Book Description

INDEX Architecture documents the extensive cross-fertilization of ideas that can occur between architectural practice and education. Through work developed by students and faculty at Columbia University's School of Architecture, it offers not only an archive of avant-garde work but a record of architectural discourse at a time when the design studio has been radically altered by digital technology.

Writings, interviews, and images are organized according to an alphabetical "index" of key terms. Cross-referencing allows for a rich reading of concepts currently discussed in the field. The contributing critics and theorists include Stan Allen, Karen Bausman, Lise Anne Couture, Kathryn Dean, Evan Douglis, Kenneth Frampton, Leslie Gill, Thomas Hanrahan, Laurie Hawkinson, Steven Holl, Jeffrey Kipnis, Sulan Kolatan, Greg Lynn, William MacDonald, Reinhold Martin, Mary Mcleod, Victoria Meyers, Hani Rashid, Jesse Reiser, Bernard Tschumi, Nanako Umemoto, and Mark Wigley. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Speak English, Please
This book basically dares you to read it.

As an aficionado of contemporary architectural thought, I expected that this book would be enlightening coming from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, a program frequently renowned for leading contemporary architecture into the avant-garde. I was tremendously disappointed in the book in general. While there are worthwhile observations from many notable architects (and students), the book devolves into a self-congratulatory, politically correct collection of "insights" in language so obfuscating that the gist of the statement is normally impossible to determine.

The book takes it as a guiding principle that Occam's Razor (which requires the simplest of equal competing alternatives be selected as best) is never to be regarded, and that when one small word will suffice, ten large words will instead be used. Is it so hard for these obviously very bright people to speak English? Here is a prime example from page 10, which I obtained by opening the book at random: "In blob modeling, objects are defined by monad-like primitives with internal forces of attraction and mass. Unlike a conventional geometric primitive such as a sphere, which has its own autonomous organization, a meta-ball is defined in relation to other objects. Its center, surface area, mass and organization are determined by other fields of influence. The surfaces are surrounded by two halos of relational influence, one defining a zone of fusion, the other defining a zone of inflection." I will spare you the rest, but suffice it to say that that paragraph drones on and on, and gets even more ridiculous before it is concluded.

The organization of the book is so confusing that there is actually a key to decoding the format at the beginning. The format is extremely unpleasant. Avant-garde? Yes! Readable? No! Largely the book is an index (hence the title) taken alphabetically, but there is an abundance of information in tiny font adjacent to the text in the gutters, which are, inexplicably, the hideous color of green found in the interior of a school bus.

Among the horrid design of the pages and the tiny graphics that rarely are directly associated with anything else on the page or under discussion, there is some genuinely brilliant commentary on contemporary architecture, which is, after all, why someone would buy this book. Due to these occasional pithy insights, combined with a few brilliant illustrations, I give the book two stars.

I would not recommend this book to many people, probably only practicing architects, and only with the strong caveat that it is very unpleasant and annoying reading trying to sort the wheat from the chaff, hidden as the wheat is among the pomposity and pretentiousness of the text. This book could have been utterly wonderful; instead it was one of the most trying reading experiences in recent memory. ... Read more

Book Description

A photographic directory and reference, covering over 350 types of stone used in architecture and interior design. A unique resource for architects, interior designers, builders, and their clients, this guide explains the terminology, classification, and characteristics of the "dimension stone" used in interior and exterior architecture, including granite, marble, quartzite, and other stones. It provides high-quality photographs of over 350 representative samples grouped by color and type, together with a summary of the aesthetic qualities, technical properties, availability, and application of each group. A gallery of sixty additional photographs shows examples of actual projects built with natural stone.

A CD-ROM packaged with the book contains screen-resolution TIFF images of all the samples for both the Mac and Windows platform. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

a like value for hobbyists, afficionados, and professionals
Natural Stone a Guide to Selection, is a goldmine of information. The true-to-color plates appeal to the aesthetics while the no-nonsense technical information allows to distinguish between stones suitable for various uses. Whether you are shopping for a new kitchen or floor surface, or simply wish to appreciate how generous Mother Nature truly is -- this is a resource for chosing marble, granite, travertine, or stone. ... Read more

Book Description

This fully revised edition of the pocket book includes everyday information which the architect/designer normally has to find from a wide variety of sources and which is not always easily to hand. The book is of use to the student as well as the experienced practitioner. There is no similar compendium currently available.


