this book but it's very very difficult because it is so huge and heavy. You can't hold it in your lap to enjoy the pictures, so you must lay it on a table and look at each page using both hands. The black and white photos show details in the various grand houses mentioned but I was able to look them up online so I could see each house featured in the book inside and out, and in color, e.g. Leo Carillo's house, Los Quiotes. All in all, very very beautiful photography rather than inspirational. What I thought I was getting was something like a wonderful book called Red Tile Style. I can look at and read that book for hours and get the intense feeling that is somewhere in my early psyche and is brought out by seeing the Spanish Colonial and Mission Style houses, some gone, some that still exit, like those in Long Beach and Ventura, CA. I did not get that feeling from this book, but I liked what little writing there was. How I would have liked more to read. But for me, this book is not a keeper. Too much of a physical commitment to pull out and enjoy. I wonder if this book would have been published if the photos were taken by a non-celebrity. Oh well. I have always loved California architecture and Diane Keaton can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned. I hope she can get into Falcon's Lair, the last home that Rudolph Valentino owned. It still exists and I'd love to see photos of the inside of the house he loved so much at the time of his death at age 31.
mommajunebug
This book has a lot of good history of the lost plantations of the south. The pictures are nice, but would have liked to see more pictures. But I realize that there might not have been more pictures available. It is a good book to add to your library of the south.
user3
[user#Sylverdollar but a few color photos are what this book needs, but lacks. It could have been better.
genie178 "genie178"
I just received this book a few days ago and from the cover alone I got chills. It is just a beautiful (and painful) photographic tribute to those (buildings and people) gone before. Once gone, forever gone.
I recommend it highly.
I recommend it highly.
user5
[user#I. Martinez-Ybor (provincial Cuba) whereas most photo-books on Cuba tend to be Havana centered. Nonetheless, I suspect though the photographers are different, there is some duplication with what already exists, without the book offering compensating virtues. Some of the disconcerting aspects of the book include the indiscriminate use of after-Castro (AC) and before-Castro (BC) nomenclature for locations, e.g. in spots the author refers to without further explanation, and in others to Well, it is the same location, only AC the former, and BC the latter. I did learn that the official name of el castillo de La Chorrera was but the author then goes on to say that it is at the mouth of the La Chorrera river. Well, unless he knows something that all Cubans who had to cross that river BC and AC well know, that river has been río Almendares as far as anyone remembers. I wonder what other surprises are buried in there.
Most infuriatingly, as one goes from page to page, one has no clear idea why photographs follow one another, and indeed, where on the island one is. Is there any point about art, architecture or history being made by the photos being displayed? How do the photos relate sequentially to each other? To me, this is a most serious shortcoming. All told, this book seems a rather intellectually slipshod job, with superficial research but pretty pictures, and, most annoyingly without organizing focus.
Most infuriatingly, as one goes from page to page, one has no clear idea why photographs follow one another, and indeed, where on the island one is. Is there any point about art, architecture or history being made by the photos being displayed? How do the photos relate sequentially to each other? To me, this is a most serious shortcoming. All told, this book seems a rather intellectually slipshod job, with superficial research but pretty pictures, and, most annoyingly without organizing focus.
Sima
This book provides a great insight into the hidden beauties of Cuba. The author is interested and knowledgable of the area and it shows in his writing. This is definitely another masterpiece in the line of books produced by Michael Connors. He takes the time to engage the reader with beautiful pictures along with outstanding facts. The book flows from cover to cover and is a definite must buy. I cannot wait to visit the places mentioned in this book for our next vacation.
John W Krogman
The Splendor of Cuba is best seen first-hand of course, but this book of photographs and text is the next best thing. Connors' continuing research reveals another chapter in this ancient nation just 90 miles away.
Ricardo Dias
It reflects the knowledge of a big architect that Zumthor is, one thousand words that make you learn a diferent way to look at things and to create a rational way of thinking about architecture.
Enrique Larranaga
In many ways, the reading of this book reminded me of the writings of Louis Kahn: both explicit and metaphorical reflections on the inner complexities of the apparent simplicities of daily life. The selections of almost inscrutable photographs, extreme close-ups of sections of Zumthor's house, act as as another way to explore the intensity of the artist's and his art's soul. All along the book, and in a very poetical manner, phrases seem to be left hanging unfinished, as for one's own mind and sensibility to put together the pieces of and intriguing and inspiring puzzle that remains open and to be developed by the reader. While the voice of a master is always heard, the message is delivered with the subtlety of his work, as for the reader not to feel forced into a way of thinking, acting or perceiving, but invited to stay with eyes, mind and all senses open to enjoy the pleasures of life and the possibility to contribute to them by one's own minor but never meaningless actions.
