Dear Friends,
Let me introduce my best friend to you. He is a Book..! Sure enuf, my friend for life.
-Manish
Books have power. I can find the subtle smiles of enlightenment unfolding across lips of saints whn they read books. It is also said that book is the best friend of the wise. But you cannot read as many books as you can, and you have to be very selective. When Sardar Patel read books in library in London, the librarian used to correct his clock if stopped, by Patel's arrival time..! Such a punctuality, discipline, concentration and enthusiasm for books! Abrahalm Lincoln walked for miles to read a book and read under street lights. Mahatma Gandhi read Gita in prison. So, reading books will make me, I THINK STUDENT OF LIFE. Also, I acknowledge the fact that we have to study the book, not just read it. So dear friends in this forum, you must have been definitely influenced by some books, some ways of thinking. I think even 20-30 minutes can be still devoted perfectly to read books daily.
So, now the real question is "Which are the books which have changed your life, what are the contents in it; can you friends succinctly describe it?" Which are the best books in architecture which you have ever read and have shaped your thinking. Do you still believe in this power of book and a life-long learning as a basic root for the future of architecture and also for a good living and enlightenment.
I know this will be very interesting to get an idea of power of books, knowing good books,and to share some insights from the books you have read in this forum, for which ENTHUSIASM IS THE KEY.
This can be life-long learning and can be done here too life-long. Isn't it interesting to enter the realms of knowledge and self-discovery. We can surely move from shackles of ignorance then. I think books if read daily will help to spin continuosness, constancy and a purpose into the architectural fabric of the future seamlessly.
Let us share always whenever we sign in this forum and nourish the spark of reading by always contributing of whatever you read however 'bits and pieces' it may be. So, initiating let me share a quote I read today. "How many times it thundered before Franklin took the hint! How many apples fell on Newton's head before he took the hint! Nature is always hinting at us. It hints over and over again. And suddenly we take the hint.--Robert Frost. So I eagerly anticipate that we Give, cos knowledge increases when we charitise it.
With love,
|
| |
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
B.V doshi, frank llyod, le cob, charles correa, hasan fatty, bimal patel, tadao ando, frank o gehry, this are big names which certainly come to mind first.
Charles correa by kenneth framptom is good one. the new book hosing and urbanisation by correa is very interesting. tadao ando light and water is a cherish to read. tropical houses, living in nature is awesome.
the japanese magazines morever presents great insights to new works of unrecognised architects, stilltheir works are awe-inspiring.
somehow when as a student when i was fresh i read more books. I should read them more often because after leaving college, i don't think so i could get acess to good library of college. so beter to start reading daily.
May be suddenly i can take the hint, at present more than nature college library is hinting at me..!
yes books are great friends if cultivated.
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
Paul Scheerbart, The Gray Cloth: a novel on Glass Architecture
My current favourite - its an abstract reflection of one mans posession with Architecture. The passion he exudes is almost chilling.
I believe every interpretation of the story will be relative to ones personal approach to design.
Read and enjoy. Please let me know what you think!!!
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
|
an eternal and timeless literary expression is 'Invisible Cities' by Italo Calvino; others which are among my truly cherished are 'Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology in arhitecture'; Books by Francis D.K. Ching; books by Amos Rapoport; by Kenneth Frampton; and ofcourse 'Architecture of the City'...
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
Dear Manish
Two books that I cherish and hold in high regard: The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand and Arab-Islamic cities: building and design principles by Besim Hakim
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
This list by far uptil now has been brilliant, but mainstream, for those of you who would like to read some stuff that is a bit more intense i would suggest, Paolo Soleri's publications.
Paolo Soleri Books.
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
I just completed a book titled "who moved my cheese" by Spencer Johnson. It has remained best-selling book in U.S and India for more than 3 yrs. Like Fountaihead this is not specially for architects, but makes us think to move away from our comfort-zone and gives a call for change.
It would be really nice if we mention a short gist of content in the books which we are mentioning. And may be share most inspirational lines from the book. May be a quote from it.
I was reading book by on Frank 0 Gehry. Here is what he says,its interesting: 'I was very annoyed with post-modernism. In the early begginings I felt that we were just starting to find a way to deal with the present so why id we have to go backwards????
I got very angry and said, " well, if we're gonna go backwards, we can go to fish which are 500 million years before man. And I drew many pictures in mi sketchbook of fish and pretty soon I started to become interested in the fish itself. Inevitably you start bcoming interested in what u are drawing!"
