500 Self-Portraits
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500 Self-Portraits
by Authors:
Julian Bell
Released: 01 April, 2004
ISBN: 0714843849
Paperback
Sales Rank: 40,545
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List price:
$14.95
Our price:
$10.47
(You save: $4.48)
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| Book > 500 Self-Portraits > Customer Reviews: |
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Average Customer Rating: 
500 Self-Portraits >
Customer Review #1:
 Good overview, but...
The main complaint I have with this book is that some of the photography veers towards the abstract or obscure. Frankly in an architecture book Im not interested in the photographers or authors artistic pretensions. Let the architects work speak for itself - something that many authors on architecture seem reluctant to do these days. Having experienced some of the work featured in this book, there were some photographs that left me wondering if Id been in the same building as these guys. It was great to see floorplans but some drawings or draft plans illustrating Pawsons design process would have been very welcome.
500 Self-Portraits >
Customer Review #2:
 simplified but not simplicity
If readers have come across Deyan Sudjics works before (namely, the Architecture Park), then, you have a fairly good idea of what to expect from this book. I always find Deyans books to be hugely entertaining and informative at the same time, and I cant help but noticing that Deyan is a strong advocate of architecture, not discussing about the literati of it all but discussing about the interaction among people that are concerned in creating spaces for their consumptions. John Pawson is a superarchitect who started his career reasonably late in his thirties but thru a mixture of his talent, hard work, sheer luck in getting recognised, his stature in the architecture world is phenomena. I wouldnt rate him as one of those cerebral architects such as Stephen Holl, Steve Eisenmann, Frank Gehry, Frank Meier, etc. but what he does, he does it in his own way, and with style. Perhaps, one of the saying that depicts him succinctly would be, if its working, why fix it. By glancing thru all his works, readers might find that they all have those quiet contemplation ambiance with a touch of Eastern Zen (not surprising considering that he spent 4 years of his life teaching in Japan), and modernism. John also applies the fundamentals of architecture by emphasising upon form, mass, and repetition. Here, we are privileged to read about the process that John went thru with his few featured high profiled clients, who inherently share his values. Some of the works are as followings: Calvin Klein, Martha Stewart, Cathay Pacific, Obumex Kitchen, Faggionato Apartment, Pawsons own house, Young Vic. Presentation of this Phaidons book is high quality, and even though its a nice touch by using different tones of whites and grays to give it a Pawsons feel to it, it might be difficult to read in a less than well-lit room, and some of the building plans were so small and miniscule and without the necessary aid such as magnifying glass, its not really easy to look at the plans in detail. Labelling of the spaces would come in handy, naturally. Chronology, index, and acknowledgements at the end of the book and a potrait of John Pawson do give us a fairly good idea of his accomplishments, and about the man himself. In terms of defining John Pawson, I think this book has done just that. Enjoyable to read and as a coffee table book, it wouldnt disappoint. Highly recommended.
500 Self-Portraits >
Customer Review #3:
John Pawson Works
If you appreciate that "less is certainly more.."..then youll love this book.John Pawsons works continue to demonstrate that there is beauty even in the simplest of expressions.The use of bold planes, subtle lighting and texture continue to seduce and excite.Pawsons kitchens exemplify his minimalist philosophies-they make you want to rip your own out and start all over again!
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500 Self-Portraits >
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