Customer Reviews

Classical Architecture for the Twenty-first Century: An Introduction to Design

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i am of two minds about making classical, beaux arts buildings today. on the one hand it does make for fine and elegant buildings. i believe that it is easier for a mediocre designer to produce a decent classical building than a decent modernist building. but i have misgivings about building 21st century buildings aping the style but not the construction systems of 300 years ago. we can't build they way they did, classical buildings today are like stage sets, they look great, but behind the canvas, it's all ropes and scaffolding. so, i was interested to read how and why to do classical buildings in the 21st century.

the author, jean francois gabriel, one of the last graduates of the ecole des beaux arts in paris, now teaches in the united states. he has legitimate classical credibility, unlike graves or the krier brothers.

it is a peculiar book, one part manifesto, one part text book, one part pattern book. it satisfies in none of these catagories. it seems to be written for the student, but has sections clearly directed at teachers, and has appeals to professionals to jump on the classicist bandwagon. the illustrations, many of them hand drawn in ink by the author or hand rendered in washes by his students, are lively, lovely, and engaging. i wish the same could be said of the text. the text is clear, but suffers from poor relationships between the prose and the subject illustrations, making reading somewhat difficult and jerky as your eye scans for the appropriate illustration.

the book's biggest problem, in my opinion, is that it lacks two crucial chapters. had it had a chapter on the orders, described in detail how the orders are rendered, their parts, the proportions of each part to the others, and a chapter on beaux arts planning and methods of composing buildings in plan, this book would have been far more useful to students, teachers and professionals. the orders are discussed, but not in depth or detail. thomas gordon smith's book, classical architecture/rule & invention provides a fine example of what is missing with regard to describing the orders. and frustratingly, the only mention of beaux arts organizational planning is a single throw away line about using axises and enfelades. okay...how?

the organization of the book seemed peculiar to me. in the midst of the discussions of how to treat rooms and outdoor spaces, there is a chapter on how to make watercolor wash renderings, followed by more chapters about massing and facades. the rendering chapter might have been better omitted, or placed at the end as an appendix.

there is little discussion of why classical architecture should be adopted in the 21st century, nor is there any discussion of how classical architecture gets adapted to the very different needs, uses and building types of the 21st century. it's a pretty book, i love the drawings, but of very limited usefulness to students, teachers or professionals.

THis book is a critically important and necessary tool for anyone wanting to understand classical architecture, whether to gain greater appreciation of historic buildings or in order to make new ones. Professor Gabriel's book is intended as a textbook for the study of classical design, whether in a formal architectural course or independently. In pursuit of this aim, the book presents thorough treatments of the major principles and techniques related to the discipline. His presentation of the underlying principles of classical planning, the orders, proportion, and ornament are very accessible and complete. The author manages to de-mystify the subject, while at the same time giving us an enhanced sense of the artistry behind all the examples he uses. Exhaustive treatment of the individual subjects is not his aim, but I found his comments both informative and subtle. Readers wishing to pursue any of the subjects in greater detail can avail themselves of the many references cited.
One the great advantages of Gabriel's book is that it includes so many examples from his native French tradition. Americans tend to know little in detail about French architecture and theory. This book deepens our acquaintance with the well-known architects, such as Mansart and Ange-Jacques Gabriel, but also introduces lesser known and modern French masters, most notably Emilio Terry.
Gabriel's instruction in watercolor wash rendering technique is very helpful, and the examples he illustrates, all by his former Syracuse University students, demonstrate that these skills can be learned and a high degree of proficiency attained today.
I found the book excellent in presenting this material in a way that appeals to both younger and more mature students of design. It is a welcome and needed resource.

This book was recommended to me by an architect. It clearly explains and illustrates the basic principles of classic architecture. The drawings and photographs are particularly well chosen. Though this book is not a difinitive guide, it is the best book that I have found for the reader looking for a basic understanding of the principles. I particularly enjoyed reading the chapter on "the ten timeless cannons" of classical architecture as well as the chapter entitled "The language of classical architecture: fifteen things to know."

I think that the reader would find it very useful to combine reading this book with another book: Traditional Construction Patterns, by Stephen A. Mouzon.

I highly recommend Classical Architecture, which was written in association with (and recommended by) CLASSICAL AMERICA.

I am a designer and a person who doesn't really have the patience to read through an entire design book start to finish. There are too many weeds in most... I read daily though, picking up books when I have the time. It's a random way to do things, I suppose, but works for me. Every time I pick up this book, I can quickly flip through and find something interesting and applicable to the design work I do. I am not a classicist - more towards modern - but there is solid essential advice to be found wherever you land in this book.