Historic Preservation Handbook (Handbook) [Hardcover]

J. Kirk Irwin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 7, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0071364110 | ISBN-13: 978-0071364119 | Edition: 1

This is a practical guide to understanding historic architecture and its preservation. It shows analyzing and evaluating historic buildings in order to better renovate existing ones and create outstanding new ones. It is heavily illustrated with plans, diagrams, and photos.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Excerpts from review by Ralph Lee Scott

This work is a primer or textbook on historic preservation. It is divided into three main parts: a general overview of building forms; a short course in building components and materials; and a primer on historic building public policy issues...

Irwin attempts to help the reader to construct an analysis of communities and neighborhoods as well as individual historic buildings. He does this to show how historical structures were not just examples of period architecture, but were actually the very fabric of society. Among the techniques the author uses is the use of geometric forms to show how building elements fit into standardized shapes. In the building "craft" section Irwin covers some basic structure elements...

Overall, the author accomplishes very well what he has set out to do. He attempts to weave the individual details of historic building analysis into the larger fabric of time, place, and form...He claims the book will help teach the new generation of architectural historians and preservationists how they can "achieve the New Urbanist goal of increasing density by making it both livable and appealing," while at the same time the author explores with the reader the "heart and meaning of preservation in the twenty-first century." Libraries with historic building and architectural history collections will want to add this important work. Most readers using general collections who are interested in historic preservation will find this work a good place to start studying the field. (American Reference Books Annual )

From the Back Cover

MAKE A LITTLE HISTORY...

...by preserving history. Today, architectural reputations are being built by those adept at blending the old with the new. For many reasons, demand for skills in historic preservation is growing apace. This practical guide for planners and architects is the most complete and expert resource you can find to assist you in every aspect of historic preservation, from evaluating communities to recreating traditional building details.

FACILITATE PRESERVATION
* Apply expert analysis tools for keener insights into historic relationships and geometries, in buildings and districts
* Preserve genuine history in communities and neighborhoods, not just historic structures
* Evaluate the attitudes and sensibilities that shape neighborhoods as much as buildings do
* Resolve the paradoxes and challenges posed by historic Modernist structures more than 50 years old and new structures built with traditional techniques, or designed to look old
* Find essential information and illustrations of historic craftsmanship and classic detailing, including an extensive collection of drawings and diagrams of features such as dormers, eaves, chimneys, and window details, plus streetscapes, plans, and more in this heavily illustrated guidebook
* Achieve New Urbanist goal of increasing density by making it both livable and appealing
* Explore the heart and meaning of preservation in the twenty-first century

A practical, holistic approach to preservation, Historic Preservation Handbook helps you resolve big-picture issues while meeting your need for information on minute details.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 347 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional; 1 edition (November 7, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071364110
• ISBN-13: 978-0071364119
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,542,813 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great idea--poor execution, December 22, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Historic Preservation Handbook (Handbook) (Hardcover)

This book is definitely needed in the field of historic preservation; however, this edition is so poorly executed that I would advise against purchasing it, particularly at the full retail price... The Figures are sometimes mislabelled, and the descriptions of them within the body of the text often do not match what is actually diagrammed. The photographs are all black and white, and are frequently too dark to demonstrate the architectural feature being described. I found the errors very distracting, not to mention disconcerting in what purports to be "the most complete and expert resource you can find." I believe Mr. Irwin has written a valuable book, but I wish I had waited for the second edition.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good idea Good book, August 14, 2004

By 

Old Building Arch "Arch" (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Historic Preservation Handbook (Handbook) (Hardcover)

I would disagree with the previous reviewer's comments about this book. The book is well researched, well written, well documented, and well put together. I agree that the publisher should have used better paper and the illustrations that are oriented sideways are a distraction. But they are labelled correctly. Maybe the reviewer from Georgia thinks that the London Guarantee Building is in London not Chicago. Or maybe he has not seen the Auditorium Building tower from the west as it is shown in the book. Are there sour grapes between the lines here on the part of our reviewer from the South??

For someone interested in a serious study of preservation as an integral part of the re-making of the American city and as a part of a vital public policy process, rather than a process driven by legalistic drivel and innept stylistic analysis, then this book is indeed complete and comprehensive. For the preservationist who wants to do no more than revive what remains of Decatur,Georgia (I think there is a bandshell remaining) this book is of little value. For a person who wants to link his or her work in historic preservation to a critical dialogue about what makes vital urban settings, this is an important book to buy and well worth the price.