user4
[user#Alex presence of built environments (at least, we get to appreciate Zumthor's perspective on it). Most importantly why that matters for us as well as for Zumthor. We think we knew and we think we understood. But, reading this book, I realized how much I have forgotten and how important it is to remind ourselves of some of the significant and yet, simple truths in thinking of built environment. He describes these in plain but powerful words. For me, his view on the presence of architecture was very appealing. In seeking 'factual truth' in architecture, Zumthor explains what matters to him in his consideration of contexts and issues. This book gives us some clues about why his buildings exude such extraordinary aura and how they might have been conceived. It is not about big abstract theories no one understands. It is not about complicated geometry or formal exuberance so many contemporary architects seem to be obsessed with. It is a relatively short but, very powerful book. It's highly recommended. Peter Zumthor, one of the real masters in architecture today talks about his desire to design a building that takes on its own life afterwards. To him, the real presence of architecture doesn't require any rhetoric or any further explanation. His architecture is not about form-making and certainly doesn't stem from digital processes. It is not about rhetorical/ critical diagrams as a point of departure. It is not necessarily about sustainability. His architecture doesn't seek to be showy and spectacular. It seeks to in architecture in another book. Zumthor may be called one of the pre-eminent architects of the "New Modern", which differs from post-modern. It is unexpectedly refreshing to read his words. Just like anything else in life, doing basic things well is important and if you do, that alone could take you quite far. Such an admirable architect.... He once said 'Life is too short to compromise'...... Good for him. I wish I could be like that.....
David Mitchell
Written by an architect for the layperson, Jean Rehkamp Larson makes you feel the elbow room of the farmhouse and surrounding countryside without being too technical. Showing several house styles from historical to contemporary, Larson teaches us what characteristics make the American farmhouse a house style that is as ingrained in our minds as baseball and apple pie.
Carsten Tams "librophile"
I am a Manhattan city dweller struck by childhood nostalgia about what it is like to live on the country side. For types like me, interested in farm-house inspired modern architecture, this book offers a great visual feast. If you are looking for real farm houses, however, look elsewhere.
Serenity J. Smith "Farm girl"
I liked the layout of this book. The different perspectives of farmhouses presented in this book offer a plethora of ideas!
J. Beltran
This is a rare, smart, beautiful art and art historical book that manages to convey strong and absorbing storytelling about the crazy San Francisco art world with stunning images of the work of world class artists. The full page photography spreads by such renowned artists as Imogen Cunningham, Richard Misrach, Jim Goldberg, and Henry Wessel are particularly breathtaking -- I bought several copies to give out as gifts!
E. G. Mercer
What this book does include is interesting, but what it doesn't include is shocking. Some extremely detrimental omissions include Lawrence Halprin, San Francisco Dancers' Workshop, and the San Francisco Tape Music Center. Discussions of San Francisco's public art and urban art/culture movements almost never omit references to these greatly influential and internationally recognized people and institutions, who directly shaped the city and have each become emblematic of San Francisco art and architecture. Overall, this book is insufficiently researched and very disappointing, both to someone who wants to learn of San Francisco's history and to people who already know and love the city.
Sam Kittner
This is a beautiful book and gives wonderful insight into Stoller's epic, groundbreaking photography and his life as a photographer. For me, as a professional photographer for over 20 years that only recently has dived into architectural work, this is an inspirational volume from a master of the genre.
Lindsie
I was expected this to me more of a photo book but it is more like a coffee table sized auto-biography of Ezra Stoller. However, there are some great photos of some incredible architecture. I purchased this book for my boyfriend, a fan of photography, but would recommend it for fans of architecture.
Charles D Jaggers
This book I like very much. Who, interested in Architectual Photography, couldn't like Ezra Stoller.
It is a high quality book showing the tonalities to advantage, and as a bonus gives equipment details and some biography. I will value looking through this book for years, it is a picture book which delights immediately with promise with greater eximation. As Amazon 5 star rating says "I love it".
It is a high quality book showing the tonalities to advantage, and as a bonus gives equipment details and some biography. I will value looking through this book for years, it is a picture book which delights immediately with promise with greater eximation. As Amazon 5 star rating says "I love it".
Bukkene Bruse
This catalog provides a history and overview of Shulman's work, along with a nice biography of the photographer. The print quality is good, and the selection of photographs convey the breadth and nature of Shulman's career from the 1930's to 1980's. As a whole, Shuman's work illustrates how purpose so often underlies great art.
In addition to the historical and catalog aspects of the book, the narrative provides some excellent instruction in architectural photography. A must for any photography library.
In addition to the historical and catalog aspects of the book, the narrative provides some excellent instruction in architectural photography. A must for any photography library.
kt
A must-read for all Mid-Mod lovers! I highly recommend this book. The photos are beautiful. Needless to say, the architecture is fascinating.
