Great Streets: Allen B. Jacobs -
The seminal classic of taking a comprehensive look at the manner factors that make streets "great". Violating the current American premise that pedestrians are a liability on a public way, Great Streets breaks down the historically great streets into specific manageable components for explanation and comparison. Factors such as scale, activity, spaces for rest, solar/wind exposure, connectivity, view and vegetation are all explored first through historical case studies and maps (Nolli plans) and ending with a series of cross sections. The sketches are not exact, and most of the plans and sections are to a rough scale which makes the book even more important as it deals more with the perception of space than the actual cataloging (and technical breakdown). There is no fixed formula for putting together a street that people are comfortable on and want to visit, but there is a rationale for understanding how streets should be used if one wants to grow a healthy retail (storefront) space and increase activity (safety). A fantastic exploration and one necessary for anyone interested in planning or good architecture. 10/10
BLDGBLOG book: Geoff Manaugh -
If I were lucky enough to choose two people with whom I would want to spend the evening conversing in a nerdy fashion it would be Geoff Manaugh and Roman Mars. Manaugh's book, BLDGBLOG book sums up exactly why. There is no better way to talk about design and architecture than talking around design and architecture. In what was my most enjoyable read this summer, I was reminded exactly of why I loved architecture, from the exploration of forgotten infrastructure to the daydreams of recent movie writers, the lens of spatial design is liberally applied in the most certain of fashions, even as a web of science-fiction is weaved through the stories forming a sinuous pathway of logic. There is a fascination expressed with the built environment that a smarter contemporary than myself called "almost child like", which causes this ridiculously fun read to be so enjoyable. There is a wonder and joy expressed that few practitioners allow to be expressed (why DO we all wear black?). An unbelievably great book for the most curmudgeonly of your architecture friends. 11/10
Manage Your Day to Day: 99U -
I admit, the grind of working in a firm on projects that I am not incredibly in love with (or have any control over) is massively depressing. It makes one feel powerless, as if only responding to man-made emergencies. Sometimes you just have to find a way to re-prioritize and usually I need a little karmic kick in the ass to get myself going. To that end this "self help book" for designers attempts to break down a list of things you, as a designer, can do to make yourself more efficient and in the end, happy. The range of responses is nice, I suppose there cannot be any one answer for everyone, but it is hard to solve the problem if one cannot isolate it (or, even if isolated if there is very little one can do about it). Not a horrible read, but nothing especially ground breaking. To sum it up, don't waste time and energy on things you don't think are worth your time and energy. 6/10
Spatial Agency: Other Ways of Doing Architecture - Nishat Awan, Tatjana Schneider, Jeremy Till
You know how some people want to talk about architecture? As in lecture you endlessly about their own views, hoping you will smile and nod and squeak out "you are so brilliant, what insight!"? This book will make them flee from your desk due mostly to picture to work ratio. Acting as a more "architectural" response to Design Like You Give a Damn (if you interpret DLYGD as more industrial design focused) Spatial Agency attempts to offer a curated view of architecture whose worth cannot be offered simply in dollars spent, or publications made, but as community impact. Where Manage Your Day to Day offers the hope of invigorating one with the possibility of taking control, Sparial Agency offers example of those doing it (and it is what I want to be doing). This book has the potential to make you take stock of your career and question exactly what you have been working for. Some folks like everyone to know they are an architect, some folks would rather just be an architect and do some damn good. Buy this book. Do some damn good. 10/10
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