Designing With Light (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "In my practice, hanrahanMeyers architects, we have pursued investigations into light as an area of special interest..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Hanrahan Meyers Architects, White Space (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A look at how architects use light." -- Newsweek International, May 15, 2006/May 22, 2006 (Double Issue)

"Offers not only a philosophy of lighting but plenty of practical design advice, pointedly illustrated with excellent photography." -- Metropolitan Home, June 2006

"Victoria Meyers...demonstrates how some of today's most creative architects (hanrahanMeyers, Rem Koolhaas, Zaha Hadid...) play with light." -- Trend Central

Let there be light: finally something we can design a room with for free. -- Trend Central

This beautifully photographed book…reveals how the careful treatment of light can produce truly spectacular spaces…a breathtaking journey. -- California Homes Magazine

Product Description

The history of great architecture is the history of buildings that adapt creatively to light. Light possesses the power to transform an ordinary building into a majestic edifice that inspires awe. Architects rely heavily on light, looking to it as a tool that reveals form and forges the important connection between vision and construction.

Designing With Light, by award-winning architect Victoria Meyers, explores the myriad ways in which light is used in contemporary architecture, both internally and externally, to enhance the design and sense of space in a building. Vivid color photographs depict how architects employ light in buildings such as the Guggenheim Las Vegas and the National Gallery of Canada. Meyer looks at recent developments in the science of light, giving an overview of the history of light in architecture and demonstrating how the use of light in film, theater, and art has influenced light’s use in architecture. Meyers goes on to discuss how light creates architectural features such as color, line, and form, and how architects strive to control light through glass, windows, skylights, and the manipulation of shadow and reflection. She clearly illustrates these cases with intriguing examples from recent buildings designed by internationally renowned architects including Zaha Hadid, Steven Holl, Herzog & de Meuron, Rem Koolhaas, John Pawson and many others. Meyers’ lively, informative text and hundreds of rich color photographs are sure to fascinate those interested in architecture and design.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789208806
• ISBN-13: 978-0789208804
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 9.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #325,795 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #20 in

  Books > Home & Garden > Interior Design > Lighting

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Design Book, May 15, 2006

By	Betsy D. Davis "artist and writer" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Designing with light is a georgeous book. I love the title as well. It has amazing photos and it is stunning to look at. Every page is like a new adventure. It is one of the best design or architecture books I have ever seen. This book makes a beautiful coffee table book that you would love to share with your guests. The author shows a vast knowledge of architecture and the way that light aids in creating sophistication in design. I would highly reccommend this book for any artist's, architect's, designer's or anyone's collection for that matter. Bravo!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Illuminating Read, May 10, 2006

By	A. T. Frears "sepik" (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I saw this book featured in the latest Newsweek special issue "The Good Life" and was intrigued to learn more about "Designing with Light" Kudos to Newsweek for discovering this beautiful and intelligent book. Architect Victoria Meyers (HanrahanMeyers Architects - hMa) has created a delicate balance, so rarely seen; educational content, and beautiful photography of ground breaking architectural work. Meyers takes the reader on a fascinating tour from the science to the history of light and as a tool by the worlds leading architects. I highly recommend this to all architecture enthusiasts, both layman and professional.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't Bother, March 6, 2008

By	James M. Landreth - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a trained architect working in the field of residential design. There is an immense desire for information on lighting design and scant little available. This book is one of many I have found that capitalizes on that problem but fails to deliver any worthwhile assistance. I am not criticizing the architecture which this coffee table volume serves mainly to promote. I just wish it offered some useful guidance pertinent to other less idiosyncratic applications. A better choice is Sally Storey's "Lighting by Design".