The Getty Center (Architecture in Detail) (Paperback)

by Michael Brawne (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The Getty Center opened in 1997 to critical acclaim. Located in the Brentwood Hills above Los Angeles, the Center comprises the J Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Research Institute of Arts and the Humanities, and four other arts institutions which focus on scholarship, conservation and education. The billion-dollar project took over 13 years to accomplish, and includes extensive landscaped gardens. This text, with working drawings, offers an investigation of the building from project to built work.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (October 29, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714837997
• ISBN-13: 978-0714837994
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 11.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,012,357 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First time at the Getty, January 19, 2000

By	Joan M. Lyons "jjklyons" (Dunkirk, NY) - See all my reviews

A question everyone must ask when they first visit the Getty Museum is, "How did anyone ever build this enormous, complicated, graceful complex of buildings?" In The Getty Center by Michael Brawne, the author takes you to the earliest stages of the project with breathtaking photography and detailed text. The photography from beginning to end allows you to feel that you can take part of the" Getty Experience" home with you. I bought this book for my daughter when I was at the Museum gift shop and got home feeling sorry I didn't have my own copy, so this is my second purchase of this beautiful book

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Well Documented Book About the Getty Centre, November 11, 2000

By	Ping Lim (Christchurch) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Despite the succinctness of the book, I knew all I needed to know about the Getty Centre which costed a whopping US$1 billion to build. Getty Centre is to the other extreme of the Bilbao Museum by Gehry. The latter one is both an architecture building & a sculpture as a whole but the former offering is a Modern building in the best traditions of Le Corbusier, Philip Johnson, or even Miles van de Rohe. I'm disappointed to read that Richard Meier didn't get the chance to realise his total vision upon the project & therefore, the integrity of his design is ultimately compromised. 2 of the incidents worth mentioning are the engagement of the interior designer, Thierry Despont to provide the colour coordination of the galleries. He's better known as the designers for the rich & famous such as Ralph Lauren & Bill Gates. In this instance, Theirry applied heavy & bold colours to complement the art works & when the art works melted into the scene, the emphasis upon the art works themselves are lost in totality. Secondly, the engagement of the landscape artist, Robert Irwin who introduced the circular garden which broke the link between 2 main buildings of the Getty Centre. It's interesting to read about the material chosen, the travertine, & how it blends nicely with the white metal panels that Richard Meier is well known for; the maximisation of controlled light to highlight the artworks & yet, not harming them in anyway required fine detailing & ingenuity in which Richard Meier & team delivered. The book comprises of many photographs taken from many angles imaginable under different time of the day. Many elevation plans, sectional plans, conceptual plans, model plans, detailing plans, & all you need to know about the Getty Centre. Definitely worth reading for an architecture enthusiast.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING, BEAUTIFUL & STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY, February 24, 2001

By A Customer

After visiting THE Getty Center, I've become a huge fan of Meiers' work. Although most of his work in the past seems untouchable to me, this project has a clean but warm inviting feeling around every corner. The photographs in the book are superb and layout the book with remarkable light, clarity and stunning imagery. The photographer John Linden is a true master of the camera. His work carries the book. Not a bad read either, but who reads books on architecture? This book and the project itself pure eye candy. Buy it.