April M. Zamora "AZ"
I gave this away as a gift and the person that received it (who is a huge fan) LOVED it!
Cindy Clayton
I own a copy of Ms. McCarthy's previous pop-up book on M.C. Escher, so I was pleased to see the release of her new Gaudi book. I opened it with my seven-year-old daughter, who explored all the pop-ups and loved it as much as I did. She was fascinated by Gaudi's soft, curvy shapes; we both sat there entranced (and then giggling at one another) as we opened the page on the Sagrada Familia over and over, marveling at the way the steeple comes to life.
If you have an art or architecture lover on your holiday gift list, I highly recommend this book. It captures the beauty of Gaudi's creations in a novel way, and makes a lovely conversation piece. But try to refrain from wearing out the exquisite Sagrada Familia page by opening and closing it a thousand times. :-)
If you have an art or architecture lover on your holiday gift list, I highly recommend this book. It captures the beauty of Gaudi's creations in a novel way, and makes a lovely conversation piece. But try to refrain from wearing out the exquisite Sagrada Familia page by opening and closing it a thousand times. :-)
C R L "retiredtoydesigner"
With all the possibilities this is a very disappointing book in terms of content and paper engineering. Gaudi's designs have so may 3-dimensional aspects and possible connection-to-Nature over-lays that are not utilized in this simplistic-photographic pop-up. Just because it's big and has a padded cover doesn't make up for the uninspiring content
Gail Cooke
is the only way to describe this giant pop-up celebrating the vision and work of Catalan architect and designer Antoni Gaudi. His visual influence on Barcelona is immeasurable. Those who have been fortunate enough to see his work there never forget it, especially the astounding Sagrada Familia. Bold, distinctive, dramatic, his designs have brought countless visitors to Barcelona and today his buildings are among the most admired in the world.
Born in 1852 to a humble family there was little in Gaudi's early life to indicate his greatness. In fact, when he graduated from the Barcelona Architure School the director said, Time has definitely told and paper engineer Courtney Watson McCarthy has given life to some of Gaudi's most famous designs - words cannot do justice to these remarkable creations.
Included are 7 pop-ups and 16 illustrations, all in color. You'll find in addition to the unbelievable Sagrada Familia interior and exterior Ironwork from the Park Guell as well as the multi-colored Salamander also from the Park and more.
Almost a good as a trip to Barcelona Gaudi Pop-Ups is a joy to behold as well as paper engineering at its finest.
Highly recommended.
- Gail Cooke
Born in 1852 to a humble family there was little in Gaudi's early life to indicate his greatness. In fact, when he graduated from the Barcelona Architure School the director said, Time has definitely told and paper engineer Courtney Watson McCarthy has given life to some of Gaudi's most famous designs - words cannot do justice to these remarkable creations.
Included are 7 pop-ups and 16 illustrations, all in color. You'll find in addition to the unbelievable Sagrada Familia interior and exterior Ironwork from the Park Guell as well as the multi-colored Salamander also from the Park and more.
Almost a good as a trip to Barcelona Gaudi Pop-Ups is a joy to behold as well as paper engineering at its finest.
Highly recommended.
- Gail Cooke
J. R. Kikkert "Jan-Richard Kikkert"
Excellent new book on Palm Springs architecture. The final statement on John Lautner's contribution to Palm Springs architecture finally does just to this exeptional architect. For a book of this quality the price is obscenely low.
H. A. Wills
this beautiful book is a wonderful tribute to the world's most famous architectural photographer, the photographs speak for themselves and the book is lovingly assembled and very well executed
S. Clifford
This is just a gorgeous book. We saw the exhibit at the Palm Springs Art Museum on which it is based, and the book lives up to the exhibit. It's a beautifully photographed (of course -- Shulman does amazing things with light and contrast) retrospective of Desert Mid-Century Modern, and Alan Hess provides his usual informative commentary. A must-have for Desert Modern enthusiasts!
N. Allyn
At first I thought the book would be too dry and encyclopedia like, but when I started reading the chapters, I was taken by the text. It moved along nicely, and though there is a lot of information, it is presented in a way that makes sense, and in a way that helps one navigate through the `big pictures' of history. The maps are nice but they sometimes could have more information on them. The book is a challenge to those who think linearly or for those who think that the history of architecture with the Egyptians and Greeks and then in US postmodernism; the purpose of the book is to keep the globe turning. Sometimes the authors go east to west and sometimes west to east. It takes a little getting used to, but I think people will appreciate the idea that history is a moving target. It makes for some interesting contrasts. Each chapter has its own particular logic, however, and tries to emphasize a particular theme, having to do with religion or politics. On page 511, there is an imaginary architecture tour that begins in Japan and ends in England; it was an eye opener for me. At that particular time, as the authors point out, though Europe was in the middle of the Renaissance, there was a lot of good stuff also happening in China, India, and Turkey, that cannot be simply ignored as part of some `other' tradition.' It was all interconnected. I also discovered the free Google Earth download from Wiley Press web site where all the buildings in the book are flagged! That has been a great help in lectures.
