No comments about Historic Ranches of Texas.

No comments about Building Without Borders: Sustainable Construction for the Global Village (Natural Building Series).

1 comments about Pewter Wing, Golden Horns, Stone Veils.

1. I picked up this book in the remainder bin at the bookstore of the Centre for Canadian Architecture in Montreal at a good price. I had heard of the late John Hejduk from some architect friends, and was interested in how he was described to me: an architect who uses drawings, poems and travel to create a narrative framework for his buildings and proposals. "Pewter Wings" falls definately into this category; this book traces Hejduk's travels through Spain to highlight his interest in sacred spaces of architecture--churches, cathedrals and chapels in particular. More than a document of his plans and ideas for new places of spiritual awe, this book traverses the fine lines between mental and physical landscapes, arguing for a holistic approach to building design. Focusing on regional folklore, "Pewter Wings" suggests that architecture should somehow participate in- and contribute to- the mythmaking of a particular site, and ultimately act as a "poetic cohesion" to bring these places of worship to life. Containing hundreds of watercolour paintings, travelogues and poems, this beautiful book allows a narrative to unfold between these various mediums. "Pewter Wings, Golden Horns, Stone Veils" is a delicious, throught-provoking read that suggests an inspiring alternative to the traditional architectural strictures of site, form and functionality.

No comments about Chartres Cathedral: Illustrations, Introductory Essay, Documents, Analysis, Criticism (Norton Critical Studies in Art History).

2 comments about Dominion of the Eye: Urbanism, Art, and Power in Early Modern Florence.

1. I am one of Marvin Trachtenberg's students, so I am not the most objective evaluator of his book. However, I wanted to add to the record that it was selected the most distinguished work of scholarship in its field in 1999 by both the U.S. Society of Architectural Historians (it was awarded the Alice Davis Hitchcock Prize) and the College Art Association (who awarded it the Charles Rufus Morey prize). Trachtenberg had already been honored with a Hitchock prize in 1973 for his first book, "The Campanile of Florence Cathedral, 'Giotto's Tower'." The last book to win both awards was Richard Krautheimer's now-classic "Rome: Profile of a City, 312-1308."



2. IT IS A SHAME THAT A GREAT BOOK LIKE THIS ONE, WITH GREAT QUALITY IN PRINTING HAS SO MANY BAD DRAWINGS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. I HAVE READ THE FORMER ESSAY WRITEN BY TRACHTENBERG, "WHAT BRUNELESCHI SAW" AND THE DRAWINGS AND IMAGES ARE THE SAME FOR THE MOST PART. THERE ARE SOME NEW IMAGES THAT ARE REALLY GREAT AND SOME THAT I MISSED IN THE NEW BOOK. FOR EXAMPLE THE "SKETCHY" PLAN OF PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA THAT HE DREW IN HIS FORMER ESSAY, AND IN WICH HE SHOWS OR PROVES HIS THEORY ABOUT THE MESUREMENTS OF THE SPACE IS ABSENT. DID HE REPLACE IT WITH THE SURVEY MAP OF THE SAME PIAZZA SHOWN ON PAGE XIV OF THE PREFACE? I AM, INTRESTED IN HIS MICRO-HISTORICAL STUDY OF THE PIAZZA, LOOKING BACK AT THESE SPACES THAT WEREN'T SO IRATIONALY CONCEIVED. I DID A LITTLE HOMEWORK AND MADE A "BLOW-UP" OF THE SURVEY MAP TO A KNOWN SCALE(1:500m). I STARTED TO CORROBORATE HIS MESURMENTS OF THE PIAZZA AND I FELT THAT ALL HIS THEORY (I HAVE TO ADMIT I LIKED IT) COLAPSED. AS A THIRD YEAR ARCHITECTURAL STUDENT I HOPE THAT SOMEONE WITH MORE SCHOLARSHIP ON THE THEME SHOULD REVIEW THIS BOOK. I HAVE HEARD THAT THE JOURNAL OF ARCHITECHTURAL REVIEW IS INTRESTED IN REVIEWING IT AND I IMAGINE THAT THEY WILL BE MORE CRITICAL. IT IS MY FEELING THAT WITH OTHER DRAWINGS AND MORE POWERFULL ILLUSTRATIONS (I'M NOT SAYING THAT THE ONES THAT HE HAS AREN'T) TRACHTENBERG WOULD MADE CLEARER HIS THEORIES. FOR ALL IT'S SHORT-COMINGS IT IS A BOOK THAT SAYS NEW THINGS ABOUT MEDIEVAL PUBLIC SPACES.

1 comments about The Drive-In, the Supermarket, and the Transformation of Commercial Space in Los Angeles, 1914-1941.

1. A fascintating look at the cultural history of Los Angeles and the way in which commercial spaces played a part in developing it. A must for anyone that's seriously interested in more than the usual history lesson on Tinsletown. Actually, more than simply Los Angeles, this book gives clues as to how the development of commericial spaces that we've come to take for granted have influenced cultural history across the entire nation, with Los Angeles leading the way in innovation.

No comments about Architecture Criticism Ideology:: Revisions, Volume 1 (Revisions, Papers in Architectural Theory & Criticism).

No comments about Freshen Your Paintings With New Ideas.

No comments about Seaside Picket Fences.

1 comments about Introduction to Engineering Construction Inspection.

1. I've found that this book is ideal guide to junior Civil Engineers, like me, working in supervision field. It puts your feet on the correct path. Thanks to Mr. Fisk and Mr. Rapp for their great efforts.