Architecture Book Reviews
We believe an architect is only as good as his library. This is because books are tools that supply you with information and help you to solve the many different types of problems that you will encounter in the profession of architecture. We only review books that are in our libraries and that we have read. Our reviews delve deeper into the book than the synopsis supplied by the publisher and analyze the quality and content of the book by supplying verbal and image excerpts. If you think that you would like to purchase any of these books, please do so through the link supplied in the review, which will direct you to our Amazon site. By doing this you can help to support the Critique This website and allow for future development.
The Heights: Anatomy of a Skyscraper
Having designed a handful of skyscrapers in my career, I was excited to review this book in hopes that it would meet the need within the skyscraper design community for an authoritative reference on the typology similar to The Architect’s Studio Companion: Rules of Thumb for Preliminary Design or Heino Engel’s Structure Systems, both of which are books that sit at my desk as invaluable aides that I use throughout the design process. In The Heights: Anatomy of a Skyscraper, Kate Ascher attempts to create “the ultimate guide to the way skyscrapers work”, however instead of creating an essential reference text Ascher’s book serves as an introductory primer to the design problem of the skyscraper.
Louis I. Kahn: Beyond Time and Style: A Life in Architecture
Louis I. Kahn: Beyond Time and Style: A Life in Architecture is not a monograph containing photos of Kahn’s masterpieces. Although it is technically a biography, Carter Wiseman offers readers something more. Wiseman manages to bring Kahn to life through his words. It is a book that is about more than architecture, it’s about the life of Kahn, his pain, anguish and tortured relationship with architecture. For any student or architect that has fallen in love with Kahn’s work, and his religion of architecture, then this book is a must read. For anyone that is a skeptic or hater, this book gives an invaluable insight into the spirit of Louis Kahn. … continue reading Louis I. Kahn: Beyond Time and Style: A Life in Architecture
Cheap Piano: Renzo Piano Building Workshop 1966-2008
Everybody loves the work of Renzo Piano, even his bad buildings. Until now, monographs and texts depicting the work of Piano were both expensive and outdated, highlighting popular older works of the RPBW. Piano: Renzo Piano Building Workshop 1966-2008 is 528 pages of Renzo Piano eye candy, complete with high quality color prints of nearly every building that he has designed over the last 42 years. This text could be yours for the low cost of $26.39, … continue reading Cheap Piano: Renzo Piano Building Workshop 1966-2008
It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be
For those of you who have never heard of Paul Arden, he was an executive creative director for Saatchi & Satchi a powerhouse advertisement agency which handled many large accounts such as British Airways and Toyota. The image he developed for these companies is still a part of our popular culture today. Although he is not an architect, his insights into becoming successful within creative fields is invaluable. In It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be, Arden identifies many of the pitfalls that creative professionals fall into, and these shortcomings eventually lead to a career which prevents one from reaching their full potential. … continue reading It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be
Deals for You:
Critique This! Tweets by James- I'm back! I had to take a break from writing to start my own design firm Process Architecture, LLC http://t.co/L0GdDByb
- The Heights: Anatomy of a Skyscraper is a book that University professors have been waiting for http://t.co/XvKmZ673
- Critique This is named on list of 50 Best Blogs for Architecture Students http://t.co/kdGIUm6L
- Still wondering why I ever took my iPhone to China! On a happier note, got shortlisted for red dot design award!
- On my way back from China, where apparently my linkedin account got hacked! Ignore any posts regarding job opportunities.
- A'Design Award Winners announced, and guess what? I won http://su.pr/5nUpvt
Books I Love:
It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be
For those of you who have never heard of Paul Arden, he was an executive creative director for Saatchi & Satchi a powerhouse advertisement agency which handled many large accounts such as British Airways and Toyota. The image he developed for these companies is still a part of our popular . . . continue reading book review: It’s Not How Good You Are, It’s How Good You Want To Be
Cheap Piano: Renzo Piano Building Workshop 1966-2008
Everybody loves the work of Renzo Piano, even his bad buildings. Until now, monographs and texts depicting the work of Piano were both expensive and outdated, highlighting popular older works of the RPBW. Piano: Renzo Piano Building Workshop 1966-2008 is 528 pages of Renzo Piano eye candy, complete with high . . . continue reading book review: Cheap Piano: Renzo Piano Building Workshop 1966-2008
Louis I. Kahn: Beyond Time and Style: A Life in Architecture
Louis I. Kahn: Beyond Time and Style: A Life in Architecture is not a monograph containing photos of Kahn’s masterpieces. Although it is technically a biography, Carter Wiseman offers readers something more. Wiseman manages to bring Kahn to life through his words. It is a book that is about more . . . continue reading book review: Louis I. Kahn: Beyond Time and Style: A Life in ArchitectureCritiquing this & that since August 3rd, 2009.
