Customer Reviews

Architecture Today

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Architecture Today is the best single volume reference I have found to date that covers not only the diversity of current architectural theory and practice but successfully relates the various "pieces" into a comprehensive, intelligible whole. Steele deftly handles a complex set of interrelated issues and personalities in a knowing and confident manner without being overwhelming. It was useful for introducing me to less-than-famous architects who none the less are having a profound effect on the built environment. The book really lives up to its title. (The profuse photographs printed on almost photo-grade paper are stunning as well and I'm tempted to buy another copy just to frame the pictures!)

James Steele's mammoth compendium of modern architecture is as definitive as can be imagined. The book combines fascinating text, highlighting his years of professional knowledge, with amazing color photographs, to yield one of the most breathtaking large-format architectural books I have ever seen.

Most stunning in this book is the photography. The breadth of buildings photographed is amazing, and all developments in modern architecture including minimalism, post-modernism, European rationalism, and deconstructivism are well covered. I particularly enjoyed the sections on megastructures, world cities, and populist architecture. I noted that London seemed a tad over-represented, but I didn't mind as the examples showcased (The Ark and The Circle, for instance) were so interesting. Also displayed heavily is the deconstructivist Bernard Tschumi, whose Parc de la Villette is modestly interesting, but who otherwise seems a bit more conventional than his reputation would tend to indicate.

My favorites in the book include all the works by Michael Graves, particularly the Benacerraf House Addition, and Ken Yeang's Menara Mesiniaga Tower in Kuala Lumpur, which is a peculiarly skeletal, yet overstated building. Of course there are many other wonders in this book, and I highly recommend that anyone with an interest in contemporary architecture buy it today.

James Steele has assembled an impressive compendium of contemporary architecture up to 1997. The photographs are glorious and rightly dominate this book. The chapters correspond to various currents, more or less stemming from Modern Architecture, which is given a rather cursory review in the first chapter.

The aim is to help readers chart the often tempestuous waters of contemporary architecture, as it branches into numerous streams of thought that seem to grow ever more divergent. Steele's chapters are a little too tidy in that they encapsulate, rather than expand on the attitudes of the architects. One's appetite is barely wetted before Steele brings a chapter to a close.

He offers some alluring examples of Green Architecture of both the hi-tech and lo-tech sort, illustrating the different attitudes that emerged in the 90's. This seems the direction architecture is heading as sustainable development becomes an ever more pressing concern. It is a sharp contrast to the various intellectual movements covered in this book that deal almost exclusively with abstract architectural ideas. Steele also takes in the various popular movements such as historic revivalism, contemporary vernacular, and the theme park architecture of Disney and Las Vegas. I was drawn to his concluding chapter on "World Cities," in which he discusses the urban impact of globalization, a recurring theme in the book. He touches on some of the current popular theories on urbanism, various urban renewal projects and the unchecked sprawl of Asian cities like Shanghai.

James Steele is a committed writer who has published numerous works. I particularly liked his book on Los Angeles Architecture, which is given a chapter in this compendium. Although a Modernist at heart, he offers an even-handed treatment of the various approaches to architecture, including the ever-contentious Post-Modernism.

this book is great, it takes you through all the big moments in architecture and explains why it happened and how it happened. Great pictures and its easy and fun to read.

This book is 5+ years old now, but it doesn't show it, besides possibly missing some of the most recent developments in the field - the book starts with a brief introduction to modernism, and moves quickly to the iconic photo of the felling of the Pruit Housing project in St. Louis- symbolizing the end of modernism. Post-modern examples quickly give way to the best of contemporary architecture around the world. As other reviewers have mentioned, gorgeous, ALL COLOR photographs in large format dominate this book, as any book about the visual and contextual aspects of architecture should. As another reviewer also points out, the writing is more critical art-historical than typical coffee-table book banter, and makes for a coherent review of architecture, who's size and strenth make it a piece of architecture itself. 5 stars - surprised I'm only the 10th reviewer.

I had James Steele for many of my architectural professional classes at the University of Southern California. He has a monochromatic voice, funny cold humor and is very knowledgeable as a professor. This book is set up very similar to some of the subjects he teaches at USC and in somewhat the in same chronological order. This book is complementary to Trachenberg's "Architecture: From Prehistory to Postmodernism." which was also a very thick and insightful book. As an architectural student I had to get Trachenberg for a class, but flipping through Steele I knew they were both on the same highly written quality. Where Trachenberg left off describing architecture of the past, Steele brings us up to speed with the architecture in the modern era.

Steele explored many of the architectural style architects fall into today like: Deconstructivism, Vernacular, Expressionists, Minimalism, etc. He smoothly stratifies how architectural ideology emerges from evolving from on another and sometime on its own. The project he uses for his reference are many well-known and some less popular, but all bench mark in architectural innovation and important. Steele's descriptions of architecture are helped from outside references. He cross-references architecture with the community, pop culture, people, philosophies that shapes, influences and constitutes architecture over time. The photos are of high qualities with good angles. Some are small and some fill up a whole page.

I used this book for references in many of my writings at USC. This book is a great insight into architecture and Steele leaves few stones unturned. For the price, knowledge and pictures, this is one off the best architectural book out there.

That is one thick book! But I guess that once a while each architect should get one of these to read the broad spectrum of practice that is encompassing the world today. It is quite commendable how the author has managed to "classify" each work (rather than calling them styles). However it falls short of updating us on newer works by Koolhaas, HDM, Holl and others. Perhaps what it needs is a new section called the "avant-garde" which can include cutting edge existential work by the Europeans and rare US architects.

It also seems to ignore works of theory that are forming the basis of more experimental work these days.

There a a few "Architecture Todays" around. Still have to read the others before I can comment on this being the best.

This is an excellent reference book of not necessarily mainstream architecture for the student. One volume, relatively inexpensive, good quality book.

It has been over a month since I've ordered this book and it was never received.

i recommend this tome specially 4 students cos i see it is a great study to the architectural styles and schools in our contemporary era.. and to learn that when you want to start in designing any thing ,there is an architectural schools that we have to be aware of ,and a rules to each one . and this book makes that easy. it is for sure also very important to any one who works in the field