Architecture: A Brief Insight (Brief Insights)

By Andrew Ballantyne

Book Overview

"Architectures: Modernism and After "surveys the history of the building from the advent of industrialization to the cultural imperatives of the present moment. Brings together international art and architectural historians to consider a range of topics that have influenced the shape, profile, and aesthetics of the built environment. Presents crucial "moments" in the history of the field when the architecture of the past is made to respond to new and changing cultural circumstances. Provides a view of architectural history as a part of a continuing dialogue between aesthetic criteria and social and cultural imperatives. Part of the New Interventions in Art History Series, which is published in conjunction with the Association of Art Historians.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1402775423
• ISBN13: 9781402775420
• Release Date: September 2010
• Publisher: Union Square & Co.
• Length: 184 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.3" x 1.0" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

A good introduction to the subject

This is a good starting point for anyone with even a passing appreciation for architecture. In this fast read, Andrew Ballantyne tackles the subject in an interesting way. He addresses the social and psychological effects that architecture has on different "cultures", whether that culture is an entire ethnic group or three people with common beliefs. There is some technical and structural discussion, of course, but it is not the focus of this book. There is an emphasis on classical architecture and its various reinterpretations throughout Western history, including the Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical periods. Ballantyne also spends a some time discussing modern theory and belief, and through that the nonconformist architecture of the 20th century. There are 25 images with information boxes, and I found that these were great at reinforcing the different sample "canons" that Ballantyne referred to throughout the text. This is a good start if you're interested in the social and cultural aspects and interpretations of architecture, but possibly not so much in the technical aspects. This book serves as a great foundation for the subject of architectural studies, which is exactly its intended purpose.

Western architecture as fashion

"Style" comes from the Greek word for column, as the author explains in the book. Which is just one of many fascinating facts contained inside this look at the the most expensive of fashion statements. It especially focuses on Western European architecture from about the Rennaissance on, when architecture as a profession began, although Classical and Gothic are covered because they are, after all, the models for all that followed. But it's no textbook chronology of well-known buildings. Instead it's an essay on society and its buildings, by someone knowledgeable enough to be able to toss in a new fact about all the familiar names. (Although his claim that the extra glass in the Reitveldt Schroder house required an industrial boiler that cost as much the house itself is a little hard to believe.) The writing is witty, full of good stories, and avoids the cliches often found in these books. Even manages references to recent movies, like Fight Club (the character's excessive brand consciousness) and Amelie (showcases the venerable Art Nouveau subway stations).

somewhat interesting, perfect if you know nothing

it serves its purpose very well. i skipped the second chapter because it didn't seem to interesting to me. but the other two chapters were good. i learned plenty from it. i got a few very good points from it, but it seems like the same major points were stated over and over again, but that's how i feel about everything educational i read.