Jamal K. Alghamdi
i agree with all the previous reviews, this book is a must be and worth every penny you spend on it. the chronicle order of this book make it easy to understand and to be used as a reference... i recommend it for my students in the comparative class...
surfkookali
this item arrived very quickly and in good condition. I was very pleased with the price of the item and the condition of the product.
B. Collins
I would buy from here again, the book was in great condition and shipped quickly.
user3
[user#J. Wharton he turns his finely-honed analytical and futurist abilities on architecture and construction.
This book is primarily synthetic in its focus. There aren't any brand-new ideas here, but there are many powerful methods and ways of thinking from other disciplines that Brand has brought to bear on the problem of making buildings that stand the test of time. Those whose backgrounds are not as diverse as Brand's (and whose is, really?), will be exposed to many unconventional ways of thinking about buildings. The reader will come away with a powerful sense of possibility and a deeper understanding of the built environment.
Whether you're an expert or simply have an interest in the structures we build around ourselves, you'll find much to admire in this thought-provoking exploration of buildings through time. It's every bit as relevant and ground-breaking today as it was when it was published.
This book is primarily synthetic in its focus. There aren't any brand-new ideas here, but there are many powerful methods and ways of thinking from other disciplines that Brand has brought to bear on the problem of making buildings that stand the test of time. Those whose backgrounds are not as diverse as Brand's (and whose is, really?), will be exposed to many unconventional ways of thinking about buildings. The reader will come away with a powerful sense of possibility and a deeper understanding of the built environment.
Whether you're an expert or simply have an interest in the structures we build around ourselves, you'll find much to admire in this thought-provoking exploration of buildings through time. It's every bit as relevant and ground-breaking today as it was when it was published.
citizen fact checker
I live in the deep south where, even today, kitchens in newly-built houses are generally very small. Most southerners that I know do not know why or even care that their kitchens are so small. I happen to live in a house with a large kitchen, a huge front porch, and a small back porch. I don't know the how or why the original builder of the house decided to include a very large kitchen, but I, being a Yankee, love having a large kitchen.
Kitchens in the south were the domain of domestic help, and the cultural norm was not to provide a great deal of space for the help. That tells us something about cultural attitudes even though most of us no longer can afford to employ domestic help. I would conclude the obvious then, that buildings do not learn on their own: They need to be nudged to catch up with current realities--just like school kids who want to skip school.
At present, I am trying to figure out what to do with my front porch that just collects garden furniture laden with dust. I don't need an extra room and have no desire at this time to screen the porch in. Screening is too obvious. What to do?
The small back porch has already been enclosed and has to be a mud room for our two pet canines when it's too hot or cold for them to stay outside or when it's raining.
Perhaps by the time I have finished reading this wonderful book, I'll know what to do about the idiot front porch.
I love this book and highly recommend it.
Kitchens in the south were the domain of domestic help, and the cultural norm was not to provide a great deal of space for the help. That tells us something about cultural attitudes even though most of us no longer can afford to employ domestic help. I would conclude the obvious then, that buildings do not learn on their own: They need to be nudged to catch up with current realities--just like school kids who want to skip school.
At present, I am trying to figure out what to do with my front porch that just collects garden furniture laden with dust. I don't need an extra room and have no desire at this time to screen the porch in. Screening is too obvious. What to do?
The small back porch has already been enclosed and has to be a mud room for our two pet canines when it's too hot or cold for them to stay outside or when it's raining.
Perhaps by the time I have finished reading this wonderful book, I'll know what to do about the idiot front porch.
I love this book and highly recommend it.
user4
[user#C. M Mills and Bishop John Fisher who both were against Henry VII's marriage to Anne Boleyn.
e. British queens Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard (both wives of the the evil Henry VIII called the English Stalin by Jones) and the pitiful young Lady Jane Grey who was Queen of England for nine days following the death of Edward VI. The Protestant Jane and her husband both died at the Tower.
f. Jones book is often filled with moving stories of those who lived and died in the Tower of London. One of the most interesting was Sir Walter Raleigh who was beheaded during the reign of the cruel James I. Raleigh had failed to find Eldorado in the Caribbean and was sentenced for treason against the Scottish born king James.
g. A fascinating chapter deals with a sampling of tales about those 37 men and women who were able to escape the Tower.
h. The book gives a short summation of the reigns of the English monarchs from pre-Norman days until the Restoration of Charles II.
