Asher Benjamin (1773-1845) published the first American builder's guide, and his architectural books played an invaluable role in disseminating the new language of the Greek Revival. When originally published, they were remarkably popular, and were among the most influential of all Greek Revival handbooks. Throughout the American South, Midwest, and New England, one still comes across houses built in the 1830s, 1840s, and 1850s patterned directly after Benjamin's designs.The two books incorporated here, Practice of Architecture (1833) and The Builders Guide (1839), are his most accomplished Grecian pattern books. With the growing number of contemporary architects who are designing buildings based on the forms on nineteenth century Grecian architecture, Benjamin's books should prove an invaluable resource for all lovers of the Greek Revival - builders, owners, preservationists, historians, and architects alike. Thomas Gordon Smith is chairman of the school of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame. His books include Classical Architecture: Rule and Invention and a newly illustrated edition of Vitruvius's Ten Books on Architecture/
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Not as expected,
By A Customer
This review is from: Practice Of Architecture: The Builder's Guide (Paperback)
This book has a 20 page introduction on Asher and then about then about 20 pages of picutures and drawings. The rest of the pages are copies of two books written in ancient english that is very hard to understand even for an engineer. The drawings included are mostly cross sections of moldings, pillars and some truss diagrams (the truss section was interesting). It the kind of book you would thumb thru and say that is sorta interesting and then never pick it up again. I am returning it.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent presentation of a historical curiousity.,
By
This review is from: Practice Of Architecture: The Builder's Guide (Paperback)
..., this book is not intended to be a current architectural resource.It is a presentation, for research purposes, of two books that at one time served as the 'conceptual' blueprint of house building in the cities of America. The introduction is clear and to the point, and the layout of the books well-handled. I recommed this book to anyone interested in the history of architecture in America; I cannot recommed it as a practical builder's guide.
5.0 out of 5 stars
for the serious architectural historian,
By
This review is from: Practice Of Architecture: The Builder's Guide (Paperback)
For one researching, restoring, repairing houses (and public buildings) built from 1800 to about 1870, this is a treasure. Asher Benjamin's illustrations were copied verbatim or served as inspiration to carpenters, especially in the northeastern US. Benjamin's text is full of his own opinions, practical considerations and fun: in one place he suggests we remember to place columns far enough apart that plump people won't get stuck between them!
One should probably own his 1st(1798),6th (1827), or 1830 books (widely available in paper back and cheaper) before buying these later (1833 and 1845) pattern books. But if your house and community were built before the Civil War, you may find your ancesters copied Asher Benjamin.
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