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Review
'The guide celebrates the only way to understand architecture: in the flesh'
Thom Dyckhoff, Architecture Critic, The Times
'Everything that a Londoner, a visitor or any city lover will need.'
Jane Priestman OBE, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Open House London
Thom Dyckhoff, Architecture Critic, The Times
'Everything that a Londoner, a visitor or any city lover will need.'
Jane Priestman OBE, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Open House London
Jane Priestman OBE, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Open House London
"everything that a Londoner, a visitor or any city lover will need"
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Having bought this book on Saturday morning, I found myself spending the best part of the weekend reading it, and indeed on Sunday I ventured forth to look at some of the buildings described by the author, Allinson, so enthused was I by his book. In many ways it is comparable to the London books in the Pevsner Buildings of England series, less comprehensive, of course, and focussing on new buildings in Central London, rather than all buildings of note in the capital, but it has the edge on Pevsner somewhat in the very attractive layout, smashing colour pictures and plans and diagrams, and a very distinctive engaging author, whose other work I will now seek out. The Pevsner books are written in a very dry, slightly off-putting style. This is much livelier andd at the same time just as serious -- really excellent -- and anybody who refers to and knows Pevsner will enjoy it, I think. There is much here that is new, and the book is suprisingly up to the minute which buildings only recently completed fully described. More!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As a non-architect but an architecture enthusiast this book delights on all sorts of levels. It is informative, well illustrated and graphically engaging. There are a few niggles in terms of rather too many typo errors -(I assume Jean Nouvelle is a typo error!) and the maps are a bit confusing but this does not detract from the overall enjoyment in the utter readability of the book. The author writes with authority and verbal dexterity that clearly communicates the author's enthusiasm and knowledge of the built environment. This book provides a wide ranging and entertaining guide to contemporary architecture in London which clearly explains how buildings work and puts them into context throughout the city. For anyone who loves London - warts and all - this is a must.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I've long been a fan of this book which, now in its fifth edition, just keeps getting better and better. Hundreds of buildings (some covered in a sentence or two, others spanning several pages) lively described in words, photos and explanatory diagrams, as well as comments from users and architects. The focus is on contemporary architecture, described as generally being 'since 2000, but in truth, it is whatever is vitally a part of a living metropolis'. The approach taken embeds the buildings discussed within London's characteristic habit of continual regeneration and, as a result, architectural history is very much present too.
The author encourages the reader to wholeheartedly embrace London's architectural diversity, suggesting the reader's values will be stretched and enriched as s/he does so. He describes his own experience of architecture as one of 'meetings with buildings' and admits to being as intrigued by the opportunities and challenges involved in getting buildings built as he is in the end result. And so there's the occasional detour into philosophy, politics, project management, aesthetics and whatever else a building 'meeting' might trigger.
The author's enthusiasm for architecture is infectious. Randomly opening a page, the reader can quickly find his or herself ten pages on - this book is a real page-turner! The writer wears his considerable knowledge lightly and the text is informative, humorous and unashamedly opinionated at times. Yet, there is a humility too - a genuine respect for the challenges of creating and enjoying architecture within 'a cacophony of historical periods, tastes, values, constructions and scales'. Buildings, users, architects and enthusiasts are called upon to cope with having all this confusion thrust upon them at once, and to find their own ways in coming to terms with it all.
For me, it is this generosity of spirit which is the book's real strength, becoming stronger with every edition. More than anything, the author demonstrates that a willingness to engage in dialogue with buildings on their own terms, to understand what their potential (realised and sometimes not fully realised) might be, is a richly rewarding experience. Moreover, this is an experience that is available to everybody - novice, expert and everyone in between - out there, on the street. In short, this book tells us that the enjoyment of architecture is ours for the taking. Get those walking boots on!
The author encourages the reader to wholeheartedly embrace London's architectural diversity, suggesting the reader's values will be stretched and enriched as s/he does so. He describes his own experience of architecture as one of 'meetings with buildings' and admits to being as intrigued by the opportunities and challenges involved in getting buildings built as he is in the end result. And so there's the occasional detour into philosophy, politics, project management, aesthetics and whatever else a building 'meeting' might trigger.
The author's enthusiasm for architecture is infectious. Randomly opening a page, the reader can quickly find his or herself ten pages on - this book is a real page-turner! The writer wears his considerable knowledge lightly and the text is informative, humorous and unashamedly opinionated at times. Yet, there is a humility too - a genuine respect for the challenges of creating and enjoying architecture within 'a cacophony of historical periods, tastes, values, constructions and scales'. Buildings, users, architects and enthusiasts are called upon to cope with having all this confusion thrust upon them at once, and to find their own ways in coming to terms with it all.
For me, it is this generosity of spirit which is the book's real strength, becoming stronger with every edition. More than anything, the author demonstrates that a willingness to engage in dialogue with buildings on their own terms, to understand what their potential (realised and sometimes not fully realised) might be, is a richly rewarding experience. Moreover, this is an experience that is available to everybody - novice, expert and everyone in between - out there, on the street. In short, this book tells us that the enjoyment of architecture is ours for the taking. Get those walking boots on!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Highly reccommend
I found this book very accessible and interesting for a non architect which is unusual for architecture books and would definitley reccommend as a very interesting and informative... Read more
Published 5 months ago by WelshLady
Draft copy or never proof read?
Sadly I wish I had read the reviews of 'Architects and Architecture of London' - by the same author - before purchasing this book. Read more
Published 22 months ago by MaxiMoog
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