This book will best be enjoyed by those who enjoy learning more about British history. It is a sanguinary and sometimes gruesome story as the details of hanging, beheading, embowlement and the tortures inflicted in the chambers of the Tower are described in gory detail. This is not a book for children! The book has a good illustrated section and contains an adequate bibliography on the eras in British history which are surveyed by Jones. Recommended.
e. British queens Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard (both wives of the the evil Henry VIII called the English Stalin by Jones) and the pitiful young Lady Jane Grey who was Queen of England for nine days following the death of Edward VI. The Protestant Jane and her husband both died at the Tower.
f. Jones book is often filled with moving stories of those who lived and died in the Tower of London. One of the most interesting was Sir Walter Raleigh who was beheaded during the reign of the cruel James I. Raleigh had failed to find Eldorado in the Caribbean and was sentenced for treason against the Scottish born king James.
g. A fascinating chapter deals with a sampling of tales about those 37 men and women who were able to escape the Tower.
h. The book gives a short summation of the reigns of the English monarchs from pre-Norman days until the Restoration of Charles II.
This book will best be enjoyed by those who enjoy learning more about British history. It is a sanguinary and sometimes gruesome story as the details of hanging, beheading, embowlement and the tortures inflicted in the chambers of the Tower are described in gory detail. This is not a book for children! The book has a good illustrated section and contains an adequate bibliography on the eras in British history which are surveyed by Jones. Recommended.
Judith Herbst
Well written (rare nowadays) and very interesting. I hated history when I was in school (despised it in college, but then, again, I was an English major) but this book has begun to change my way of thinking about those dusty ages.
Edie
I was excited to order this book and started it the minute I pulled it from the packaging. And then bit by bit I began finding things that just bothered me. Mr. Jones tends to relate how a person of the time felt and how they said things. It was a minor annoyance at first until I hit the chapter king he was, he also threw in sentences containing words such as Buckingham said, Lovell, Catesby and Ratcliffe...ugh... Oh and how Thomas More related that Edward V basically said that he hoped his uncle wouldn't kill him. Where in the history books does THAT statement appear? Only in Thomas More's material found after his death, that was written during the Tudor era. I'm not one of those who blindly believes that Richard had nothing to do with the death of his nephews but no proof has been given that he DID or that he ordered it OR that Henry VII didn't order it. Could Richard have done it? Yes! But don't state it as FACT.
And then the absolute killer for me was this: So he's talking about Katherine of Aragon...who had RED hair. OR possibly golden red. She did NOT have dark hair. SO what else is going to be incorrect if something so well known is incorrect? I have no idea. I stopped reading the book and it goes into my pile.
All in all this is probably a nice read for someone wanting a REAL broad overview of the Tower and the chance to relate some juicy stories about it...with unnecessary embellishments.
And then the absolute killer for me was this: So he's talking about Katherine of Aragon...who had RED hair. OR possibly golden red. She did NOT have dark hair. SO what else is going to be incorrect if something so well known is incorrect? I have no idea. I stopped reading the book and it goes into my pile.
All in all this is probably a nice read for someone wanting a REAL broad overview of the Tower and the chance to relate some juicy stories about it...with unnecessary embellishments.
Vincent Bridges
Mr. Sayer's earlier book on Czech history is a classic, but it stops at the most interesting point. The flowering of surrealism in Prague is an untold story in the west, one that allows us to see "modernism" in a new light. Mr. Sayer's book is a key piece of historical writing for understanding how the 20th century developed and suggests how this century might be different. Can't recommend this book highly enough.
Luigi Facotti
Ambitious in scope and heavy in weight, the latest addition to the Phaidon Atlas Series is a comprehensive walk through worldwide 20th Century Architecture. In terms of selection and documentation, it generally achieves its advertised claims of being comprehensive although why the Twin Towers and the Grande Arch are not included is not explained. As this is a visual book, it fails in no small way by both an unbelievable inattention to the quality of the photographs selected (my point and shoot photos of Fallingwater from 2006 are infinitely superior to the B + W image circa 1950 included here and there are far too many B + W Photos throughout the book) and their accurate reproduction. Another example is FLW's Unity Temple in Oak Park, which I drove by a couple of months ago - the rather poor B + W of it does not do it justice. Many, many of the images lack definition and appear out of register. A side by side comparison with Taschen's A-Z of Modern Architecture highlights the mediocre production values employed in this volume with the latter being on far heavier stock and printed in Italy rather than China (are there no printing presses that Phaidon can find outside of the Far East?). As examples, photos 5 on page 25 and 2 and 4 on page 261 are really, really mediocre, the Maison de Verre in Paris (p.288) had far better photo reproductions - in color no less - on newsprint in the New York Times in August 2007 - those photos made me want to see this building - those presented by Phaidon are dark and dismal and, like Fallingwater, an insult to the architect. All of the photos on pages 283 and 322 are either blurred or of poor source quality. Thus many of the photos appear to be stock sourced with very little quality control. My favorite example of the lack of care and attention assigned to this volume is the Kropotkinskaya Metro Station in Moscow, part of a two page spread on the Moscow Metro, where the site plan, e.g., the architectural floor plan of the building is represented by a map of the Moscow Metro - no kidding. Absolutely no excuse for this - give it up Phaidon - efforts like this book are a waste of your time and my money.