The book includes data about planning, structure, services, building elements, materials and addresses, and is intended to be used both at the drawing board and on site.

The selection of the material by the author is based on many years' experience of architectural practice in both public and private offices.

Now fully updated to take into account the new 2002 editions to the Building Regulations documents H, J, L1 and L2.

Charlotte Baden-Powell was trained at the Architectural Association in London and has practised as an architect for 38 years. She began by working for British Rail and later for Sir Denys Lasdun. Since then she has run her own practice in London and Bath, dealing with new works as well as the restoration and extension of old buildings. She has written and lectured about the design of kitchens and bathrooms and is the author of Fireplace Design and Construction.

* Saves you time by gathering together essential, useful and practical information for both the student and practising architect
* Invaluable to students whose theoretical courses do not prepare them for the practicalities of professional practice
* Keeps you up to date by including 36 pages of new information looking at a broad range of current issues from bicycle parking spaces to types of paint ... Read more

Book Description

Computer-aided design (CAD) technology has already changed the practice of architecture, and it has the potential to change it even more radically. With Architecture's New Media, Yehuda Kalay offers a comprehensive exposition of the principles, methods, and practices that underlie architectural computing. He discusses the aspects of information technology that are pertinent to architectural design, analyzes the benefits and drawbacks of particular computational methods, and looks at the potential of emerging computational techniques to affect the future of architectural design.

CAD technology, introduced in the postwar era and adopted in everyday architectural practice beginning in the 1970s, is now so indispensable that, as William Mitchell observes in his foreword, architectural practice without it is "as unimaginable as writing without a word processor." Yet, Kalay argues, it has had little qualitative effect. This book provides a detailed introduction for practitioners, educators, students, and researchers to aspects of CAD that go beyond the improvements in drafting, modeling, and rendering for which it is commonly used. Computer-aided architectural design (CAAD) is capable of modeling and manipulating objects (not merely their graphical representations), reasoning about and predicting performance of design solutions, generating new design solutions through algorithmic and other methods, managing vast amounts of information, and taking advantage of opportunities offered by the Internet for collaboration across time and space and for design of the virtual "space" of the Internet itself.

Architecture's New Media covers five main topics: design methods and computer technology and the relationship between computers and design; the principles of communication and representation; generative design methods; the advantages of computational methods for predicting and evaluating the performance of design solutions; and current and future developments in technology, including collaborative design, intelligent design assistants, construction automation, and virtual design environments. ... Read more

Book Description

With over 50,000 terms, this book provides comprehensive coverage of four allied but separate industrial sectors: Constructive, Forestry, Surface Mining and Public Works. The definitions have been compiled to be of use to a wide range of professionals. ... Read more

Book Description

*The first book to reference the new International Building Code, making it a definitive resource for all practicing architects and engineers
*The only illustrated code book in existence--dimensioned line drawings help designers and builders visualize code requirements quickly and easily, speeding along the building process
*Points out differences between the newly integrated universal building code and the old Uniform, Southern, and National Building Codes ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Illustrated 2000 Review
I have had a couple of months now to review this book. It is very detailed in many construction techniques. There is a senario for almost every project a contractor or dedicated homeowner could do. The information in the book can be overwhelming, however, with some time to become familiar with the book, it becomes easier to follow.

Note: not for residential applications.
Great book, but you should know this book is *commercial* oriented, not residential.

Illustrated 2000 Breaks the Building Code
As the scientific world hails the completion of the first working draft of the human genome map, design professionals can hail the completion of Author Terry L. Patterson's work on understanding the 2000 International Building Code.

