An Engineer Imagines [Paperback]

Peter Rice (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1998

Now in paperback, this is Peter Rice's autobiography. Rice was widely acclaimed as the greatest structural engineer of his generation, a man whom, in Renzo Piano's words, could design structures 'like a pianist who can play with his eyes shut'. Working with many of the world's greatest architects on buildings that became icons of contemporary architecture, he brought a uniquely poetic feeling to his work.

Editorial Reviews

Review

All concerned with these issues in our built environment should take the trouble to read it. -- The Architects' Journal

With more than a professional savoir-faire, the author has tried to communicate his enthusiasm and his passion to explore new trends in architecture through his work. -- L'Architecture d'aujourd'hui

[T]he book is fascinating and for those who would like to understand what engineers give to architecture, here is much of it. It is a worthy memorial to a gifted man who died far too young. -- RSA Journal

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Ellipsis London Pr Ltd; New edition edition (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1899858113
• ISBN-13: 978-1899858118
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,288,783 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A hard to reach star, but one of the brightest., March 18, 2001

By 

Jazzmountain "jazzmountain" - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Engineer Imagines (Paperback)

Peter Rice was a genius behind modern landmarks like the Sydney Opera, the Centre Pompidou, and Lloyd's Bank in London. This british structural engineer gave our world a mighty heave to the future. He humbly sings throughout this book to his love of his work, to the greatness of human mind, and to the evolution of our understanding of materials and tools.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engineering Intersects Design, May 3, 2004

By 

M. Thomsen "mark1958" (San Pedro, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: An Engineer Imagines (Paperback)

As an engineer in other media (software) who enjoys civil engineering and architecture done well, this book entertained and inspired me as few others in the last five years. Peter Rice appears to enjoy a risk, a change, a challenge. He listens to the materials to find solutions to problems, creating the practical engineering resolution to an abstract design. The newest tools, materials, techniques, talents are marshalled into the cause. But so is a spark of inspiration, an angle of attack.

The interaction of these words - risk, change, challenge, materials, engineering, design, problems, solutions - is described in a mostly auto-biographical tale. Each chapter centers on a project or two in which Rice was involved. Particularly fun was how working with the different people and cultures sometimes added to the challenge, and the result.

There is little doubt in my mind that any creative, design-centered profession can draw inspiration from this book.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Structural Engineer, November 28, 1999

By 

Mokabash - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Engineer Imagines (Paperback)

Peter Rice is arguably the greatest structural engineer of our time. Loved by Architects like Renzo Piano for his innovation and consequently his ability to make their dreams come true. An inspirational book, parts of which reads almost like poetry. A very rare breed indeed for a book on engineering.