This volume does not even compare favorably to the previous Phaidon Atlases - Contemporary Architecture and 21st Century Architecture - which appear to have the majority of their far better selected color images in register. I think both the Economist and the WSJ Magazine have better quality control in their production and printing.
Phaidon has obviously cut many corners on production or acquired a group of editors who are probably related to Mr Magoo. I wished I had waited to check this out book at B & N or the Art Institute in Chicago as I certainly would not have bought it. If you pick this up for half the Amazon price at Half Price Books in a few months - it's probably a good archival addition to a home library but as a major visual source of 20th Century Architecture there are many far better produced monographs.
I had thought that my one star was a little harsh, but after two additional trips through the 800 pages - I think the one star is generous.
This volume does not even compare favorably to the previous Phaidon Atlases - Contemporary Architecture and 21st Century Architecture - which appear to have the majority of their far better selected color images in register. I think both the Economist and the WSJ Magazine have better quality control in their production and printing.
Phaidon has obviously cut many corners on production or acquired a group of editors who are probably related to Mr Magoo. I wished I had waited to check this out book at B & N or the Art Institute in Chicago as I certainly would not have bought it. If you pick this up for half the Amazon price at Half Price Books in a few months - it's probably a good archival addition to a home library but as a major visual source of 20th Century Architecture there are many far better produced monographs.
I had thought that my one star was a little harsh, but after two additional trips through the 800 pages - I think the one star is generous.
Ned Lindau
I have no formal architectural education, but have always been fascinated by the craft. So buying this book for me was a purely autodidactic endeavor, and as somebody who came with a true outsider's perspective, I have to say that I am awestruck by every aspect of this mammoth compendium.
The first thing about 20th-Century World Architecure: The Phaidon Atlas that caught my eye is the sheer size of the book. It's massive! And while that's not the most insightful point, it's worth mentioning for two reasons. First: It takes an intercontinental, nondiscriminatory look at impressive architectural feats worldwide (the book is divided up by continent). Most of the images and articles I'd read prior dealt solely with those accomplished in developed nations. Second: I want to caution those who are dismissive because of the book's size. It's called world architecture because it focuses on the architecture of the world. It's all-encompassing, so it should be appropriately voluminous. And it is. If you're looking for something more specific, then seek that exact discipline or school out. Don't criticize something for not being what it doesn't aim to be.
Additionally, I felt very comfortable interacting with this text without a formal background in architecture. 20th-Century expounds upon architectural tendencies and traditions without using alienating jargon. I can't speak to professionals seeking to glean workplace knowledge from this text, but I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anybody who simply wants to see some staggeringly beautiful images, while learning a little bit more about a fascinating profession.
Overall: While the price of the book is objectively high, the amount of information that the reader is rewarded with is well worth the price. I will be entertained and hooked for months to come.
The first thing about 20th-Century World Architecure: The Phaidon Atlas that caught my eye is the sheer size of the book. It's massive! And while that's not the most insightful point, it's worth mentioning for two reasons. First: It takes an intercontinental, nondiscriminatory look at impressive architectural feats worldwide (the book is divided up by continent). Most of the images and articles I'd read prior dealt solely with those accomplished in developed nations. Second: I want to caution those who are dismissive because of the book's size. It's called world architecture because it focuses on the architecture of the world. It's all-encompassing, so it should be appropriately voluminous. And it is. If you're looking for something more specific, then seek that exact discipline or school out. Don't criticize something for not being what it doesn't aim to be.
Additionally, I felt very comfortable interacting with this text without a formal background in architecture. 20th-Century expounds upon architectural tendencies and traditions without using alienating jargon. I can't speak to professionals seeking to glean workplace knowledge from this text, but I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anybody who simply wants to see some staggeringly beautiful images, while learning a little bit more about a fascinating profession.
Overall: While the price of the book is objectively high, the amount of information that the reader is rewarded with is well worth the price. I will be entertained and hooked for months to come.
B. Olson
If you are looking for a book that shows the beautiful, old historic haciendas of Mexico ... with all of their charm and history .. this is NOT the book for you. However if you enjoy Architectural Digest magazine, and want to know the names of owners and their interior decorators who have eliminated all the patina and original beauty .. buy it. This book portrays rich folks and has nothing to do with architecture or history. I am still waiting for someone to document the REAL haciendas of Mexico.