As a design professional with the responsibility to interpret and understand the numerous building codes and countless amendments, the methods of code research can be exhausting and ill productive. The current format and language used in most building codes lack the framework and illustrations that are needed to join the terms and definitions into an understandable and correct conclusion.

Patterson's purpose is to provide an aid to understanding the 2000 International Building Code. The handbook is a success by providing the necessary framework and illustrations that aids the reader to understanding the building code's intent as it relates to real projects.

The price of $125.00 may seem a little steep at first, but the cumulative time saved by using the handbook will more than pay for itself many times over.

Patterson's work includes the research and input by many design professionals, students and building code officials. The collective efforts by many have produced a handbook that is a must for all design professionals. As all design and construction officials know, a complete and accurate interpretation of the building codes is never complete. In the Preface, Patterson asks the reader to provide useful feedback that can be used for future editions. With the continued combined efforts of many, this Handbook has promise and will continue to be a useful tool for all.

Many thanks to Mr. Terry L. Patterson for helping the design professional to understanding the "genome map" of the 2000 International Building code. ... Read more

Book Description

A sophisticated blend of ambience and attitude.

From cobblestones to churches, row houses, fishing boats, and tree-lined streets, Brooklyn boasts enriching public spaces and diversely beautiful landscapes.

The illustrious history of Brooklyn comes to life in this guide, which focuses on northern and central Brooklyn, including the oldest urbanized areas, the vast "brownstone belt," and some of the principal industrial areas such as:

·Downtown

·Brooklyn Heights

·Prospect Park

·Fort Greene and Clinton Hill ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A delightful compendium from our city¿s best tour guide
Rare is the architectural guidebook that merges intricate depictions of the masterpieces with compelling tales about how they came to be. Yet that is precisely what Mr. Morrone has accomplished with this tome, which shows off a borough he clearly loves to great effect. This is a book you can, and should, hold in your hands as you walk through the neighborhoods Mr. Morrone has chosen to include. He made me love Brooklyn even more than I thought possible, and made me wish I lived both in this era and some many years ago, when the many buildings and neighborhoods he describes were coming into being. A must-have book for anyone who intends to look at the buildings of Brooklyn, whether for scholarly pursuits or for pure weekend pleasure.

Factually dead on, but a tad fatiguing
Everything in this book is 100% correct: Mr Morrone is doubtless a perfectionist in his research and I mean that as a compliment. You want to know the history of a building, an area in Brooklyn or an architect, this book is the ne plus ultra.

I give it 3 stars because his writing style is a tad heavy. It reminds me of Frasier Crane, he of the tv show "Frasier".

But it is good enough to merit a double purchase: One you keep at home and the second you rip out pages at a time as you work your way through the various sections/chapters in Brooklyn. I am never in favor of destroying books, but given the size of this tome, buying two and giving one of them a good going over in the streets of Brooklyn is entirely acceptable.

An Delightful and Necessary Addition to New York Guides
An elegant writer and gifted independent scholar, Francis Morrone has done his adopted home proud in An Architectural Guidebook to Brooklyn. With sharp descriptions and apposite facts, Morrone conveys both the complexity and vibrancy of one of New York City's largest boroughs. Readers may well disagree with a few of his assured opinions but what use is a guidebook without a point of view? Morrone's perceptive comments, illustrated by James Iska's graceful photographs, make An Architectural Guidebook to Brooklyn a boon for both the Brooklyn visitor and the armchair New York fan alike.

A Spirited Urban Delight
Francis Morrone's new book on the architecture of Brooklyn proves once again that he is not just a masterful prose stylist, he is a uniquely high-spirited urbanist of wide-ranging tastes, keen architectural discrimination and infectious enthusiasms. At every page I wanted to jump up and rush out to Brooklyn to walk up and down the streets with *An Architectural Guidebook to Brooklyn* in hand, sharing Francis Morrone's delight in Brooklyn's wonderful, and even its less wonderful, buildings. A popular lecturer on New York City history at NYU, and long-time principal guide for the Municipal Art Society of New York, Morrone does not merely describe the architecture of his own borough, Brooklyn, he savors it, he uncovers it--many Brooklyn treasures have never been described in print before this book--and he loves it. He knows the fascinating histories of the buildings and their owners, he knows his architecture, he looks not just at the buildings but at the neighborhoods and the whole borough. He has read deeply, he has walked the streets of the borough many times, and his research has even taken him to the best web sites. A wonderful, richly detailed, helpfully illustrated book for every urbanist, architecture fan, history buff and, indeed, for every reader. If you love cities, architecture and good writing, read this book!

