The result alternates between the relaxed and the excited, a pleasing effect which probably owes a lot to his explicit focus on the good rather than the bad. Goldberger repeatedly emphasises the view that architecture is above all a contextual art. It is the street as a whole, not the individual building, that produces the delight we feel when we appreciate good architecture. Throughout Why Architecture Matters he returns to the argument that our built heritage is not composed of individual works of genius, but is a collective project.
Of course he is talking about good architecture, the kind that produces delight and a strong sense of place. Even when the smog clears, and despite its vaunted Olympic constructions, Beijing has become a confusion of undistinguished as well as undistinguishable large-scale mediocrity as he puts it. Goldberger offers equally cogent arguments to support some later exemplars of iconic building. Just as there can be no formula for successful architectural commissions, there can be no shortcuts to good critique.
Goldberger is master of well argued judgement and nimble language. It is not surprising then that some of the most engaging parts of the book are personal recollections, for example about how as a child he was inspired to pay attention to his surroundings, ordinary as his New Jersey home was.
In its tour of great architecture — understood both as individual buildings and composite environments — the book provides a mostly comforting image. But in his concluding chapter Goldberger reverts to a distinctly sombre tone. Goldberger does not prescribe solutions but argues passionately that architecture must continue to define our place in the world in a way that 'startles us and comforts us at the same time.
The book features wonderful descriptions of both buildings and sites. Highly recommended. Whitwell, Choice. Andrew Foyle and Nikolaus Pevsner. Regency Designer. David Watkin. The Role of Design Review. Edited by J. Carter Brown. Form vs. Why not both, and something more besides:. Goldberg has been churning out pretty statements like that for four decades. As chief architecture writer for the New York Times in the s, Goldberger was our first popular post-modernist critic.
And about how good buildings remain beautiful throughout time. How sometimes you can let an old building go for something great and new, but to also appreciate old buildings and preserve great landmarks. This book offers great insights into architecture and it is great for anyone even if they don't care much about architecture. Nov 17, Brian rated it really liked it Shelves: architecture. Very nice! Dec 12, Diane rated it liked it Shelves: technology , non-fiction. This book is part of a series on Why X e.
Architecture Matters, intended to be brief, inexpensive introductions to a topic. I enjoyed it although it probably could have been about pages shorter - Goldberger tends to fall into "architecture-speak" at times. But all is forgiven because of Chapter 5: Architecture and Memory. He talks mostly about his own early architecture memories which made me start musing on mine and he talks of architecture in film, photography, art, and literature - This book is part of a series on Why X e.
He talks mostly about his own early architecture memories which made me start musing on mine and he talks of architecture in film, photography, art, and literature - wonderful long quotes. Because of the approach there are not enough pictures - I was okay with the cheap, black and white ones and wished there were more. I read this while traveling so couldn't jump on Google Images to find more and better pictures.
Feb 23, Nicole M rated it it was amazing. Enjoyed this book lot! A great introduction to the philosophy of architecture, spaces, aesthetics, and the affects they give us. Very accessible for the lay person. Aug 19, Ben rated it it was amazing. This book is so much more than a history of architecture or the different styles through the ages. Rather, it is a celebration of all that architecture is, how it has been successful and unsuccessful, and what it means for our lives and our future.
Goldberger writes with such passion and conviction about architecture that it is impossible not to love the buildings he so vividly describes. Also, his chapters on memory and time were fascinating to read since they spoke more about the reality of ar This book is so much more than a history of architecture or the different styles through the ages.
I had to pause at many points to look up the buildings online, just so I could understand what Goldberger was referring to. Overall, it was a fantastic book about how architecture matters and so many points of our lives. Dec 24, Francesco rated it it was amazing. Excellent introduction to architecture and why it matters as a space, a form, a memory, an object, a symbol. It helps to appreciate how much architecture shapes our lives and social interactions, and how much it is shaped by culture, function, esthetic, time, and much more.
It also introduces you to some fundamental readings on the subject and the writing and work of many masters. Strongly recommended. Jun 08, Richard Zaslavsky rated it really liked it Shelves: non-fiction. I think it's a great book for those who want to understand architecture better, see the bigger picture. Nov 17, Marcos rated it liked it Shelves: man-society-antropology-sociology. A nuanced exploration of some of the most compelling examples of architecture, although it sometimes remains superficial and leaves you hanging.
A brilliant account of modern architecture. Jul 07, Nick Harris rated it it was amazing. Beautifully written and wise, considering architecture from all angles, and with a powerful defence of the common ground. Jun 17, Nikita Efanov rated it it was ok. The book is too American-centric and its structure is overcomplicated. Had the author used the inverted pyramid, the book would have been way easier to read. Nov 12, Alex rated it really liked it.
Highly recommended for the general reader and definitely! Goldberger steps back from his criticism to explore the basic questions: what do buildings do, aesthetically, culturally, economically, physically? He's deeply familiar with the architecture academy's answers to these questions, but you wouldn't know it from the writing. He's clear, concise, concrete. Not all critics have the ability to identify and address the big questions in their fields. And when so much architecture discussion is either deeply theoretical or else just picture galleries, this is very useful.
There's an offhand takedown of Rem in here that is a keeper.
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