Gail Cooke
Hacienda by definition is a house on a large estate or ranch. True. However, it is more than that as for many it is an idea of home, evoking thoughts of comfort, relaxing spaces, a welcoming ambience, color, and beautiful decor. All of these aspects and more are found between the pages of this beautifully photographed volume.
Twenty-five haciendas in the United States and Mexico are featured, all accompanied by descriptive text. While every home is l gorgeous, each is totally different, representing the owners individuality and passion in architecture, landscaping, and interior design.
Paul opens her informative introduction with, Indeed. And the abodes presented are undoubtedly some dreams that have come true.
We first visit the DeGolyer Hacienda which sits amid forty-four acres on the shores of White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas. Mr. DeGolyer described his home as An apt description as it includes an arcaded loggia inspired by the mission at San Juan Capistrano.
An admitted lover of Mexico my eyes are captured by the Mexican haciendas shown in luminous photographs by Ricardo Vidargas. Vibrant colors pop from the pages and fire glows in the hearth of Hacienda del Angel. The home was named for the owner's collection of angels and archangels, which are found throughout the property. It is an adobe, solar, recycled-water-use house filled with wonders - a collection of pre-Columbian artifacts and figurines, the owner's great-grandmother's matrimonial bed, and heirloom oriental rugs. Behind the house are orchards, vegetable gardens, herbs, and flowers. Also on the property are a gardener's cottage, a barn, and a garage for carriages and horse trailers.
Hacienda Galena, which is near San Miguel, Mexico, is a veritable paradise of greenery embracing the courtyard entrance, and rising up into the center of the building. Cool colors, natural wood, and stone are perfect foils for the ferns and vines that enliven interior rooms.
If every man's home is his castle, I'd prefer a hacienda. is not only a must-have for architects and interior designers but a wonderful book for most of us to dream on.
Highly recommended.
- Gail Cooke
Twenty-five haciendas in the United States and Mexico are featured, all accompanied by descriptive text. While every home is l gorgeous, each is totally different, representing the owners individuality and passion in architecture, landscaping, and interior design.
Paul opens her informative introduction with, Indeed. And the abodes presented are undoubtedly some dreams that have come true.
We first visit the DeGolyer Hacienda which sits amid forty-four acres on the shores of White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas. Mr. DeGolyer described his home as An apt description as it includes an arcaded loggia inspired by the mission at San Juan Capistrano.
An admitted lover of Mexico my eyes are captured by the Mexican haciendas shown in luminous photographs by Ricardo Vidargas. Vibrant colors pop from the pages and fire glows in the hearth of Hacienda del Angel. The home was named for the owner's collection of angels and archangels, which are found throughout the property. It is an adobe, solar, recycled-water-use house filled with wonders - a collection of pre-Columbian artifacts and figurines, the owner's great-grandmother's matrimonial bed, and heirloom oriental rugs. Behind the house are orchards, vegetable gardens, herbs, and flowers. Also on the property are a gardener's cottage, a barn, and a garage for carriages and horse trailers.
Hacienda Galena, which is near San Miguel, Mexico, is a veritable paradise of greenery embracing the courtyard entrance, and rising up into the center of the building. Cool colors, natural wood, and stone are perfect foils for the ferns and vines that enliven interior rooms.
If every man's home is his castle, I'd prefer a hacienda. is not only a must-have for architects and interior designers but a wonderful book for most of us to dream on.
Highly recommended.
- Gail Cooke
j. j. molloy "oreganus"
Linda Leigh Paul's new book is simply an outstanding example of providing architectural (and cultural) information through brilliant design and photography. Once again, Paul has succeeded in capturing the essential spirit of places and people through architecture.
The photographs are spectacular. Many have a marvelous and rare sense of depth--because of the photographer's seemingly intuitive sense of light and shade. These images would be moving in any setting, but here they bring out what lies beyond the mere surfaces of things.
This book should not lie flat on a coffee table--it should stand proudly upright on a library shelf.
The photographs are spectacular. Many have a marvelous and rare sense of depth--because of the photographer's seemingly intuitive sense of light and shade. These images would be moving in any setting, but here they bring out what lies beyond the mere surfaces of things.
This book should not lie flat on a coffee table--it should stand proudly upright on a library shelf.
Robin Benson
Architectural photographer Carla Breeze has focussed her camera on the best seventy-five Art Deco buildings across the Nation and produced a glorious book of color photos that perfectly captures the style. I really liked this book because she concentrates on the architectural detail of each building (with 450 photos) and in many cases, when this detail is on the outside, it is just not viewable from the ground.
