Product Description
When the late Spiro Kostof's A History of Architecture appeared in 1985, it was universally hailed as a masterpiece--one of the finest books on architecture ever written. Now, updated and expanded, this classic reference continues to bring to readers the full array of civilization's architectural achievements.

Insightful, engagingly written and graced with close to a thousand superb illustrations, the Second Edition of this extraordinary volume offers a sweeping narrative that examines architecture as it reflects the social, economic, and technological aspects of human history. The scope of the book is astonishing. Kostof examines a surprisingly wide variety of man-made structures: prehistoric huts and the TVA, the pyramids of Giza and the Rome railway station, the ziggurat and the department store. Kostof considered every building worthy of attention, every structure a potential source of insight, whether it be prehistoric hunting camps at Terra Amata, or the caves at Lascaux with their magnificent paintings, or a twenty-story hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

First Purchase at Amazon
This was my first attempt at ordering a book online.I fully expected the product to be in worse shape.However, there were only a few page corners bent and all of the pages were intact.The item arrived very quickly.I am very pleased with this purchase.

Probably won't use this seller again.
I purchased a book from the seller and my order has not been shipped, almost a week later.. A little disappointed since I always purchase my school books from amazon and I have not run into any problems until now. I sent an email to the seller hopefully I receive a response in a timely manner.

Excellent
It came in good time and was in the condition it was told to be in.

Review: A History of Architecture
I was very happy with the purchase, mainly because it was $50 off retail price and was free to ship.

Comprehensive
Covers all the major styles and period the Western tradition of architecture.It does one chapter on Asian architecture but no single chapter can cover all the styles and history of the Asian countries of India, China, Japan, etc.It will be great for any aspiring architect who wants to have a good foundation...or to anyone who wants to appreciate the history of spatial design, and decoratives more. ... Read more

Product Description
Architectural detailing makes a building unique and an architect outstanding. This book provides analysis of both the technical and the aesthetic importance of details in the development of contemporary domestic architecture from 2000 to 2005. Featuring many of the world's most highly acclaimed architects, the book presents over 50 of the most recently completed and influential house designs. For each house there are color photographs, plans of every floor, sections and elevations, and numerous construction details. The book also features in-depth information for each project, including the size, the client, the architectural project team, main consultants, and contractors. With CD-ROM. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Great source of design details.
A while back, Architectural Record would include design details in each of their issues, albeit just one or two enlarged details, and mostly tiny floor plans.This book is similar to those Architectural Record issues, but in a nicely condensed series of 52 different residential projects with select plans, details, background information and photos, and at much larger sizes for excellent viewing.

The projects are separated by types of primary materials (concrete, steel, masonry, etc) and includes a index of types of details (door, glazing, roof, etc) as well as contact/address listings for the designers/architects.The big bonus of course, is that the details are available on a disk, in .EPS and .DWG formats, which are quite spectacular for further exploration of these designers' details.

It is a very well organized and complete book; I have rarely found this level of detailing and documentation in other books, and I would highly recommend this book - especially since I was able to get it for the bargain price of $20 - as a reference tool and the basis for an exploration of new ideas.If you are a detail-control-freak designer like I am, I think you would enjoy this book as well as I have.

-footnote added 3/16/2010-

After careful scrutiny of more details, I can tell you that there were apparently at least two different drawing editors, leading to drastically different levels of detailing and information.Further, errors in drafting and non-matching details to actual built work can be spotted in different projects, leading one to wonder about the quality control at some of these design firms.Some of the details are seemingly drawn for aesthetic sake instead of usable, working drawings; one should be careful when using these as reference material, as some - as drawn - are unusable, as if drawn by interns.Thus, I have down-ranked the book to 4 stars instead of 5.

Superficial book
Superficial book. Poor drawings. I purchase in 07/15/09 and the book arrives in Brazil in 08/10/09.

Great Technical Drawings along with Picture
This is a great book if your a designer. Simple, if you like a building it shows you how it all goes together. Cd rom with cad drawings included. Great for a student as well as a professional.

Very useful Book
As a new professional in Architecture, I found this product useful for showing modern details on a number of very interesting projects.While this is not unabridged access to construction documents for each of the projects, it does give insight on materials and clear drawings showing how they go together.There were details on projects that I would have wanted in the book that weren't included, but it is understandable that not every detail could appear in the book.There is a very good organization of details within the book.One improvement that I would like to see is close-up photographs of the real-life details next to the associated drawing of the detail.This would help to clarify what exactly is being drawn.I love the CD that is included.

Interesting book
A book that try to be a reference. The projects are well chosen and there are good images that have not been published really much so far. Many detail are made for building with a ''not that cold'' climate, I've appreciate it even if we have to deal with winter in Canada... ... Read more

Product Description
'The only piece of architectural writing that will be classed among the essential literature of the 20th century.' Reyner Banham ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Great book, not so great version.
The book itself is great, however, Toward an Architecture (Texts & Documents) [Paperback]
A01 Le Corbusier (Author), John Goodman (Translator), Jean-Louis Cohen (Introduction)
is the better version of this book. It has better translations and images. Schools no longer use the Towards a New Architecture because they find Toward an Architecture the better more correct version. Amazon sells the new version as well, and I would recommend people to get that version instead.

a man ahead of his time
say what you want about him and the deleterious effects that some of his theories had, but it's nonetheless essential reading for anyone interested in architecture. it's hard to believe that he wrote this when he did. most people still haven't caught up yet.

Ok if Architecture field of class
Not a very exciting read and a little hard to understand. If you are an architecture major or have an architecture class it should be helpful and probably a good book.

Essential reading for any architecture student
I bought this book when I started architecture school and it has been a part of my life ever since. I believe that this is essential to understanding the current architectural trends and a must for any architecture student.

