Chambers for A Memory Palace [Paperback]

Donlyn Lyndon (Author), Charles W. Moore (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0262621053 | ISBN-13: 978-0262621052 | Publication Date: February 28, 1996

This collaboration between two distinguished architects and former colleagues is a joyous celebration of admired places and a thoughtful consideration of the role that design has played in giving these places their memorable qualities. It is also an invitation to readers to inhabit the chambers of the book with their own imaginations to join in the making of the Memory Palace proposed. The authors' informal, witty, and anecdotal style extends to the illustrations - the freehand travel sketches, line drawings, and watercolors of places they have remembered and enjoyed.Chambers for a Memory Palace consists of an exchange of letters in which one author recalls and the other responds to the elements considered essential to the art of successful place-making. Each of the book's chapters forms a chamber, and each chamber is inscribed with personal observations on the composition of places and the architectural elements central to each building, garden, court, monument, or open space described. The examples considered in these dialogues range from classic Western tradition to Asian temples and Islamic tombs, from ancient ruins to modern cities. In "Axes that Reach/Paths that Wander," Lyndon and Moore discuss the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, the Taj Mahal in Agra, Vaux le Vicomte in France, the Beverly Hills Civic Center, and the Kimbell Museum in Forth Worth. In "Orchards that Measure/Pilasters that Temper," they consider the rhythmic spacing of elements in the Mosque at Cordoba, the Cathedral at Bourges, the thousand-pillared mandapas of South Indian temples, the facades of Schauspielhaus in Berlin, and the Seagram building in New York City. They use these and many other examples to illustrate the ways in which architecture, experience, and memory intertwine to help us experience events and places.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In a "conversation in letters," two distinguished architects informally discuss architectural forms and embellishments in famous buildings and recent constructions. Here, a determined novice can learn how the concept of an axis affects the visual and structural presence of a building, as well as the impact of diverse domes, pillars, arches, terraces, courtyards and gardens. Each chapter (or, as they call it, "chamber") focuses on one theme, jumping between past and present, between Italian hill towns and San Francisco, between Spanish mosques and Disneyland. They discuss the Taj Mahal; the Hagia Sophia; mad Ludwig's castle, Neuschwanstein in Bavaria; the great Mosque at Cordoba; the Salk Institute in California; and an enormous number of other interesting structures, both familiar and lesser known. Illustrated throughout with deft sketches of the subjects discussed, the book is a prize for anyone fascinated by architecture. Moore, who died in 1993, was professor of architecture at the University of Texas; Lyndon is professor of architecture at UC Berkeley.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Offers as good an introduction to the way architects look at,and think about, the world as any I have read.... There aretreasures enough in this chamber to delight anyone interested inarchitecture." Richard Weston , The Architects" Journal

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Product Details

• Paperback: 338 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press (February 28, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262621053
• ISBN-13: 978-0262621052
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #448,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Design +, June 26, 2007

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Patricia M. Jensen "constant reader" (Weston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chambers for A Memory Palace (Paperback)

An interesting format for a discussion of design principles with beautiful pen and ink sketches. Imaginary letters written between two architects discussing well known and not so well known buildings that illustrate proportion, paths, angles and why they appeal to our eyes and hearts. Recommended by a designer whose course I took. A very pleasing book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good to start with, July 19, 2010

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Nuaman - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Chambers for A Memory Palace (Paperback)

The book is good to start with, it was the first book that was required in my first class or arts (architect) 11A at UCB, it helped a lot in showing different types of drawing styles. It is a good book to start with, its just like an intro for art students.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chambers..., September 24, 2009

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L. Shotwell (Michigan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chambers for A Memory Palace (Paperback)

Interesting book, text for a class on "Placemaking" for architecture. Great Pictures! The authors write letters to each other about many different great places. It's also, notably, not all on western architecture, there are some awesome eastern places too.