Customer Reviews

Experiencing Architecture

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When I was looking for some books to begin to learn about architecture (on a purely amateur level), someone recommended "Experiencing Architecture". I could not be happier with this book. The author consistently uses simple, concrete and engaging examples to illustrate his points. He compares and contrasts; uses buildings, sidewalks, windows, doorways, and steps from all over the world and across the centuries. Given my love of travel and history these references (liberally illustrated throughout the book in black and white photographs and some drawings) brought the book to life and added an additional dimension of enjoyment.

The reviews printed on the back cover say it all-"Lively without ever becoming condescending...learned without ever becoming dull" and "...so lucid and clear that every layman and beginner will be able to understand and to enjoy it". I can't recommend the book enough for anyone that has even the slightest interest in learning about architecture.

I am interested in architecture as a hobby, and as a potential career at some point in the future, so the perspective I had when reading this book was that of an informed amateur. I can't praise this little book enough. In its pages are the best explanations and analyses of contrasts, textures, shapes, and colors that I have seen in one single, condensed location.

Originally published in Denmark in 1959, and therefore lacking some of the more contemporary and postmodern design trends, this is an invaluable analysis of primarily European design through the mid twentieth century. This book is profusely illustrated with black and white photographs (most of which were taken by Rasmussen himself) and a fair number of drawings, all of which greatly assist the reader with his understanding of the material.

Specific buildings mentioned are too numerous to list, but the run the gamut from St. Peter's basilica in Rome, to the haunting and sinister Palazzetto Zuccari (also in Rome), to the ultramodern Johnson Wax Company building in Racine, Wisconsin by Frank Lloyd Wright, and the very modern study in open spaces found in the Copenhagen Police Headquarters (one of my personal favorites.)

This would be a useful guide to architects, and is the single best introduction to historical architectural style that I have yet found. Anyone with even a passing interest in architectural design or history would love this book.

Good for beginner architects. Rasmussen made my summer vacation very pleasant with Experiencing Architecture. The introduction of very key elements, such as Corbusier's modular system forces the reader to explore further the many varying conditions of architecture. Worth every penny.

Experiencing Architecture was a basic text in my first year of design school; the principles that I learned from it have followed me ever since.

Rasmussen takes the visual world apart and taught me to see things in their simplest forms. His commentaries on form, texture, and massing heightened my appreciation for all forms of design; his discussion of color--for one who is colorblind--provided a life-long guidedog.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wanted to pioneer the Lego curriculum at university--

This book was required reading for my introductory class on architecture. I was debating whether I should be an architect or not and this influenced me to pursue it. It is one of those rare theory books that I had fond memories of reading. Rasmussen, unlike most writers, is very even handed in his presentation and doesn't steer the reader into any particular style. He provides the reader with a clearer understanding of architecture and the role of architects in shaping the built environment.

Experiencing Architecture, 2nd Edition
In spite of it's age the book is still like a bible for people interested in architecture and used a lot in education. The language is not too complicated, its not too technical and there are a lot of simple but good illustrations.

In this tightly packed and perfectly illustrated book, Rasmussen manages to convey the elements that make architecture significant to people, governments, cultures, and even to historic god-believers (and why). If someone asked me to recommend one book to read about architecture, this would be it. A classic, indeed.

I read a chapter or two of this book in college and I am pleased to have it back in my possession. In the introduction, Rasmussen writes, "I have endeavored to write the present volume in such a way that even an interested teenager might understand it" and he has satisfied this ambition.

The writing is lighthearted and funny- think a PBS special- and there are lots of b/w pictures to amuse.

I also recommend John Berger's "Ways of Seeing" for a similar layperson's approach to viewing art.

I like this book very much, while reading, you feel like being on the place that is described and feel the architectural sensation.

First published in America in 1959, Experiencing Architecture sets out to explain what the essential ingredients needed to produce great architecture are. Rasmussen has appropriately considered various examples of architectural styles as a series of human experiences focusing on different aspects of the design whole, and illustrates with great lucidity the importance of their contribution to the design process. It is in this way that he successfully humanises our built environment, by analysing the varying facets of its design and how it relates to us, the inhabitants, by gauging our reactions to it.

The comprehensive yet concise summary of the built environment found in its pages is never patronising to the professional nor confusing to the uninitiated. And though written in 1959 it is still relevant today, and contains many useful lessons for people currently practising architecture. But what makes it relevant is the context in which it is written. He is never presumptuous enough to suggest he has discovered the template to creating a successful building. This is circumstantial. Rasmussen compellingly encourages openness to the experiences that architecture can offer and their sensitive implementation within our environment.

An essential read for all people striving for a greater understanding of the world being built around us.