passionate and intelligent
Morrone's passion for urban life is infectious. He puts things in a broad historical and cultural context to give a real sense of how and why the neighborhoods of Brooklyn evolved. Few books of this kind even attempt to do that, let alone do it well. The book is well written, with many astute observations, and often very funny. ... Read more

Book Description

From Sir Christopher Wren's churches to the Victorian Byzantine of Westminster Cathedral to the Roman city wall of St. Pancras station: London boasts an array of impressive buildings from several different periods. And, every one worth seeing is right here in these pages, with over 950 illustrated entries, 16 street-finder maps showing the exact location of every referenced structure, and more than 1000 photographs, drawings, and time charts. A general introduction outlines the history of London's architecture from Roman times, and there's background for each individual area, as well. All entries appear in chronological order within their geographical sections, and special features include a series of plans showing the development of the London squares. A unique sourcebook, written by two architects.
... Read more

Reviews (1)

The all-inclusive guide to London architecture of all eras
This is a thorough treatment of London architecture, covering not only iconic landmarks like Buckingham Palace (although they're here too), but as well, buildings from all eras across Greater London. Post-WWII architecture is surprisingly well represented. The region is divided into a grid of 24 squares, each of which is illustrated with a detailed map (except outlying areas), and this grid is used for organizing the book into chapters. In all, over 900 buildings are included, each with a 2 inch x 2 inch photo and a description of three or four sentences. Floor plans are shown for each of Wren's churches and for a handful of other buildings.Appendices have maps showing 'The Great Estates,' London squares in chronological order, and 'The Inns of Court.' ... Read more

Book Description

An overview of the built work of architect Steven Holl, Idea and Phenomena focuses on the sculptural expression inherent in his designs, material, composition, and use of light. Apparent in such projects as his Makuhari Housing in Chiba, Japan, where he designed a new city block on dredged fill at the rim of Tokyo Bay, Holl has devoted over 20 years of his professional life to exploring the use of movable walls for creating variety and what he calls "spaces for individual life." Even more essential to his oeuvre is what critic Herbert Muschamp has described as its "astonishing sculptural presence," created from the "strikingly assured interplay between windows and walls, curves and grids, voids and planes." In his fine-fibered use of materials, Holl employs his principle of "the stone and the feather," juxtaposing thin sheets of zinc roofing with rough concrete walls along knife-edged junctures. The results, as Idea and Phenomena clearly shows, from the first sketch to the final construction, are buildings alert to emotional needs, the spiritual properties of space, and the specifics of their own surroundings.

Essays by Dietmar Steiner, Michael Bell, Wolf Prix and Yehuda E. Safran.

Hardcover, 128 pages, 80 color and 20 b&w images. ... Read more

Book Description

Desk-top guide to your professional rights and obligations Are you prepared for legal problems that could easily come up in your practice? Will you know when it's wise to call a lawyer and how to work with him or her for outcomes favorable to you? In a new edition that takes a keen look at how the law is adapting to fast-changing technology, Contracts and the Legal Environment for Engineers & Architects, Sixth Edition, by Joseph T. Bockrath, gives you a sound foundation in basic legal principles, emphasizing your own area of contracts and specifications. This savvy advisor uses illustrations drawn from recent litigation to help you understand:*Types of contracts *Performance or breach of contract obligations *Termination of contracts *Contracts for construction and engineering services...advertising for bids...proposals *Contract clauses relating to finances, including damage claims, extras, partial and withheld payments *Professional liability of architects and engineers *Much, much more ... Read more

