Customer Reviews

A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Piedmont North Carolina

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am a documentary photographer, specializing in endangered historic buildings. Having explored New England for a number of years, I am in the process of moving to Charlotte, NC.
This book will be the starting point for my work in the south. It is well organized, with sites listed by counties and there are clear maps. The book is detailed, with a good basic history of the area at the beginning. A particularly nice feature is the notation as to whether a site is private, open to the public or may just be viewed from the highway. I also own the Guide to the Historic Architecture of Western North Carolina and find it equally valuable.

I've enjoyed this book ever since I bought it hot off the presses back in 2003. Its coverage is absolutely exhaustive. The entries are long enough to be truly informative, but short enough to keep your attention from wandering. There are many effective small black & white photographs that make for hours of casual browsing. A word of warning on this point, however: The book is not intended to be a picture book, but is a reference work. Don't buy this one for your coffee table.

The author includes an introductory essay about the development of architecture throughout the region, and then tears loose on the catalog of buildings; a wonderland of dates, styles, functions and locations. This book, along with its companion volumes for eastern and western North Carolina, does justice to a beautiful state, rich in historic sites.

A must for all architectural historians, preservationists and serious enthusiasts. They don't get any better.

My mom moved to Charlotte, and thought this book might list not only architectural landmarks, but places to visit as well. This was a little less than expected.


This book is broken up into two sections. The first is interesting - 70-odd pages on the 'history' of architecture in the Piedmont area. Some nice reading, some learning on why things are they way the are, and how certain styles made their appearance into NC.

The second part, the bulk of the book, is a bit of a dictionary of examples. Small black & white photos with short descriptions of the buildings and their architecture. This part was kind of dry, and of better use as a reference than good reading. It was surprising to see entries like "There's a great example of XX on 1234 main street". Well, it may be a great example, but I'm not exactly going to drive to this persons house to admire their house. Given that, the small, B&W photos, it make it hard to appreciate the examples given.

I also have to give my gripe about a lot of books today - printing in color today is cheap. having a book such as this on architecture, color would do so much to enhance my experience in the architecture examples. Yet despite the grand cover, all the photographs in this book are small and black and white. Big let down.

I expected a lot from this book, and was disappointed. it might be a great book for a classroom or such, but not the best choice for your coffee table.