One of the great but often unmentioned causes of both happiness and misery is the quality of our environment: the kinds of walls, chairs, buildings...
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Sep 25, 2010
RandomAnthony
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I find myself looking at art and buildings differently after reading The Architecture of Happiness, so I cannot deny the power of the text on an architectural neophyte. And while I don’t agree with all of the author’s assertions, I found myself reacting rigorously to his contentions. Add beautiful prose, and yes, I can recommend The Architecture of Happiness.
The book reads like a combination of architecture primer and persuasive essay stocked with supporting photos and illustratio More...
The book reads like a combination of architecture primer and persuasive essay stocked with supporting photos and illustratio More...
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Sep 25, 2010
Jen
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This book was a gift from my fiancee and, in fact, one of the first books he gave me. For that reason, it will forever hold a special place on my bookshelves. I enjoyed the book overall however; I felt as though it was a bit of an architectural history review and didn't fully delve into the ties between psychology and architecture. I found myself thinking on many occasions, "Ooooh, here's his chance - this could get really good!" Only to feel a wee bit disappointed when his sermon h
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Sep 25, 2010
Elizabeth
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I'm not an architect nor an architecture expert, but I am definitely interested in the subject. This book isn't a technical treatise on what makes "good" architecture, but instead talks about how architecture reflects who we are, how we feel about our lives, and how architecture can make us feel. I enjoyed the musings, and the historical perspective, especially in such insightful passages as this one, on how people developed local housing styles in earlier centuries:
"The di More...
"The di More...
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Sep 25, 2010
Janie
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A nod to my brother for introducing this book to me. De Botton completely disbunks the notion I'd adopted (from whom? where?) that good architecture is purely functional and anything else is simply the expression of an its designer's overactive ego. NOT. Surely architects are guilty of erecting bombastic works, but it by no means explains why the line of a rooftop or curve of a banister stirs a particular mood and emotion in its viewer. De Botton delves into the how we relate to objects, why
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Sep 25, 2010
Marcus
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I really enjoyed this book. It's fast paced, conversational and exploratory. My favorite parts were the philosophizing about the nature of beauty. For example, de Botton discusses how we subconsciously humanize almost everything we see. We give buildings and sculptures personalities then judge them based on these projected human traits.
He talks about how the buildings and art we find appealing reflect the fulfillment of our desires, not what we are or have, but the ideals we aspire t More...
He talks about how the buildings and art we find appealing reflect the fulfillment of our desires, not what we are or have, but the ideals we aspire t More...
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Sep 25, 2010
Caris
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Like many others, I learned of this book by watching the film 500 Days of Summer. The movie made such a distinct impression on me that I felt I had no choice but to read the book the protagonist gave to his love. Why this book? Why not something romantic?
The simple answer is that this book is incredibly romantic, just not in the cliche way I was looking for. In the opening pages, de Botton expounds on the idea that one must feel the ever-so-memorable cocktail of pain, loss, and heart More...
The simple answer is that this book is incredibly romantic, just not in the cliche way I was looking for. In the opening pages, de Botton expounds on the idea that one must feel the ever-so-memorable cocktail of pain, loss, and heart More...
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Sep 25, 2010
Julia
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Alain de Botton's Architecture of Happiness is a humanist's guide to understanding built environments. Finding room to appreciate both classical and contemporary architecture, de Botton resolves the quarrel between the ancients and the moderns by suggesting that every architecture strives to provide the conditions for happiness. "What works of design and architecture talk to us about is the kind of life that would most appropriately unfold within and around them. They tell us of certain moo
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Sep 25, 2010
Marcia
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I'm not an architect or scientist, but a counselor and teacher. I read the book because of my interest in beauty, form and function. I enjoyed the author's compare and contrast method in discussing various architectural styles. Most amusing was Viscount Bangor and Lady Anne Bligh's Castle Ward. Negotiated to end a marital dispute on style, the Castle displays a Classic front and Gothic rear. The psychology of "talking buildings" was light hearted and a little far fetched for me at ti
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Dec 04, 2010
Brynn
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"Belief in the significance of architecture is premised on the notion that we are, for better or for worse, different people in different places - and on the conviction that it is architecture's task to render vivid to us who we might ideally be." (13)
"It is in dialogue with pain that many beautiful things acquire their value." (25)
"The only problem with unrestricted choice, however, is that it tends not to lie so far from outright chaos." (44)
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"It is in dialogue with pain that many beautiful things acquire their value." (25)
"The only problem with unrestricted choice, however, is that it tends not to lie so far from outright chaos." (44)
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Dec 21, 2011
Cheryl
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At first I thought the nouns should be reversed, ie, the Happiness of Architecture. But I began to realise that the book isn't so much about architecture as it is about people and how they express themselves with architecture, as they do with other art forms. He is using architecture to explain humans. He anthropomorphises archictecture. Architecture becomes a frozen emotion. He says that “In essence, what works of design and architecture talk to us about is the kind of life that would most
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Sep 25, 2010
This book inspired De Botton to do a TV series called “The Perfect Home” which I have not seen nor even heard of. 57 channels and nothing on indeed. Anyway, I’d like to see it now.