Reviews (1)

textbook style, complete overview
I read this book as a contractor seeking to modify my standard contract to that which would apply to architects and engineers as sub-contractors. This book clearly introduces every aspect of contracts, and amplifies the reasoning behind these aspects using cases and examples. This book is only for those who wish to study and apply these concepts. It has no "templates" or boilerplate contracts. It is very valuable in developing an understanding of what is in construction contracts and why. ... Read more

Book Description

In this long-awaited work, Dalibor Vesely proposes an alternative to the narrow vision of contemporary architecture as a discipline that can be treated as an instrument or commodity. In doing so, he offers nothing less than an account of the ontological and cultural foundations of modern architecture and, consequently, of the nature and cultural role of architecture through history. Vesely's argument, structured as a critical dialogue, discovers the first plausible anticipation of modernity in the formation of Renaissance perspective. Understanding this notion of perspective against the background of the medieval philosophy of light, he argues, leads to an understanding of architectural space as formed by typical human situations and by light before it is structured geometrically. The central part of the book addresses the question of divided representation--the tension between the instrumental and the communicative roles of architecture--in the period of the baroque, when architectural thinking was seriously challenged by the emergence of modern science.

Vesely argues that to resolve the dilemma of modernity-- reconciling the inventions and achievements of modern technology with the human condition and the natural world--we can turn to architecture and its latent capacity to reconcile different levels of reality, its ability to relate abstract ideas and conceptual structures to the concrete situations of everyday life. Vesely sees the restoration of this communicative role of architecture as the key to the restoration of architecture as the topological and corporeal foundation of culture; what the book is to our literacy, he argues, architecture is to culture as a whole. He concludes by proposing a new poetics of architecture that will serve as a framework for the restoration of the humanistic role of architecture in the age of technology. ... Read more

Book Description

With nearly six hundred photographs and drawings of more than one hundred churches and chapels throughout Europe, this elegantly designed volume presents a panoramic examination of church building in post World War II Europe. For the first time since the nineteenth century, the design and construction of houses of worship has resurfaced as a major focus in contemporary architecture and this stunning volume shows why.

From England, Scotland and Ireland to Italy, Portugal, and Spain, throughout Scandinavia and including Germany, Austria and Switzerland, the churches studied here illustrate the many ways religious sentiment lends itself to the architectural discipline. The range of artistry is equally vast, featuring works by Alvar Aalto, Mario Botta, Egon Eiermann, Le Corbusier, Carlo Scarpa, Rudolf Schwarz, Alvaro Siza, Heinz Tesar, Aldo Van Eyck and Peter Zumthor. In addition, essays by respected architectural historians as well as prominent theologians discuss the variety of ecclesiastical buildings as well as how the church is viewed both from a Roman Catholic and Protestant perspective. Students of religion and architecture alike will find much to learn from and admire in this unique and richly illustrated book. ... Read more

Book Description

This highly original and sophisticated look at architecture helps us to understand the cultural significance of the buildings that surround us. It avoids the traditional style-spotting approach and instead gives us an idea of what it is about buildings that moves us, and what it is that makes them important artistically and culturally. The book begins by looking at how architecture acquires meaning through tradition, and concludes with the exoticism of the recent avant-garde period. Illustrations of particular buildings help to anchor the general points with specific examples, from ancient Egypt to the present day. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Western architecture as fashion
"Style" comes from the Greek word for column, as the author explains in the book. Which is just one of many fascinating facts contained inside this look at the the most expensive of fashion statements. It especially focuses on Western European architecture from about the Rennaissance on, when architecture as a profession began, although Classical and Gothic are covered because they are, after all, the models for all that followed. But it's no textbook chronology of well-known buildings.

Instead it's an essay on society and its buildings, by someone knowledgeable enough to be able to toss in a new fact about all the familiar names. (Although his claim that the extra glass in the Reitveldt Schroder house required an industrial boiler that cost as much the house itself is a little hard to believe.)

