Books on architecture (theory and history)

Jul 11, 2007 11 Replies
M

Hi, I would like to purchase some good books on architecture for my private library. After a quick scan on amazon I've found the following titles.


  1. Principles of architecture ==================== Francis D. K. Ching - Architecture: Form, Space, & Order (3rd Edition,

2007)
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  1. General history of architecture ======================== Francis D. K. Ching, Mark M. Jarzombek, and Vikramaditya Prakash - A Global History of Architecture (1st Edition, 2006)
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    David Watkin - A History of Western Architecture (3rd Edition, 2005)
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  1. Modern Architecture ================= William Curtis - Modern Architecture Since 1900 (3rd Edition, 2006)
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    Kenneth Frampton - Modern Architecture: A Critical History (3rd Edition, 1992)
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Please give me your expert opinion/preference about them. Also feel free to suggest any other seminal book in these areas. I will buy one book in each category.


Thanks Markus



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A

2006)
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2005)
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2006)
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1992)
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For history, I think Spiro Kostoff's A History of Architecture is widely accepted as the most thorough.

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M

Aesthete ha scritto:

I can't find this book on amazon. Probably it is out of print.

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M

I've got a copy...I never touch it.

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Could be because someone didn't spell his name correctly. Try Spiridon Kostov. Or Spiro Kostov

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M
++ ha scritto:

Found!

Spiro Kostof - A History of Architecture: Settings and Rituals (2nd Edition 1995)

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Thanks for the tip. It's a solid book.

However I'm yet looking for comments on the books that are on my short list (se first post in this thread) :)

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What is the point of your reading. What do you wish to accomplish? Design? Develop? Plan? Innovate in? Solve? Effect?

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M
++ ha scritto:

I'm not (and I'll never be) an architect but I've recently fall in love with architecture. So I would to build some solid foundations for this discipline throught authoritative and well written books on theory and history of architecture. That's all!

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O

You may be interested in Fungitecture, currently parked at

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Hmm, Christopher Alexander books...get a copy of Architectural Graphic standards and kind a thumb through (you can get a less than current edition for less)...purchase lots of Dover architectural and building books....take a couple courses in History of Architecture....

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G

That's kind of a loose requirement. Are you sure you couldn't just go to the library and photocopy the covers of some books and tape them to slabs of foam insulation? Much cheaper.

I adore this book.

Ooops, I don't have either of those. Please disregard my comments.

I don't if any in your selection are seminal to begin with.

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G

It will be many decades yet before it is out of print.

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