architecture book of the year

[Paul Clerkin]

so what for you was the architecture book of the year? or the book that you want to find under your tree this year>

[sw101]

10x10. great book. and i mean great as in big, and also great.

[Paul Clerkin]

Geographically specific but I think these are two excellent books on Canadian architecture - both published this year


The Architecture of Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg


<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/3764362243/archeiririsharch"><img src="/images/button_buythisbook.gif" width=91 height=21 border=0 alt="Buy this book"></a>

Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects, founded in 1987 in Toronto, has risen to become one of the most prominent architectural offices in Canada, where they have realised numerous projects including the Kitchener City Hall (1990), Queen's University Library in Kingston, Canada (1992-1995) and the Hilton Hotel Toronto (2000). In addition, they have built up a reputation in the fields of interior and retail design, and the creation of upmarket single-family furnished housing. In Europe KPMB have made their mark with Zurich airport's Star Alliance Lounge and the new Canadian embassy in Berlin, scheduled for completion towards the end of 2004. This monograph presents 20 of their recent and current projects.

This is a beautifully presented monograph in a large fully colour format. Each project is presented in detail with lots of illustrations. There are a couple of essays and a very interesting interview with the four principals on their architecture, their influences and their office dynamic.




<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0889224749/archeiririsharch"><img src="/bookcovers/luxton_buildingwest.jpg" width="200" height="273" hspace="10" border="0" align="left" alt="Building The West"></A>


Building The West
The early architects of British Columbia
Donald Luxton

Talonbooks
ISBN: 0889224749

<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0889224749/archeiririsharch"><img src="/images/button_buythisbook.gif" width=91 height=21 border=0 alt="Buy this book"></a>

Building the West tells the stories, discovers the hopes and aspirations, and celebrates the successes and accomplishments of the early architects of British Columbia, as it illustrates their lives and careers. Starting before the first flood of immigration during the 1858 Gold Rush, it follows the lives of almost 400 individuals first drawn here by the opportunities of frontier settlement, and the establishment and maturation of their profession over time. It is intended for a general readership, and is of wide interest as a definative biographical and reference source. Building the West constitutes a legacy of over a century of built landscape in British Columbia.

This is a really excellent body of work and a must have for anyone interested in the architecture of British Columbia or the western provinces of Canada. Each biographical entry details the architect or practice's background and important buildings. A book for dipping in and out of. Beautifully presented in two colours throughout, it includes several full-colour reproductions of original and historically vital architectural renderings. It is richly illustrated with over 600 photographs of these architects' most important works, as well as portraits and family images, of which well over half come from never before seen private collections.

[Hugh]

The book I enjoyed most this year is Nigel Warburton's "Erno Goldfinger: the life of an architect." (Routledge, £30/$50). Because it's a well-constructed old-fashioned biography rather than a picture book, and because it's not just about the man but about a whole period of emigre architects arriving in Britain and America and bringing a new kind of modernism with them.

Having said which, Goldfinger was a larger-than-life character in himself. Why else would he have given his name to a Bond villain?

Quite a small book, quite expensive, no colour pix, well worth it.

[alan d]

The best book I've read this year is Brunelleschi's Dome : The Story of the Great Cathedral of Florence by Ross King.

Absolutely marvelous

[Bex]

Echoeing 10x10, its awesome.

[cromakid]

dont know about the best book of the year.
but id sure like these under my tree
10x10
Architecture Now! Vol. 1,2, 3 Philip Jojido
Super Dutch

[sw101]

The Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture: Comprehensive Edition


absolutely enormous book, but excellently presented.

[aaron]

so what for you was the architecture book of the year? or the book that you want to find under your tree this year>

for me the book of the year is .....Architecture in the age of divided Representation...by prof. dalibor vessely emeritus at cambridge.... i was lucky enough to be taught under a student of dalibor vessely (who also had daniel libeskin as student) and i know im name dropping now, but when you get in a room with these guys, you know you are learning something, its such a great book.....