Great book!!
Great Book!! It has a very detail description from point of view and concept of Le Corbusier. ... Read more

Product Description
Colquhoun, an eminent scholar in the field of architecture, offers here a new account of international modernism that explores the complex motivations behind this revolutionary movement and assesses its triumphs and failures. The book focuses on the work of the main architects of the movement such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Adolf Loos, Le Corbusier, and Mies van der Rohe, re-examining their work and shedding new light on their roles as acknowledged masters. The author presents a fascinating analysis of architecture with regard to politics, technology, and ideology, all while offering clear descriptions of the key elements of the Modern movement. Colquhoun shows clearly the evolution of the movement from Art Nouveau in the 1890s to the mega-structures of the 1960s, revealing the often-contradictory demands of form, function, social engagement, modernity and tradition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Nice overview of modern architecture
Each title in the Oxford History of Art series provides an overview to a particular time period, style or movement. This book focuses on modern architecture, starting with Art Nouveau in the 1890s and continuing through the modernist or International style of the 1950s and 1960s. In the introduction, the author explains that he is using the term "modern architecture" to mean "an architecture conscious of its own modernity and striving for change" (p. 9). He describes the historical context at the and of the 19th century, traces the development of different styles, and discusses the role of key architects in each movement.

This book is generously illustrated, with many color images complementing the period black-and-white photographs of interiors and exteriors of modern buildings. There are also many architectural plans, elevations, drawings, and sketches. It is a sturdy paperback with a strong binding. It would be useful to undergraduate students researching 20th century architecture, as well as general readers interested in the subject.

Ok if Architecture field or class
Didn't even open this book for my architecture class but if you are an architecture major than this book might be great.

Worth Purchasing
I am an architecture student, and this is a great book for the money.The photography is well done, with a good selection.

Modernism by Oxford
This book provides a much easier way to view modern architecture than the usual method-To study each individual that impacted the world of architecture through this modern method and perspective of architecture. Consequentially, this book is easy to read but the depth isn't there, I would prefer the other Modern Architecture books,(see my other reviews). But for the casual reader, or anyone interested in history of architecture from the student to professor,this is an appropriate choice.

modernism retrospect
Rather than just writing a history of modern architecture, Colquhoun distilled a polemical theory into this succint historical writing. This book could be read as a history book and a polemical theory book on architecture in the 20th century.

Rather than chronologically writing a survey of modern architectural history, Colquhoun placed emphasis on certain modern architects (Loos, Wright, Corbusier, Mies and Kahn) whom he thought, had brought substantial influences to the modern architecture. He used these architects as examples to illustrate the formation of modernism and the phenomenon of modern society. Other than just analysed the work, Colquhoun brought a dynamic discussion of architects' theory, criticism and also relevant references. From there, he provided his critical point of view.

His discussion on Corbusier, Mies and Kahn were fascinating and profound. It would certainly open a new chapter for those who already knew these architects very well. Colquhoun used Corbusier and Mies as two representatives of a dialectic flows in modern architectural movements: 'functionalism' and 'rationalism' accordingly. The whole book ended with the works of Louis Kahn. To Colquhoun, Kahn's 'Rational Functionalism' provided a way out to modern architecture.

He says at the end of the book, 'Modernism was to survive, but only after abandoning it's totalizing claims and by a process of continual self-cancellation. Paradoxically, the work of Louis Kahn- anchored as it was in a belief in a transcendent order - was one of the chief propelling agents in this emerging regime of uncertainty.'

Readers might disagree with Colquhoun's point of view, but could not disagree with his extremely insightful and rigorous approach in understanding modern architecture. Most importantly, this book invites us to develop our own critical point of view towards the architecture culture. ... Read more

Product Description

Software Systems Architecture is a practitioner-oriented guide to designing and implementing effective architectures for information systems. It is both a readily accessible introduction to software architecture and an invaluable handbook of well-established best practices. It shows why the role of the architect is central to any successful information-systems development project, and, by presenting a set of architectural viewpoints and perspectives, provides specific direction for improving your own and your organization's approach to software systems architecture.

With this book you will learn how to

• Design an architecture that reflects and balances the different needs of its stakeholders
• Communicate the architecture to stakeholders and demonstrate that it has met their requirements
• Focus on architecturally significant aspects of design, including frequently overlooked areas such as performance,resilience, and location
• Use scenarios and patterns to drive the creation and validation of your architecture
• Document your architecture as a set of related views
• Use perspectives to ensure that your architecture exhibits important qualities such as performance, scalability, and security

The architectural viewpoints and perspectives presented in the book also provide a valuable long-term reference source for new and experienced architects alike.

Whether you are an aspiring or practicing software architect, you will find yourself referring repeatedly to the practical advice in this book throughout the lifecycle of your projects.

A supporting Web site containing further information can be found at www.viewpoints-and-perspectives.info

Customer Reviews (21)

THE book on software architecture
I'm impressed. Rarely do the IT related books are written so concisely and clearly but at the same time providing extensive coverage of the subjects. I will surely keep it on my desk for future reference when working on different software projects.

Pragmatic Software Architecture
As the title indicates this book is one on software architecture. What sets it apart from many books in that area is that it presents a pragmatic approach to architecture. The basic premise introduced is splitting the architecture into different views, which each address a specific set of concerns, such as information, concurrency, deployment, development etc. The concept of views is not a new one, however what the authors introduce is the concept of viewpoint which is the concrete representation of the view through templates, and artifacts. These artifacts include questions and checkpoints one should go through to describe the architecture.

The above view and viewpoints cover more or less the functional requirements. Perspectives on the other hand cover the quality attributes such as availability, scalability, usability etc. The authors then show how perspectives and viewpoints work together to represent the overall architecture. This includes showing the areas of overlap of these viewpoints/perspectives and how they are to be addressed.The book is supplemented with materials (templates, cheat sheets, questionnaires) on the following website:[...].

This is a great software architecture reference and one that you will keep on your desk to refer to on an ongoing basis, particularly because of its pragmatic approach. A must read for any software architect. It will also help developers anticipate the questions that will be asked during an architectural review, and things to consider throughout the life-cycle of a software project.

