ABC of Architecture
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ABC of Architecture
by Authors:
James F. OGorman , Dennis E. McGrath
Released: December, 1997
ISBN: 0812216318
Paperback
Sales Rank: 41,742
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List price:
$13.45
Our price:
$10.76
(You save: $2.69)
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| Book > ABC of Architecture > Customer Reviews: |
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Average Customer Rating: 
ABC of Architecture >
Customer Review #1:
 OGorman is too old fashioned ...
Although it is intended for a more amateur architectural audience, OGorman doesnt seem to encompass modern thinking into his book. He pretty much re-vamps Vitruvius famous work into this contemporary style. However, with his contemporary writing, he doesnt bring in any contemporary ideas... He leaves post modernism and modernism out completely... He refers to Mies Van der Rohe, yet he wrongly references him. Mies wasnt concerned with utility, where as OGormans main thesis is that architecture IS utilitarian. The book is a fast easy read however, and its been interesting... and it WILL certainly help first year arch. students.
ABC of Architecture >
Customer Review #2:
 Excellent Introduction to Architecture
My college freshman daughter told me she was thinking about majoring in environmental design. Knowing nothing about environmental design, I decided I needed to know more. Architecture is a part of environmental design, and I feel fortunate to have found this book. It is a fast read at about 120 pages, and it is focused on the three principles of an ancient Roman architect named Vitruvius: Utilitas, Firmitas, and Venustas in Latin, or function, structure, and beauty. The book devotes a chapter to each of these principles, and has additional chapters on architecture as communication and the vocabulary of architecture. The book also stresses the importance of history on architecture. The book has numerous drawings that help illustrate the points in the text. After reading this book I feel like I have a high-level picture of what architects have to consider in their profession.
ABC of Architecture >
Customer Review #3:
Short and, mostly, sweet.
This is a very informative, short book. While he doesnt ignore periods entirely, OGormans approach is to concentrate on key architectural principles, primarily structural, and use buildings, or even simplified sketches, to illustrate them. The book would have been even better if the glossary at the end were expanded, and used some sketches: words are frequently far less useful than pictures in explaining a term. Also, I found OGormans introduction a bit forced and wordy. Conversely, the last few pages of the book, in which he hurriedly covers such topics as the importance of history and association in interpreting architectural work, were fascinating, but rushed.
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ABC of Architecture >
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