The writing is witty, full of good stories, and avoids the cliches often found in these books. Even manages references to recent movies, like Fight Club (the character's excessive brand consciousness) and Amelie (showcases the venerable Art Nouveau subway stations).

somewhat interesting, perfect if you know nothing
it serves its purpose very well. i skipped the second chapter because it didn't seem to interesting to me. but the other two chapters were good. i learned plenty from it. i got a few very good points from it, but it seems like the same major points were stated over and over again, but that's how i feel about everything educational i read. ... Read more

Book Description

Vernacular - or traditional - architecture encompasses most of the buildings of the world. This encyclopedia is the first to show the remarkable diversity of the buildings constructed and lived in by the people of over a thousand cultures. The first of the three volumes focuses on the theories, principles and philosophy that underpin traditional architecture. Volumes 2 and 3 consider these principles within specific cultural and societal contexts. As building traditions vary widely within some countries and extend across the political boundaries of others, the encyclopedia considers vernacular architecture within its cultural rather than its national contexts. Richly illustrated with photographs, line drawings and maps, the work is also supported by a glossary, a lexicon, and the largest bibliography on the subject ever published. This work will be an inspiration and resource for architects, anthropologists, folklorists and geographers, and important for all who help shape housing and conservation policies. ... Read more

Book Description

Chicago Architecture, 1872-1922: Birth of a Metropolis accompanies a major traveling exhibition of the same name.Including twenty essays by leading specialists, it surveys those international interactions which helped Chicago to become the mid-western metropolis that it is today.This lavishly illustrated volume, which also contains an extensive catalogue section and an annotated bibliography, provides a contribution of lasting value to the scholarship on this important topic.

The second volume and sequel is Chicago Architecture and Design 1923-1993, which is the first volume to document the architectural evolution of the city in relation to the social and architectural environments before and after the Great Depression and World War II. The book identifies significant changes in city planning, land use, and transportation, and it explores some of the most exciting architecture in the world in the context of America's political, social, and cultural climate.

The book contains over 600 illustrations, including line drawings of key sites and specially commissioned photographs of buildings, furniture, and other artifacts. The plates are accompanied by extensive annotations. Seventeen original and authoritative essays by scholars working in a variety of fields, including design history and American studies, offer a panoramic view of the mature twentieth-century city. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Outstanding Architectural Overview of Chicago
This two volume set is a collection of essays from experts, each dealing with an aspect of Chicago's growing and evolving architecture from before the fire `til today. This isn't just a study of the evolution of skyscrapers. It covers everything from the region's airports, to shopping malls, to personal residences. But yes, Chicago's role in the evolution of high rise buildings does take center stage. If Chicago architecture fascinates you, this two-volume collection is a must. And if you'd like to learn how a big city adjusts to changing social and technical forces, there's an awful lot here. From the impact of the car, to the impact of zoning restrictions - yes, there's a reason why the Chicago and New York skylines are very different - this book will tell you how and why a city grows. Some authors you'll greatly enjoy, and some are dry as dust. But each essay is just 10 pages or so long, so you can skip what you don't like and move on to areas of interest. The books are chock full of photographs, which is worth the purchase price even without any text. ... Read more

Book Description

A graceful combination of eccentric and traditional architecture.

Portland, Oregon, is a city widely known for its civic planning, preservation of historic buildings, attractiveness, and inviting atmosphere.

Within the five-mile downtown district can be found skyscrapers, nineteenth-century cast-iron-front buildings, a riverfront park, old brick warehouses and breweries still in operation, a train station with a 150-foot clock tower, five bridges, and a rich assortment of museums, government buildings, and shops. With more than 250 entries, this comprehensive guide includes the following:

·Pioneer Courthouse

·Union Station

·Chinese Classical Garden

·U.S. Bancorp Tower

·Historic Bridges

·U.S. National Bank Building

Please visit An Architectural Guidebook to Portland, the author's personal website, for more on this informative book. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

A surprisingly fun read!
I picked up a copy of this book in the Portland Airport, although I will confess that I didn't have high hopes for it. This guidebook turned out to be a great traveling companion. Its short entries are perfect for bursts of reading, and the the book really keeps the history (and humor!) flowing. I appreciated the book's ongoing commentary and interesting (even bizarre) facts. King seems to have done a great job of providing a thorough overview of the city's buildings, from the oldest to ones from the 21st century.
I would not only highly recommend this book for the casually interested, and the architecture expert, but also for the disinterested . . . it will hook them in!