Review
I bought this book for my Software System Architecture Class..Book has good examples and explanation is very clear and understandable..Hope it works for me in future..:)

The Missing Manual for Software Architecture
I was lent this book by a mentor and very soon realised this was something I had to have my own copy of as it brought together many aspects of the software architect's job which I had not seen covered so well before.It is easy to read and understand, which belies the underlying complexity of the material and is a testament to the skills of the authors.Not only is the content itself good but I have also found the guided bibliography invaluable.

excellent book
This book is much better than I expected.It is practical and very informative, with good, simple examples to reinforce the points made.It covers pretty much everything you will need to consider when designing or evaluating a large IT system.This book is not outdated either.It is as useful today as when it first went to print.I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
First published in 1966, and since translated into 16 languages, this remarkable book has become an essential document in architectural literature. As Venturi's "gentle manifesto for a nonstraightforward architecture," Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture expresses in the most compelling and original terms the postmodern rebellion against the purism of modernism. Three hundred and fifty architectural photographs serve as historical comparisons and illuminate the author's ideas on creating and experiencing architecture. Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture was the winner of the Classic Book Award at the AIA's Seventh Annual International Architecture Book Awards.

Foreword by Arthur Drexler.
Introduction by Vincent Scully. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Fantastic purchase
Book in very good condition
Shipping extremely fast
Very satisfied
Definitely will buy from this seller again in the future!!!

A Gentle Manifesto
This book is less a manifesto than it is a very interesting look at how architecture has evolved over the last 2000 years.Venturi evocatively shows that there was no straight line approach to architecture, but rather an ever-changing and ambiguous path that Modernists chose to make short cuts through.In this sense, Venturi really does capture the complexity and contradiction in architecture in that there are many lessons to be learned, making this book as valuable today as it was in 1966 when it first appeared.

Being one of the early "gray" architects, Venturi inspired a movement that eventually became characterized as "Post Modern."His early architectural work left a lot to be desired, since it seems less inspired by the many historical examples he favored, like Frank Furness, in this book and more by the banal trends in contemporary architecture at the time, eventually leading to Learning from Las Vegas (1972), where the concept of a building being a "duck," or a decorated shed, emerged.

This book's most appealing aspect is that it is immediately accessible.You don't have to be an architect to understand where Venturi is coming from, much less a grad student working on a dissertation.Venturi avoids all that senseless jargon that characterized architectural theory at the time and later came to engulf Po-Mo talk as well.

Ok if Architecture field or class
Didn't even open this book but if you are an architectural major this might be a great book.

still essential
"I like complexity and contradiction in architecture." That's how Robert Venturi starts this superb book. No great proclamation. It was an age tired of great proclamations. Instead, Venturi takes us through an impressively learned tour of his favorite things, a grand overview of great architecture, with acute formal analysis of facade and plan composition, sectional variety, and an accumulating realization that complexity is an inevitable force in the tumult of human, urban life.
Postmodernism has come and gone, but modernism looks as it does today because of this book.

Still Relevant...
Now that the bottom of postmodernism has actually fallen out and is being dragged along the street by the chains of American capitalism, it's "alright" for students of architecture to return to that misjudged canonical textbook of post-modernism, C+C by Venturi. While not as engaging as his other main work "Learning from Las Vegas", this book still leads the reader into a meticulous analysis of the physical composition of major pieces of architecture, and the composition of the thoughts that made them. After reading it, I found myself unconciously applying it's main dichtomy of complexity and contradiction to much of the architecture around me, if that is any testament to its power.
... Read more

Product Description
Now available in paperback, The Green House vividly illustrates the emerging collaboration between stylish architecture, interior design, and environmental responsibility. This groundbreaking book features more than thirty-five residences in fifteen countries—and nearly every conceivable natural environment—designed by a combination of star architects and lesser-known practitioners, all of whom put "greenness" in the service of quality design, and not the other way around. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Inspiration and nice ideas, not for technicians.
This is a nice book to get a broad range of ideas from, but each house only gets between 4-6 dedicated pages.Covers urban renewal, bush, ranges of materials, geographical spread, etc, with small plans/elevations to get the general idea.Notes some of the salient features of each house, but doesn't describe how these technically work or quantify the energy or impact savings.Mainly large family houses, so not for you if you're into micro housing as a green initiative.Nice introduction, and reasonable range of houses.

The Green House
This is a nothing book. Re-hash at best...This is one of the first,of many books, I would like to return. Ron

Just What We Were Looking For
My husband and I have a dream of building a sustainable green home. We bought this book to get ideas and get inspired. It worked on both counts. While we're getting our financing together, this book definitely put us in the right frame of mind and convinced us that we're on the right track re: the grand design of our lives. I highly recommend this one!

Excellent Purchase!
The order was processed and shipped very quickly.The product is just as it was described.Excellent purchase experience!

The Green House: New Directions in Sustainable Architecture
Well designed and easy to use Layout on this Book for People interested in modern & green architecture. I recommend this book without any doubt. A very good source of inspiration! ... Read more

Product Description
Software architecture is foundational to the development of large, practical software-intensive applications. This brand-new text covers all facets of software architecture and how it serves as the intellectual centerpiece of software development and evolution. Critically, this text focuses on supporting creation of real implemented systems. Hence the text details not only modeling techniques, but design, implementation, deployment, and system adaptation -- as well as a host of other topics -- putting the elements in context and comparing and contrasting them with one another. Rather than focusing on one method, notation, tool, or process, this new text/reference widely surveys software architecture techniques, enabling the instructor and practitioner to choose the right tool for the job at hand. Software Architecture is intended for upper-division undergraduate and graduate courses in software architecture, software design, component-based software engineering, and distributed systems; the text may also be used in introductory as well as advanced software engineering courses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Foundations, Theory,Practice is the order of book priorities
When I first contemplated to buy this book I thought it might be slightly... academic... After buying it... my a priori thinking proved to be somehow true... The material is solid with many valuable comments, some of which I always had in the back of my mind, but never done the final steps to "materialize" them.For instance the fact that architecture is very close to design to the point that sometimes is difficult to distinguish the two. In this sense I enjoyed the introductory chapters with general ideas. When it comes to main content I was a bit surprised by the emphasis on classifications: views, models, implementations ... the part which I thought has an academic flavour.

Modern intro to Software Architecture
I bought this book from Amazon late 2009, it has not left my side since. This book provides a modern introduction to the field of software architecture, for both students and seasoned professionals. Certainly a must if you are working in this field or aspiring to.

FYI the course slides are available from the book's website [...]

