1 comments about The Stones of Venice: Volume I. The Foundations (Stones of Venice).

1. No architect ignorant of "The Stones of Venice", or incapable of understanding the message which it carries, should ever be issued a diploma, or allowed in any way to ply his trade. Regrettably, few architects have heard of it, fewer still read it, and one wonders how many out of those have actually grasped its message. Yet, the root cause of the emotional desolation and the essential depravity of modern architecture lies, without a doubt, in the ignorance of this great work. Let us hope the return of the complete edition of The Stones after a century-and-a-quarter of absence engenders the long overdue change. So far as the layman, these volumes will teach him a new language, so that he will be able to hear the stories the great buildings are eager to tell him. Unfortunately, he will also hear so much more clearly the incomprehensible gibberish of those countless stillborn, crippled, and otherwise malformed edifices that should have never seen the light of the day in the first place.

4 comments about Glenn Murcutt: A Singular Architectural Practice.

1. This basically documents the architect's work but is not a great book. The photos, although good, are not top quality. There are lots of construction drawings, in a separate section (forcing a lot of flipping back and forth, BTW), but they were not redone for the book, are tiny reproductions of the originals, so not too readable. You usually at least get a floor plan, and some rough sketches in the text section, but the point of the book is not to explain how these buildings are built.

   The worst aspect is the commentary by the two authors, mere filler material. The best are the words of the architect himself, who can offer background on all his projects, and who comes across as very sincere.




2. This Review is not only an Engineer's perspective of Murcutt - it's also, in a way, a definitive statement that Murcutt has the perspective required of an Engineer.
   As a marine engineer with a keen professional and personal involvement with architecture, I have grown to respect Glenn Murcutt deeply. This book expresses much of what could be said about him, about his work, his principles and his motivation.
   I have been most impressed by the interpretation of Murcutt's architecture by the engineers associated with him, as well as the fruit borne in the lives of younger architects who have studied under his guidance, and have continued to co-labour with him in Australia today. If only it were so all over the world!
   The influence of Murcutt in our day must surely rank with that of Aalto during the past century.
   Inspired and highly recommended reading and study for all students of architecture, regional modernism and vernacular materials, as well as engineers with a passion for design.
   Brent O'Callaghan
   Engineer - Cape Town



3. I have been into Murcutt's work for a few years now, but I have been disappointed by the lack of good books on his work. Until now, the best book around was Phaidon's '3 houses'. The only projects I have been able to see have been single family houses in the middle of the australian brush--so it was pretty cool to see this book with houses (or at least A house) in an urban area as well as larger commercial type buildings (like the education center).

   As far as I know, all of his projects are shown in the book--built and unbuilt in great detail. The first 30 pages or so of the book is a collection of essays by both the authors and Murcutt. Then the book gets into his projects chronilogically--each with photographs, sketches and drawings.

   The last part of the book is a collection of 'blue-print' drawings showing the plans and more importantly the construction details of all his buildings--all in pretty good detail showing dimensions and materials.

   Im stingy with my book money--but I definately feel like I got my money's worth outta this one.




4. The Pritzker laureate selected his favorite buildings for this handsomely illustrated monograph, with its insightful text by two Australian architectural professors who know his work well. Nearly a third of the pages are devoted to drawings that illuminate Murcutt's meticulous approach to design.

No comments about Erich Mendelsohn: Built Works.

1 comments about Barn: Evolution and Adaption of a Vernacular Icon.

1. Excellent book, if the other book, Barns: Living in Converted and Reinvented Spaces is the ying, then this book is the yang. A good inspirational design book if you're interested in reusing an old barn for modern day use and staying within the original design. The text is interesting and informative with the accompanying photos following along with the text. The pictures are overall excellent, sharp, clear, in detail and professionally done, with very very few exceptions. Some buildings are shown with structural drawings that help visualize the internal timber frame or stone structure with the accompanying photogaphs. The authors seems to be a die hard traditionalist, very critical and at times mildly insulting to designers that chose to remodel the old barns in the modern way and deviating from what the original builders did. But at times understanding that the modern style is a better fate than total destruction of a old old structure.

No comments about Building Sex Pb.

No comments about Architect's Guide to Paris (Butterworth Architecture Architect's Guides).

2 comments about Architecture of the Islamic World: Its History and Social Meaning.

1. A Person who just starts to learn something about Islamic culture should read it. For people who knows a lot the catalogue at the second part of the book would be helpful but it is also not complete.



2. I love this book. It gives you a very good insight to muslim architecture and is at the same time easy to read and entertaining. As an orientalist in a postgrad study program I got to read books on the subject that are much more confusing or that are written in a slightly boring style. This book is a thorough introduction that never just stays on the surface of the matter. It does not give you a chronological account of architecture history, but answers a lot of questions like "Why it was built like it was built?" In the back part of the book you find plans and short descriptions of the most important buildings, in the first part you find a lot of good photographs and even better articles on single subjects like materials or building techniques. But the most important thing: It's NEVER boring.

No comments about Architect's Guide to Rome (Butterworth Architecture Architects Guides).

No comments about Is it all About Image: How PR works in Architecture (Architecture in Practice).

No comments about The Buildings of Detroit: A History.