The introduction has an interesting eighteen-page photo section dealing with materials: metal, concrete, terra cotta, mosaic, glass, wood and stone. I found this very useful when looking at the images. Each building starts on the spread (though some have more pages) with a street address and some background text and captions for the photos. The elegant layout does not interfere with the wonderful buildings (a tip of the hat to book designer Robert Wiser). Could anyone take a better photo of the stunning Niagara Mohawk Power headquarters in Syracuse on page seventy-three, I doubt it.
To complement this lovely book have a look at Rediscovering Art Deco USA: A Nationwide Tour of Architectural Delights by Barbara Capitman, Michael Kinerk and Dennis Wilhelm, a methodical nationwide survey, though it concentrates on commercial buildings rather than houses. If you are Deco spotting on the road leave a space in the glove compartment for David Gebhard's excellent The National Trust Guide to Art Deco in America (Preservation Press) if it's not in this book then most likely it's not worth looking at.
***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
The introduction has an interesting eighteen-page photo section dealing with materials: metal, concrete, terra cotta, mosaic, glass, wood and stone. I found this very useful when looking at the images. Each building starts on the spread (though some have more pages) with a street address and some background text and captions for the photos. The elegant layout does not interfere with the wonderful buildings (a tip of the hat to book designer Robert Wiser). Could anyone take a better photo of the stunning Niagara Mohawk Power headquarters in Syracuse on page seventy-three, I doubt it.
To complement this lovely book have a look at Rediscovering Art Deco USA: A Nationwide Tour of Architectural Delights by Barbara Capitman, Michael Kinerk and Dennis Wilhelm, a methodical nationwide survey, though it concentrates on commercial buildings rather than houses. If you are Deco spotting on the road leave a space in the glove compartment for David Gebhard's excellent The National Trust Guide to Art Deco in America (Preservation Press) if it's not in this book then most likely it's not worth looking at.
***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
Lucas
This is the finest book presently available on American Art Deco Architecture, in my opinion. Beautifully photographed and printed in Italy (288 oversize pages in full color), it's a must have if you have an interest in Art Deco and/or Architecture.
All the finest American examples are here, the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation Building in Syracuse, the Chrysler Building in New York, the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, and the Eastern Columbia, Wiltern Theatre/Pellissier and Bullocks Wilshire Buildings in Los Angeles, just to name a few. Most of the buildings are photographed from the outside as well as inside, with numerous detail photographs of doors and moldings.
Carla Breeze is an architectural photographer by trade and she does a superb job with this book, I especially like the fact that perspective control has been used in the photographs (all the vertical lines are parallel) which makes for a much more pleasing look. The sleek and modernistic style of Art Deco, popular during the 1920's and 1930's, has yet to be matched, in my opinion, and Ms. Breeze captures the essence of it skillfully.
All the finest American examples are here, the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation Building in Syracuse, the Chrysler Building in New York, the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, and the Eastern Columbia, Wiltern Theatre/Pellissier and Bullocks Wilshire Buildings in Los Angeles, just to name a few. Most of the buildings are photographed from the outside as well as inside, with numerous detail photographs of doors and moldings.
Carla Breeze is an architectural photographer by trade and she does a superb job with this book, I especially like the fact that perspective control has been used in the photographs (all the vertical lines are parallel) which makes for a much more pleasing look. The sleek and modernistic style of Art Deco, popular during the 1920's and 1930's, has yet to be matched, in my opinion, and Ms. Breeze captures the essence of it skillfully.
Charles O. Wilson
For many, a trip to downtown is a visit to something and for something. It is seldom seen as a time of reflection, to see the of the great boundaries of concrete, glass and steel. Even our great structures specifically designed to create a feeling of wonder or awe appear to be less a creation for humans than a mere sidelight of structural shrugs, a busy nod to a slight deviation in the casting of the concrete, and, variety. This is a big book.
Art Deco was, and is, one of the highest achievements of architecture ever - ever! One look at the Niagara - Mohawk building should convince just about anyone. This book is a required review of the remaining Art Deco buildings with the most integrity.
I only wish that there was more in the way of, say, South Miami Art Deco and more southern works extant but that is the point: You come away from this book looking for the momentous in your own city or area. when you find a (usually restored) specimen, you simply must stop and gawk for great periods of time.
What a great book!
Art Deco was, and is, one of the highest achievements of architecture ever - ever! One look at the Niagara - Mohawk building should convince just about anyone. This book is a required review of the remaining Art Deco buildings with the most integrity.
I only wish that there was more in the way of, say, South Miami Art Deco and more southern works extant but that is the point: You come away from this book looking for the momentous in your own city or area. when you find a (usually restored) specimen, you simply must stop and gawk for great periods of time.
What a great book!