Worth the money to find out more about architecture
Excellent academic treatment of all things architecture. I've gone through just over half of this textbook. This book is good enough that I have decided to finish the rest of the content. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the authors do not present real world examples of architecture. In retrospect, I have decided to give this book 5 stars, because real world examples of architecture are either competition sensitive or precluded from being revealed due to security considerations. The authors really should have found an IT shop or shops willing to reveal a number of best practice architectures, so that those interested could get a feel for how complex and interconnected best practice architectures are.

This is an excellent textbook for students, and for those IT professionals who want to learn more about the architecture specialization, it is a good reference with an impressive continuity and it is very well organized in its introduction of all of the relevant concepts.

Software Architecture text - not worth
I do not recommend this book for practitioners or as a college text

This book needs serious review and editing by decent english readers for repetition, grammer, and consistency. This book is too hasty even in defining the basic term architecture. It is quite hard to read and frustrating because of inconsitencies. Some bogus, artificial, presentations pervades the book.

Repetition are OK if they are consistent, however repeated topic contracdicts the previous discussions. The flow of sentences are too hasty even for experienced architects.

Topics are identified in a fashion that, if authors had not rushed it could have been a better book. If the same topics were presented in more concise format, this book could be lot thinner and easier to read; in addtion font used is too small, figures are not simple sketches, english is too interwinded (not simple but seems too artificial) makes it difficult to adopt the book. Some examples are good but incomplete.

A fine introduction to the discipline of software architecture
Software Architecture: Foundations, Theory, and Practice is a landmark text that will become an essental introduction to the discipline of software systems architecture. If you are a student, tester, manager, methodologist, developer, or simply an architect, and want a holistic understanding of what real software architects think software architecture is and why it matters, this is the place to start.

I bought this after Roy Fielding (of REST and HTTP fame) mentioned it on the rest-discuss mailing list. Roy is one of the industry's top architects, and I wasn't disappointed. The book is timely - architecture is coming to be accepted as an important activity, especially for distributed, and large scale systems. What many people don't realize is that drawing pictures, writing documents no-one reads, meta-modeling, and pontificating on "concerns" are not software architecture. Software architecture is about introducing constraints via principled, objective design to achieve particular system properties. Architecture is difficult and exhausting work, but done well can offer immense value to users and stakeholders. This book, along with Rozanski and Woods' "Software Systems Architecture: Working With Stakeholders Using Viewpoints and Perspectives" makes that explicit.

The book is unapologetic about software architecture's standing in the industry. SAFTAP positions architecture as the primary design activity for software - not development, not requirements analysis, not testing, not methodology, but architecture. That will make for interesting debate.

My single criticism of this book is that it does not do enough to treat user experience (Ux) and informatics as architecturally significant, but not enough to take away a star. I'm hoping a future edition will rectify that.

Some noteworthy chapters in the book (there are 17 chapters in all):

* The Big Idea: explains what architecture is and why it matters. The building metaphor (often heavily criticised in the industry, see the excellent "Software is not Bricks" by Raganwald) is dealt with calmly and then put to one side.

* Architecture in Context: explains how architecture fits into the overall lifecycle and process of software systems.

* Connectors: this is one of my favourite chapters. The concept of a connector is vital to a software system, but is rarely if ever discussed in programming or engineering texts.

* Modeling: probably not what you think. This chapter emphasizes communication, clarity and disambiguation over notations and diagrams.

* Implementation: programmers hate the quip "implementation detail", but in truth many things in a system are just that and it does not mean they are unimportant. This chapter covers those details and why they matter.

* Deployment and Mobility: good architects understand that a systems have a life well beyond initial delivery, which is where most developers, managers and stakeholders tend to focus attention. This was one of favorite sections as the running system simply doesn't get enough attention in most projects today.

* Applied architecture and Styles: covers some examples of architectural styles, notably REST and SOA, which are certainly the best known architectures in my part of the industry.

* Designing for non-functional properties: many non-functional concerns don't start to matter until the system is deployed and there isn't always agreement among technical specialists over what's truly important. If you are technical specialist this should help you articulate the cost/benefit of looking at the "unfeatures" of a system.

* Security and Trust: software is increasingly distributed, and increasingly a super-system of components interacting over the Internet and Mobile Networks. So it's good to see a text that makes security a first order concern and not just a non-functional ones.

* Domain Specific Software Engineering: I'm trained as an industrial designer where the notion of common modular components with standard interfaces acting as a platform for product development is a known Good Thing in domains such as the automotive and consumer electronics industries. This chapter gives a good overview of modular design focusing on the software product lines approach. The example given is from Philips, but it could as easily have been from Toyota.

* People, Roles and Teams: software architecture, like other architecture disciplines, has a strong social dimension. This chapter explains how the architect role fits into an organisation and where they can add value and exert influence. ... Read more

Product Description

A magnificently illustrated guide to theglobal history of architecture—updated toinclude the non-western world and worksfrom women

The Second Edition of this historical architecturalguide gives you a deeperknowledge and wider perspective of traditions inarchitecture throughout the world—from prehistoricthrough modern structures. Extensively and beautifullyillustrated, the book includes photos, plans, scales forworld-famous structures such as the Parthenon, Versailles,the Brooklyn Bridge, and many others. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

good big book
this is a good overview of architectural history. I just wish that I had gotten the paperback version instead of this heavy hardcover.

Can't rate it b/c I never got the book
TERRIBLE. Never got the book, and NEVER received an email after I contacted him/her about the status of the book.

Bring back the missing examples!
This Second Edition of "A World History of Architecture" is an exact reprint of "Buildings Across Time", Third Edition by the same authors and publisher.
The difference? Price. $52 more! Just check the other book. For a while the First Edition was out of print so I was forced to use "Buildings Across Time" (I teach architecture at a Community College so price is very important to me).While I understand that the publishers have to make a profit, how is that that they can "afford" to sell this book for $41 while an exact copy of the "approved" higher education version is $92?
I welcome the addition of notable examples in the last chapter but I have a problem with the removal of many other buildings. Just to name a few that were present in the First Edition and are missing from the Second: Biskupin, Ishtar Gate, Temple of Ramesses II, Great Stupa at Borobodur, Caernarvon Castle etc. I am not sure what this cleansing is all about, both editions are 592 pages. Granted something had to give since there are new examples throughout.
I am only writing this in a hope that the Third Edition would include the missing examples from First Edition. If number of pages is fixed, just make some of the photographs smaller. Come on McGraw-Hill, you can do it!

great
I got this book for my Architecture class this fall. It was cheaper online than at any of the university bookstores and it shipped VERY quickly. It was also sent in a secure package, and arrived intact, which is problem I ran into with some other books I ordered this summer, not from this seller however.

