Hugh Newell Jacobsen, Architect [Paperback]

Hugh Newell Jacobsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1988 | ISBN-10: 0913962953 | ISBN-13: 978-0913962954 | Edition: First edition.

Hugh Newell Jacobsen set up an independent practice in Washington, DC over forty years ago. Since then, he has become one of America's finest architects and his projects have been built and published worldwide, earning him numerous national and international design awards. First published in 1988 by the AIA Press, this current edition has been printed on high quality art paper with enhanced imagery.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

As this handsome volume clearly documents, Jacobsen is a master at designing exquisitely detailed residences for wealthy clients. Three decades of the architect's work--over 50 projects--are here presented in chronological sequence, each elegantly photographed by Robert Lautman. Jacobsen's distinctive architecture is characterized by a preciseness of detail and a formal approach to proportion that reflect a deep interest in history and preservation. While most of the buildings illustrated here have appeared previously in architectural magazines, and while Vincent Scully's two-page introduction sheds little light on Jacobsen's oeuvre, this monograph is highly recommended for all fans of contemporary architecture.
- H. Ward Jandl, National Park Svce . , Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 351 pages
• Publisher: Aia Pr; First edition. edition (December 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0913962953
• ISBN-13: 978-0913962954
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,510,764 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Book with a Few Flaws, March 15, 2004

By 

Gerrit Buys (Pretoria, South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hugh Newell Jacobsen, Architect (Hardcover)

This book chronicles the work of Hugh Newell Jacobson until 1988. This brilliant American architect is in my opinion very underrated, as this seems to be the only book dedicated exclusively to his work.

The many plans and photographs clearly illustrate the key elements of his design philosophy. Among these are his use of simple, often symmetric plan forms, steep angled roofs and pergolas that are expressed as roof windows whenever they occur in the interior. His mastery of lighting design and the consistency of his detailing is evident in many photographs.

The book is well printed on high quality paper. Unfortunately some of the pictures seem to be scans of photographs from earlier publications, and when these occur as full page photos they are not sharp.

One wonders why this book has not been updated with this 2003 edition. Quite a number of the projects are indicated as due for completion in 1988, yet I have seen photographs of several of them in their completed state in other publications. It is furthermore a pity that the projects are not dated; one has to go to the Chronology at the back of the book to find the dates. It would also have been nice if the pictures at the Chronology where printed with the projects' main texts as some of these pictures are vital to the understanding of some of the projects.

These criticisms aside, this book is highly recommended, especially at the reduced price.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the great architects, May 16, 2009

By 

John E. Jacobsen (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hugh Newell Jacobsen, Architect (Hardcover)

Disclaimer: I am the architect's oldest son, so a little biased.

That being said, I think Hugh Jacobsen is one of the great architects practicing today. All three of his books (the other two are "Recent Work 1988-1993" and the other is "Hugh Newell Jacobsen Architect" from 2007) are beautiful representations of his extensive canon. His whole professional life, my father has been dedicated to creating stunning spaces in which people celebrate every day life and he does so with elegance, intelligence, a strong sense of history, and great style. As his mentor Mies said, "God is in details," and the details in my father's work are, well, heavenly.