Easy to read, enjoyable
I have lived in Portland for 7 years. I really enjoyed this book. It is fun to carry this book while walking through downtown Portland.

Not a thoughtful work, but worth having.
This book is the only resource available if you're interested in the architecture of Portland, Oregon, but it has its problems. Mr. King is not an architectural critic, but rather a fan of Portland architecture, especially, apparently, that of the early 1900s. Few Modern buildings are reviewed, or reviewed well. There is an odd political commentary infused throughout the book which does little to help the reader gain insight into the architecture of this City. For example, he inexplicably calls the urban planner Robert Moses a "fascist" without any explanation as to why. About the convention center he observes: "one of those dreadful holding pens full of glad-handing salespeople and marathon foot journeys to get to the restroom." Many of his reviews are as hollow and as tinny as a grammar student who has been told to fill the page with a certain number of words: "Measuring sixteen stories high on its east side, the Federal Courthouse is the most ambitious building constructed in Portland during the 1990s and certainly the most expensive public building in Portland." (Huh?)

While this book doesn't achieve the critical level necessary to qualify as an architectural guide, it's still worth having as an introduction to Portland architecture---but skip the homilies by Mr. King, they're time wasted in your exploration of the buildings of this great City.

Amazing Voice!
I purchased this book thinking it would be a great addition to my coffee table, although of no interest to me! What a big surprise! I found this book to be charming and extremely well written. I enjoyed reading about places I have been and places I would like to go. Mr. King's voice is incredible, his sense of humor and knowledge sparkles in his writing. I especially enjoyed the little known and humorous facts included in many of the sections (they are bulleted). Enjoy!!

I couldn't believe it. . .
I bought this book because I work with the author. I assumed it would gather dust on the coffee table while making me look smarter for owning it. BIG SURPRISE!! I finished my novel and picked up Mr. King's book last week. I have to tell you, I thoroughly enjoyed it! Not only did I find stories about places I have been, I learned about new places I would like to see. The bullets at the end of each section are some of the best writing, in my opinion. Mr. King's voice in this book carries the reader through. Enjoy!! ... Read more

Book Description

This 36th volume of Perspecta -- America's oldest and most distinguished student-edited architecture journal -- begins with the assumption that association is a tool of creativity and analysis. The axiomatic modernist oppositions of macro/micro, literal/phenomenal, nature/industry, either/or, and both/and have evolved from an argumentative tool into a narrative method.

Juxtapositions create conflict. "Juxtapositions" attempts to reclaim the breadth, scope, and relevance of the early volumes of Perspecta through meaningful juxtapositions -- what might be termed poignant adjacency. Thus a critique of studio education is deepened by its adjacency to discussions of technology and urbanism, to visual art, to old modernism, to balkanization and globalization, to film, to fear of war, and to the annihilation and creation of cities. The juxtapositions (graphic and ideological) in the volume, although created with editorial consideration, seek to evade and subvert that consideration in favor of unforeseen overlap. This is meant as a provocation -- not intentless, but ultimately intent-proof, a landscape upon which the unexpected can occur. ... Read more

Book Description

Antonio Sant’Elia (Como 1888-Monfalcone, 1916), a notable Italian futurist architect was, especially after his early death, an important influence on the evolution of modern architecture. He studied in Milan and Bologna. He undertook few commissions and those which were completed were either later demolished or transformed. His imaginative drawings for future cities were displayed in 1914.He wrote two theoretical essays: Messagio and Manifesto dell’architettura futurista. In his projects the influence of the Vienna Secession, especially that of Otto Wagner, can be discerned, as well as the impact of the American skyscraper.His most important works were the Villa Elisi (1912), and his project for the "New City" in 1914 (la Città Nuova). He volunteered for the army in the First World War and died in the battle of Monfalcone. ... Read more