A critically essential addition to academic and community library Architectural Studies collections
The making of buildings from natural materials is older than the recorded history of the human race. Even in paleolithic and neolithic eras there were remarkable, complex, and enduring structures as evidenced by archaeological discoveries. The collaborative work of the team of Michael Fazio (Professor Emeritus of Architecture, Mississippi State University), Marian Moffett and Lawrence Wodehouse (both of whom have extensive careers teaching architecture at the university level), and now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "A World History Of Architecture" begins with the advent of the city state architecture beginning with the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Hittites, Assyrians, and Egyptians, then proceeds with an architectural survey of the ancient Greece, India, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and the Romans. There are detailed chapters covering the distinctive architecture of the Early Christians and Byzantines, Islam, medieval and romanesque Europe. Also presented are informative chapters on Gothic architecture, indigenous American and African architecture, as well as the buildings and structures of the Renaissance and Baroque eras. The final four (and extensive) chapters deal with 18th, 19th, and 20th century architectural advances, as well as 'Modernisms in the Mid- and Late Twenty-First Century and Beyond'. Superbly illustrated throughout, the text is consistently informed and informative, making "A World History Of Architecture" a critically essential addition to academic and community library Architectural Studies collections -- and is especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in architectural history.
... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Very, very cautious!
This book abundantly quotes varied sources ranging from Vitruvius to Allan de Botton, in fact to a point where it appears akin to namedropping.Similarly, all buildings to be expected are indeed mentioned: Falling Waters, the Louvre, Chartres Cathedral, Sant'Ivo, etc.However, little detail is provided to the reader who does not know them firsthand and small new insight is given to those who do.Also, time seems to have stopped a decade ago since the notions of sustainable development or green architecture are nowhere mentioned.

The author is overly balanced and prudent.He appears to be purposely inclusive and hardly takes a clear stance on any issue.He claims for instance to agree with Robert Venturi's positions . . . and with Le Corbusier's.Despite the fact that he has devoted his professional life to the appreciation of architecture, the overall tone is strangely aloof and dispassionate.

Also, potential readers should not be fooled by the attractive photograph of the Chrysler Building on the cover page.In fact, this book's lay-out is archaic and illustrations are limited to tiny low-resolution black and white photographs interspersed here and there. The thick, «quality» paper makes the pages of slightly varying size annoying to turn.

Unfortunately, this superficial book will not necessarily be of particular interest to persons unfamiliar with architecture and will not be vastly informative or stimulating to those familiar with the topic.

Interesting on many levels
The book was very useful to me as an artist in terms of the power of context and the abstract meanings that can exist in art and music as well as architecture. Goldberg's writing is smooth as silk and very conversational.

buy 1, get 1 free
To our joy, 3 books are recently released by first-rate architectural critics.
One is the posthumous work of Herbert Muschamp and the rest two are works of
Paul Goldberger. Critic of New Yorker, his writings flow with delicious flavor.

Born in NJ, studied at Yale, and practiced in NY, Goldberger's writings grasp what is
best of Architecture with examples mostly from the US.
Books like this typically pays particular attention to examples of great
masters of Europe or cities like Paris, Rome, or London.
Goldberger's writings are valuable, at least to foreign audience,
because subject matter is mostly American.

The book is divided into thematic sections. Each section provides ample illustrations.
What makes the reading enjoyable is the fact that Goldberger's writing does not only stick
to examples of now, but rather, navigates also through past, kindly explaining to the
readers why certain building in the past is as much valuable as, if not more, excellent
buildings of now.

For example, he compares National Gallery West to East, outlining why John Pope's design
(though style-wise it was criticized severely by Modernists at the time of erection)
is better than IM Pei's. Claims like this could be mind-bothering, depending on which school
of thought an audience is in. As a museum, Paul thinks west wing was much more exhibition-friendly
than Pei's. He explains why good buildings outlive criticism of the day and outlast
regardless of their style application.

Explanation on Lincoln Memorial is another example. Stylistically speaking it's a Greek
building, but Goldberger's reading of it turns it not so pseudo historical replica.
He argues Henry Bacon was talented enough to make it a truly brilliant and
as much a modern building as any other Modern masterpiece.

Buildings of Gilded Age receive new edge, Architects 19 century gets
new spotlight, and the arc of styles (or life of a building) are re-viewed
with insight and sharpness. His writings on Yale campus and his child
neighborhood are touching. His clips from movies and novels add freshness.

Goldberger also tries to help the reader to see the building not as an individual object,
but to view it in the context of visible, and sometimes invisible, setting. He helps
us to see sometimes physical and cultural, and sometimes political and financial forces
that shaped the building. Yet the joy of his writing is that it is ultimately geared towards
experiential dimension of a space than theoretical.

The joy of experiencing real world, hence he argues, lies in the "serendipity"
and the "propinquity" of real stuff felt through real contact in cities and buildings.
Hence, even in the cyber space world with virtual realities, the importance of matter
and physical contact remains vital importance for people.

Highly readable
Opening a book on architecture tends to put me a bit on edge, since I've come to expect that the author, whoever he may be, is going to be highly opinionated and is going to make a lot of pronouncements that seem arbitrary and (worse) that differ from my own arbitrary opinions. This book was a pleasant surprise. Goldberger doesn't spend a lot of time pronouncing certain examples of architecture as appealing or appalling. Instead, he gives a good overview of what some of the issues are and how various architects handle them: "challenge" versus "comfort", for example, to take what's perhaps his best chapter. There are good black-and-white illustrations in the text, and my only quibble is that there could have been more of them provided (fortunately, it's not hard to find images on the internet). Highly readable and accessible.

architecture and aesthetics
prose poetry that matches the poetry with which the author describes different architectual structures.am particularly interested in the different architectural forms found in the Americas and the bearing that architectural structures have on impoverished neighborhoods such as the Lower East Side of New York City. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

Architecture for the Intelligent Enterprise: Powerful New Ways to Maximize the Real-time Value of Information

Tomorrow’s winning “Intelligent Enterprises” will bring together far more diverse sources of data, analyze it in more powerful ways, and deliver immediate insight to decision-makers throughout the organization. Today, however, most companies fail to apply the information they already have, while struggling with the complexity and costs of their existing information environments.

