Reviews for Defining Urban Design: CIAM Architects and the Formation of a Discipline, 1937-69

The average rating for Defining Urban Design: CIAM Architects and the Formation of a Discipline, 1937-69 based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2017-03-18 00:00:00 Justin Didy Reading a cookbook? Yes, but this was more of a coffee table book. Not only were the recipes interesting but also the history of the hotel and the history of the food in the hotel. I had been looking for an original recipe for red velvet cake made with beets (for the coloring) rather than with artificial red food dye and it was there. It's nice to dream about the old world charm of the hotel even if it has lost a bit of it as a chain in the Hilton empire.

Review # 2 was written on 2016-01-06 00:00:00 William Ferguson Ii The Art of Japanese Architecture is a wonderful journey through the history of buildings in Japan. The book traces the origins of what we see today right back to pre-historic times. It's amazing to see influences traced back hundreds and even more than 1,000 years. It says something about the timeless nature of Japanese design. The story is a lesson in Japanese culture - and how much it's always been about taking in other cultures and making them Japanese. The blending of the native Shinto and imported Buddhist architecture is the perfect example. I learned a few really interesting things too. Like that fact that the design of Shinto shrines started with rice storehouses. And in our era of conceptually planned everything, I was amazed to leant that the temple complex at Nikko had the leading artist of the day work out a complex colour scheme for the site - multiple buildings and paths climbing a mountain side. Never would have suspected this - sounds pretty modern for the 1600s. This book also reinforced my view on eBooks of a certain kind - titles like this one that depend heavily on pictures and sidebar stories. I happened to have copies of the book and the ebook. I started electronically but at times the pictures and accompanying text just seemed out of place (and too small). Going to the printed copy the text and graphics were anchored on the pages - and the context was so much clearer.