Really thankful for positive response, may be I Can now strengthen my interest in reading books more.
regards
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
|
One of the most valuable books for architects, especially students of architecture, is: Eco,Umberto. ART and BEAUTY in the Middle Ages. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1986. I have found that it lends a framework for many useful discussions in our day and age where trends masquerade as truths.
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
Since we are already mentioning Umberto Eco, I would definately mention his masterpiece 'The Name of the Rose', perhaps the best novel with medival theme written yet. There are some wonderful descriptions of medival European architecture in it, which, though purely fictional, describing imaginary buildings, are based on real medival architecture from France and Italy.
A must-have for any architect is, in my humble opinion, two volumes of 'Atlas Baukunst', or 'Atlas of Architecture', a wonderful little handbook which in trumendous detail tells the story of European architecture history and theory (with the addition of early civilisations of Mesopotamia and Egypt) from late perhistory to Le Corbusier and present days. It does not explain so much individual buildings as overall developments of construction, form, function and architectural thought through time. It also covers a lot about urbanisam and development of cities.
Another book which I would recomend is 'Sir Banister Fletcher's History of Architecture', which more-less covers the architecture of entire world up to very end of 20th century. However, this book is (obviously) enormous, and requires a lot of concentration to read, but it's worth it!
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
Man loves to create... that is beyond dispute. But..may it not be...he is instinctively afraid of attaining his goal and completing the edifice from a distance and not at close range, perhaps he only likes to build it, and does not want to live in it...Peter Einsenmann in the book 'HOUSES OF CARDS'
REGARDS,
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
From other books worth reading are swami vivekananda an autobiography.
also the book 'The present' by spencer is very powerful book in terms of conveying a message of living in present rather than being skeptical of future and regretting of past; through an interesting story which puts your reading going on.
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
The Dream of Scipio, Iain Pears
Life of Pi, Yann Martel
The Elegant Universe, Brian Greene
The Search for Beauty in Islam, Khaled Abou El Fadl
If on a Winter's Night a Traveler, Italo Calvino
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig
In Watermelon Sugar, Richard Brautigan
Heart of Darkness, Joseph Conrad
The Dark Knight Returns, Frank Miller
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
dear manish desai,
what a coincidence,today i logged in to start discussion on the same topic, but at present wanted to limit only to architectuer.iam happy to find my problem solved to an extent.
i wanted to put it this way.
first,
how many schools of architecture do u think maintain a good library and be abreast with the architecture happenings in and around india or at international stage?
i think the figures are disheartening.
second,
apart form our studios most of the things a architecture student learn is through books and journals.may be a sort of home work out of curiosity and interest.
so for such schools and students i would like to know the 10 best books/journals on architecture(ohter than those by vitruvius,alberti and palladio),you can say must read in order to have better understanding of the field.
a good list have already come up so far,but each response is more on a personal baisis.isn't it?
here i would like to add one more
KINDERGARTEN CHATS by louis sullivan.
as u have started the discussion so i request u to put a big list before u close the discussion.
reegards
karam
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
Read, grasp and hold in your heart forever:
`architecture: form space & order` by F.D.K. Ching,
`interior design` by F.D.K. Ching,
`thinking architecture` by Peter Zumthor
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
|
The most inspirational book that I have found so far has to be Robin Evans' collection of essays "Translations from drawing to building." It is fantastic, and makes you see architecture in so many different ways.
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
I would suggest a book for all designers for whom creativity is in blood. It is 'Invisible Images: A Silent Language of Architecture' by Ar. Beverly Willis based in New York. It's a book with a dazzling meld of striking PERCEPTIONS, challenging ideas, brilliant photographs, and creative process which is universal to all designers. A student can read this book right from first year and be influenced by it and at the same time a senior architect will cherish reading this book and reflect slowly on each of the pages unfolding to reveal the secrets of architecture which is invisible..
Warm Regards,
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
Manish
One book that would definitely be worth reading is
Architecture theory : A reader in culture by Andrew Ballantyne published by Continuum.
The boring title notwithstanding, the book has essays by Emerson, Thoreau, Kristeva, Deleuze & Guattari, Freud, Bachelard and the like. Though it reads as architecture theory, it merely suggests philosophic notions, allowing you to make the architectural connections in your own mind, inspiring you to explore further by creating unusual combinations of thoughts.
It is a book that has to be read over a long period of time, allowing it to guide you along. 'Student of Life'? I think you should try this one.
|
|
Architectural books worth reading
|
"Seven Lamps of Architecture" by John Ruskin, written at the turn of last century.
It takes 2-3 readings to get the hang of the text but its worth every effort.
|
|
|
Legal Notes
Contact ArchNet