In this book, a team of IBM’s leading information management experts guide you on a journey that will take you from where you are today toward becoming an “Intelligent Enterprise.”

Drawing on their extensive experience working with enterprise clients, the authors present a new, information-centric approach to architecture and powerful new models that will benefit any organization. Using these strategies and models, companies can systematically unlock the business value of information by delivering actionable, real-time information in context to enable better decision-making throughout the enterprise–from the “shop floor” to the “top floor.”

Coverage Includes

• Highlighting the importance of Dynamic Warehousing
• Defining your Enterprise Information Architecture from conceptual, logical, component, and operational views
• Using information architecture principles to integrate and rationalize your IT investments, from Cloud Computing to Information Service Lifecycle Management
• Applying enterprise Master Data Management (MDM) to bolster business functions, ranging from compliance and risk management to marketing and product management
• Implementing more effective business intelligence and business performance optimization, governance, and security systems and processes
• Understanding “Information as a Service” and “Info 2.0,” the information delivery side of Web 2.0

Customer Reviews (1)

Any advanced computer reference library needs this specific guide
The Art of Enterprise Architecture: A Systems-Based Approach for Unlocking Business Insight provides a winning survey of how to develop Enterprise Information Architecture from concept to operations. Any technical IT library will find this packed with tips on implementation, showing how to apply architecture basics to IT systems. Any advanced computer reference library needs this specific guide.
... Read more

Product Description

As a developer, you are aware of the increasing concern amongst developers and site architects that websites be able to handle the vast number of visitors that flood the Internet on a daily basis. Scalable Internet Architecture addresses these concerns by teaching you both good and bad design methodologies for building new sites and how to scale existing websites to robust, high-availability websites. Primarily example-based, the book discusses major topics in web architectural design, presenting existing solutions and how they work. Technology budget tight? This book will work for you, too, as it introduces new and innovative concepts to solving traditionally expensive problems without a large technology budget. Using open source and proprietary examples, you will be engaged in best practice design methodologies for building new sites, as well as appropriately scaling both growing and shrinking sites. Website development help has arrived in the form of Scalable Internet Architecture.

Customer Reviews (18)

Great primmer on scalability planning
This book is great, especially as a starting point to learning about scalability planning.It takes a fairly academic approach to all relevant subjects and can quickly get anyone caught up to speed.

I do recommend "The Art of Capacity Planning: Scaling Web Resources" as a follow-up for continuing your education in this subject and taking these skills to a more proactive plan/deploy method.

Execlent for understanding the issues with scaling a web site
An excellent book on what the issues are with building web site that scale to large numbers of servers. Written more for a programmer than a systems administrator but not to heavy on the programming side to bog it down. It is really good about organizing the different aspects of scalability and explaining important concepts. For example the difference between caching static content and caching data used in generating a web page. An excellent read. not too long, not too much detail. It made me think about web sites and clustering in a new way

Execllent for understanding the issues with scaling a web site
An excellent book on what the issues are with building web site that scale to large numbers of servers. Written more for a programmer than a systems administrator but not to heavy on the programming side to bog it down. It is really good about organizing the different aspects of scalability and explaining important concepts. For example the difference between caching static content and caching data used in generating a web page. An excellent read. not too long, not too much detail. It made me think about web sites and clustering in a new way.

Towards automatic, self-managed operations
I bought this book on recommendations from others and I have to agree that it is fantastic. Don't let the 2006 publication date fool you into avoiding it for something more current. The advise given is based on real experience gained initially during the dot com era but it is as relevant today as then. The best part of the book is its advocacy and practical examples of the Spread group communications toolkit. Why solve a problem with a vendor's expensive high performance single point of failure solution when well knowledgeable use of internet infrastructure and peer to peer communication better solves it. Plus, you have a powerful tool to aid you moving further towards automatic, self-managed operations.

A worthwhile read, a disappointing experience
First and foremost, chapter 10 should be an Appendix.This was a horrible ending to what seemed to be a promising discussion on horizontal scaling for any system/network engineer or astute systems engineer.

Clear and concise, then incoherent and grammatically challenged, this book requires constant read backs leaving the reader with a sense of a diminished level of reading comprehension.

Fortunately there are some very good real world discussions on horizontal scaling, distributed caching, and eliminating single points of failure in your design.

Unfortunately the book was a long documentary on the author's Spread utility/program/solution and the last chapter is dedicated to writing a module for Spread.Completely out of band with regards to actual high performance clustered environments where the author's solution is likely scarce in popularity.

I do appreciate his coverage of logging.Despite my rating, I don't regret the first nine chapters. ... Read more

Product Description
The design of cities and buildings affects the quality of our lives. Making the built environment useful, safe, comfortable, efficient, and as beautiful as possible is a universal quest. We dream about how we might live, work, and play. From these dreams come some 95 percent of all private and public buildings; professional architects design only about 5 percent of the built environment. While much of what non-architects build is beautiful and useful, the ugliness and inconveniences that blight many urban areas demonstrate that an understanding of good architectural design is vital for creating livable buildings and public spaces. To help promote this understanding among non-architects, as well as among those considering architecture as a profession, award-winning architect and professor Hal Box explains the process of making architecture from concept to completed building, using real-life examples to illustrate the principles involved in designing buildings that enhance the quality of life for those who live with them. To cause what we build to become architecture, we have three choices: hire an architect, become an architect, or learn to think like an architect. Box believes that everyone should be involved in making architecture and has organized this book as a series of letters to friends and students about the process of creating architecture. He describes what architecture should be and do; how to look at and appreciate good buildings; and how to understand the design process, work with an architect, or become an architect. He also provides an overview of architectural history, with lists of books to read and buildings to see. For those involved in building projects, Box offers practical guidance about what goes into constructing a building, from the first view of the site to the finished building. For students thinking of becoming architects, he describes an architect's typical training and career path. And for the wide public audience interested in architecture and the built environment, Box addresses how architecture relates to the city, where the art of architecture is headed, and why good architecture matters. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

layperson's guide
This title is useful in that it explains design concepts in lay person's terms w/o fussiness. Written by an architect, who has hands on experience building houses, I appreciated that much of what was said about the art of creating beautiful spaces is applicable to landscape design which is my area of interest.

