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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great survey for a layman., April 2, 2000
As a layman in the area of architecture this book served as an excellent survey of the development of architecture over the last 100 years. The book explained the material in-depth without overwhelming those of us who did not revive a formal education in architecture. For example, the explanation of the gulf that existed between architects and engineers made the development of structures all the more riveting. History, and its effect on architecture is explained in great detail, from the need for housing in post-war Europe to the excesses of Art Deco in pre-crash America. The development of architecture in both Europe and North America is detailed and explained. A detailed view of Frank Lloyd Wright's presented in all its glory. The structures detailed in this book include: skyscrapers, apartment buildings, factory complexes, greenhouses, and single-family residences. All of these structures are illustrated with large photographs as well as detailed drawings. Another notable feature of this book is the explanatory notes included with each photograph. These notes allow the reader to thumb through the book without having to read all of the text to understand the importance of the structures depicted in the photographs. The book ends with 30 pages of biographies of the influential architects of the past 100 years. This allows the reader to begin to comprehend the time and effort these great men devoted to their craft. This book would serve well as either, a coffee-table book or a reference book for those readers seeking to expand their knowledge of this area. I would recommend this book for either purpose.
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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why modern buildings look the way they do, November 4, 2005
These two books (608 pages in total) are a reprint of the 1991 edition (ISBN 3822805505) which was a book of coffee-table proportions. Nicely though, they have been updated to include architecture up to 2004. The format is basically visual with long captions explaining various themes and I thought the coverage was rather impressive, for instance, there is a chapter called 'Bubbles' dealing with the work of Buckminster Fuller, Bruce Goff, John Lautner, Roger Dean and Staffan Berglund. Most of the photos in the second book, from the forties onwards, are in color and many buildings have their relevant floor plans too. The design and production is excellent, as one would expect from Taschen. The books could possibly be criticised for basically seeing a history of modern architecture from a European and North American perspective but I feel that these two books are to be considered in introduction to the subject and at the price quite a bargain. The ideal present for an architectural student or anyone who is just curious about why great modern buildings look the way they do.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
450 photos, 150 drwings, little text,, but softcover, March 12, 2008
The 1784--1916 part sums up 18th century highlights--focusing on geometry--and concentrates on high-rises of the Chicago School and iron and glass pavilions of Europe. The 1892-1925 part depicts the pre-Modernism directions: Nieuwe Kunst, Stile Liberty, Jugendstil, and Art Nouveau. Following three more parts present Modernism and Post-Modernism. A concise compendium of architect biographies ends the volume. Along with great 450 photographs and 150 drawings, Gössel and Leuthäuser provide an array of information and professional analysis in a concise, but fully adequate text. CONTENTS: * 1784--1916 10 Prologue 16 Of Iron Giants and Glass Virgins 32 The Chicago School * 1892--1925 42 L'Entree du Siècle 66 In the Far Landscape 78 Circle and Square 90 The Modern Factory 104 Creative in Concrete * 1912--1939 118 The Return of Art 136 Volumetric Experiments 152 Housing Estates 164 Machines for Living In 174 The International Style 204 The New Deal * 1944--1971 216 Case Studies 224 Less is More 238 Stonebound 248 The Flying Roof 256 Concrete Containers * 1956--1990 270 Learning from Las Vegas 280 The Whites 292 Work on Modernism 306 The Rational South 318 Open Structures 338 The Post-Modern City 350 Bellevue 358 Concrete Poems 372 Architecture for the Arts * 393 Biographies
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