Think Like an Architect
I am not an architect; merely someone who appreciates the end results of good architecture.I do not routinely read books about architecture, or books written by architects. But as a long-time admirer of Hal Box's architectural work, I was curious how a book titled Think Like an Architect might read.

Short answer? Terrifically!I learned something interesting about the history, art and science of architecture in every chapter.

As I finished the book, which I accomplished faster than I would have liked or imagined, it occurred to me that Hal Box accomplished with this book what Vitruvius, the first century BC Roman architect, espoused as the goals of good architecture: commodity, firmness, and delight.The book accomplished its program of encouraging me to think more like an architect (commodity); the ideas and illustrations are thoughtfully and artfully presented in a sturdy format which will withstand years of referencing and re-reading (firmness); and Professor Box puts forth his ideas and opinions, earned over a long and distinguished career as an educator and practicing architect, clearly and entertainingly (delight).

Whether one plans to build or is simply curious about how to do it right, Think Like an Architect is a must.

Very Informative and Clear
Think Like an Architect opens the door to those of us who love space,love to think about space and building houses we love to live in.As someone who has built many homes and lived inside those spaces he conceived and created, Hal Box is able to not only share his love of the creation of places we want to be but to tell us how to get there on our own--clearly.
I am building a second home in Mexico and find that reading and re-reading this book--especially the considerations--continues to inform and clarify my thinking about the project.
Margaret Keys

Thinking Inside the Box
As someone who has an interest in architecture but whose knowledge of architectural theory and history are superficial and spotty, I found Hal Box's book Think Like an Architect an especially rewarding read.Written with the confidence earned from a long, successful, and satisfying career, his book is a straightforward explanation ofboth the intention and process of producing the kind of buildings that arelife-affirming and enduring. His writing is entirely free of the thornscrub argot that makes most architectural criticism an impenetrable thicket closed to "outsiders" and hostile to dialog. Thus unarmed, Mr. Box may therefore be vulnerable because he dares to use old-fashioned words like beauty, graceful, charming, and harmony. But to me, watching my local landscape erased and replaced by generic chain stores and anonymous neighborhoods, this language is as welcome as a summer thunderstorm falling on parched ground.

It was especially interesting to me to learn how a post-war generation of eager young architects were "brainwashed" by Modernism's cerebral rationality. This I can understand, as the enthusiasm followed their experiences of the Great Depression and World War II. Something new was certainly in order. But even newness can become stale and lifeless. Today, as a new generation of architects meets perhaps the even greater challenge of designing buildings that are "sustainable" or "green", we may be seeing another great age of inspired innovation, expanding the smaller scale vernacular experiments of Sam Mockbee, the elegant shelters of Glen Murcutt, and the social works of Cameron Sinclair's Architecture for Humanity Foundation, to influence and shape the mainstream market. I hope that architects, planners and consumers will avail themselves of the wisdom in Mr. Box's book as they participate in this great new adventure.

Author Hal Box also clearly thinks like a master teacher, a raconteur, and an avid reader.
Are you about to build a new home, serve on a school building committee, or design a public park for a client? Or do you just like to be in and around jewels of architecture? If you answer "Yes," get Second Day delivery on your new copy of Think Like an Architect.

This is a rich compendium of letters (chapters) written to friends and colleagues, replete with drawings, photographs, and tools such as "10 ways to explore and understand a building," plus a thorough Seeing List, as well as a Reading List. A blend of architectural history and 21st Century reality -- deftly connected by Dean Box's passion for and knowledge about the importance of architecture in our daily lives and our cultural legacies - these are two hundred of the most helpful and inspiring pages you'll read. It also is a fast read. Yesterday in fact an active aficionado friend who has been intimately involved with half a dozen projects in recent years excitedly told me that he'd, "just finished, the best, most enjoyable book on architecture. I lost sleep because of it, staying up to read it at night and awakening early to continue."I knew the title he was about to tell me.


... Read more

Product Description
Through a precise and expansive definition of what a pattern is, this book offers ways to understand and use patterns in contemporary design.

From the structure of the universe to the print on your grandmother’s couch, patterns are found in a variety of concrete and conceptual phenomena. For architecture, something that so easily traffics between science and taste demands attention, which partially explains patterns’ recent revival across diverse stylistic and intellectual camps. Yet, despite their ubiquity, their resurgence remains un-theorized and their capabilities underutilized. To date no account has been given for their recent proliferation, nor have their various formal and functional capacities been examined. In fact, the relationship between patterns and architecture hasn’t been addressed in almost 30 years.

This book fills that gap by tracking the definitions and applications of patterns in a number of fields, and by suggesting how contemporary patterns might be used in design. Drawing on historical material and recent case studies, it gives shape to patterns’ emerging potential. The Architecture of Patterns provides an updated definition of patterns that is at once precise and expansive—one that allows their sensory, ephemeral, and iterative traits to be taken as seriously as their functional, everlasting, and essential ones.

Book design by David Carson. Foreword by Sanford Kwinter. Projects by Atelier Manferdini, Bjarke Ingels Group, Ciro Najle, EMERGENT/Thomas Wiscombe, Foreign Office Architects, Jason Payne and Heather Roberge, Herzog and de Meuron, J. Mayer H. Architects, Reiser+Umemoto, Responsive Systems Group, and !ndie architecture.

Product Description
Explore the world's greatest buildings!Architecture is filled with amazing illustrations and photographs that take you to the heart of the world's landmark buildings.Get the opportunity to look beyond the facade.Examine materials and technology that shape buildings, and identify the key elements and decorative features of each architectural style. This is the best definitive visual guide on architecture; it covers 5,000 years of architectural design, style, and construction from airports to ziggurats. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

My 12-yr-old daughter loves it
I bought this book for my 12-yr-old daughter when she said that she wanted to explore architecture. She loves it very much and she decides to carry this book in her personal suitcase when we move from NYC to Taipei next month. Those wordings were not easy for her, an non-native English speaker, but she lapped those pictures up. This is a wonderful reading experience for her.

Great little reference book
I bought this book looking for reference material for my art work.I thought it performed a great job of showing many diverse types of architecture and very useful for ideas.I would recommend it.

Maybe the best in his kind!!!
Ultra helpful!!! I bought some for xmas presents and everybody was really happy! In particular, I think this book is the best! If you like Architecture or like to travel or simple you enjoy beatiful photos, Buy it!!!

Glad I got it!
For my neice who has recently become interested in architecture, this is the perfectbook.It not only provides a world perspective of architecture, the actually pictures are great.Fantastic buy! ... Read more

Product Description
Our groundbreaking survey Earth Architecture is now available in a paperback edition. Author Ronald Rael, founder of EarthArchitecture.org provides a history of building with earth in the modern era, focusing particularly on projects constructed in the last few decades that use rammed earth, mud brick, compressed earth, cob, and several other interesting techniques. Earth Architecture presents a selection of more than forty projects that exemplify new, creative uses of the oldest building material on the planet. With more than three hundred images, Earth Architecture showcases the beauty and simplicity of one of humankind's most evolved and sophisticated building technologies. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great book, great images, definitely inspires - Excelentes imagenes, definitivamente un libro inspirador
I bought this book because I'm very interested in rammed earth construction, and I was fascinated because it also includes other methods of construction with earth. Very descriptive and with beautiful pictures. I would hope to see more plans and elevation drawings but still it is a great book.
Compre este libro mas que nada por que tengo interes en la construccion con tierra apisonada, pero este libro me sorprendio con informacion relevante de otros metodos de construccion con tierra. El libro es muy descriptivo y tiene excelentes fotografias. Me hubiera gustado que tuviera mas dibujos de plantas y fachadas, pero aun asi es un libro excelente.

Color photos throughout display projects and emphasize earth architecture achievement
The world's first skyscrapers were built of mud brick and many famous Americans lived in earth houses at different points in their lives: this said, there have been few books on the contemporary architecture of earth houses, making EARTH ARCHITECTURE a real winner for any college-level arts collection. It surveys over forty projects and profiles the beauty of earth architecture, offering chapters covering new, creative uses of earth in buildings. Color photos throughout display projects and emphasize earth architecture achievement.

Beautiful Book
This book is an integral part of my growing alternative architecture library. The images and text are inspiring, to say the least. Among the most attractive books on the subject currently being offered. Well written and well designed.

A Must-Have Among Architecture Books
In this beautifully designed and written book, eartharchitecture.org founder and professor, Ronald Rael takes a close look at modern earth architecture and how it is a harmonious material in today's world. Earth Architecture exposes some of the most well-kept secrets in modern architecture, some historical references and beautiful photography of the most contemporary buildings in the world made of mud. In continuing my own research on mud architecture, I also found Rael to be a wonderful speaker on the topic in this live interview http://abc.net.au/rn/bydesign. Take a listen to the last 20% of this news broadcast to hear from Rael directly. He has a knack for making people say "wow...very interesting." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

"EA"sy
For anyone attempting to get a basic understanding of Enterprise Architecture, this is the "go to" book. Whether your job is DoDAF, TOGAF, FEAF or MODAF centric, this book will help you cut through the chase and understand EA at its core. Great reading!!!

Good Book
Good reading material and intersting approach to EA. This text came in early in the game of EA and I recommend it!

Introduction; What's the next step?
Solid introduction to the field.

As is appropriate for a first book it outlines the theory. When I finish it however, I'm going to be looking for something that can lead me through the next step; identifying the challenges and techniques to confront them. That's not this book.

An Introduction To Enterprise Architecture: Second Edition
Interessant book and base of the course for the certification of Enterprise Architect (Carnegie Mellon)

Very Good Introduction to Enterprise Architecture
"Introduction to Enterprise Architecture" is a very good text for a student or experienced professional to start to understand this very complex topic.The more useful aspect of the book is how it shows you the required elements of any Enterprise Architecture, and how they fit together.That is the most important thing for any Enterprise Architect to learn.That is presented well in the book.

In addition, there is a good summary of many of the most referenced EA Frameworks.

The examples are good, especially, the appendices that walk you through the specific deliverable documents for several of the well known EA Frameworks.That alone, is well worth the price of the book. ... Read more

Product Description
Since its first publication in 1985, Modern Architecture Since 1900 has become established as a contemporary classic. Worldwide in scope, the book combines a clear historical outline with masterly analysis and interpretation. Throughout the book, the author's focus is on the individual architect, and on the qualities that give outstanding buildings their lasting value. The third edition incorporates much new knowledge and a fresh appreciation of regional identity and variety. c.650 illustrations, 300 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Expensive to be used.
It is in very good conditions but it was only ten dollars under it's original(new) price. Expensive to be a used book!

Hate to love it
I had to purchase this book as my required textbook for a Modernism class.Needless to say, when the quarter is over, this book is not getting resold!It's well bound, fabulous pictures, and very captivating reading.Yes, it's a textbook, but it's by Taschen and it's something to keep on your bookshelf as a handy reference, and idea generator in the future.I could go on and on...

Good source of information
this is a really good reference book becuase it provides many precedents of architecture that are really good to look at for ideas and cocepts.

Complicated language.
I gave up in trying to read this book.The language is too advanced for someone simply studying 20th cenury architecture class, unless this is your field of studies or you are going to write a thesis.

Modern Architecture Since 1900
Nothing to review as you were unable to provide me with a copy of the product selected.Apparently it was out of stock.But you did provide the name of another book that I might like.Unfortunately it was for a text and that suggestion ws useless. ... Read more

Product Description
THE AUBIN ACADEMY MASTER SERIES: REVIT? ARCHITECTURE 2011 focuses on the rationale and practicality of the Revit? Architecture process allowing readers to learn faster and get a clear sense of the software and an understanding of each tool's potential.Instruction and tips from the author as well as online quick start videos all contribute to reinforce learning of Revit Architecture 2011. ... Read more