In this book, De Botton is directly and fully engaged with the meaning of architecture and the meaning of design in the greater sense. He includes objects, buildings, landscapes and cities in his ruminations and much is revealed. Architects, generally a poorly educated lot, dream up all sorts of wild and off More...
In this book, De Botton is directly and fully engaged with the meaning of architecture and the meaning of design in the greater sense. He includes objects, buildings, landscapes and cities in his ruminations and much is revealed. Architects, generally a poorly educated lot, dream up all sorts of wild and off More...
Jun 11, 2011
Ditte
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In 'De architectuur van het geluk' wil Alain de Botton laten zien dat architectuur onze ideeën over geluk weerspiegelen en dat onze omgeving van directe invloed is op onze gevoelens. Zijn stijl is zoals altijd lichtvoetig en de in paragraafjes verdeelde hoofdstukken maken het een goed leesbaar geheel.
Wat mij een beetje stoorde is de manier waarop De Botton zijn interpretaties van gebouwen als vanzelfsprekendheden doet voorkomen, terwijl deze op mij regelmatig zeer subjectief of zelf wille More...
Wat mij een beetje stoorde is de manier waarop De Botton zijn interpretaties van gebouwen als vanzelfsprekendheden doet voorkomen, terwijl deze op mij regelmatig zeer subjectief of zelf wille More...
Sep 25, 2010
Wendy
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The fact that the last two books I read contain the word "Happiness" in the title is either a product of coincidence or my subconscious is trying to tell me something, such as "Please take a break from melancholic stories of ennui and meaninglessness. I don't want to die."
In any case, this book is misnamed. I think it should be called "The Happiness of Architecture" instead of "The Architecture of Happiness" (as anyone who has asked me what I More...
In any case, this book is misnamed. I think it should be called "The Happiness of Architecture" instead of "The Architecture of Happiness" (as anyone who has asked me what I More...
Sep 25, 2010
Omer
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I came across this book at the local Barnes & Noble. It was among a table of books all part of a buy two get one free deal. I bought this along with Rubicon by Tom Holland as well as The Working Poor by David K. Shipler. I never heard of the Architecture of Happiness nor had I heard of Alain de Botton. I must be a bumpkin.
The title of the book may sound as if the core of the book revolves around the construction of inner-happiness. In a way that's true but the 'construction' i More...
The title of the book may sound as if the core of the book revolves around the construction of inner-happiness. In a way that's true but the 'construction' i More...
Oct 19, 2010
ann
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Reading this book was good for me because it's been 4 years since I've been out of architecture school and it was invigorating to get a fresh perspective on a subject I considered myself more informed about. The thing I liked most initially about this book was de Botton's ability to apply poetic and wonderful character descriptions to architecture.
His ability to speak for building, while inspiring eventually made the book tedious. In the first half, I was so happy that someone actually More...
His ability to speak for building, while inspiring eventually made the book tedious. In the first half, I was so happy that someone actually More...
Sep 25, 2010
Iris
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This image-packed book of short chapters has the effect of an afternoon with a sentimental and articulate friend. At his most helpful, the author takes your hand and invites you to peer at specific designs: if modern art bores you, read Part III and prepare to be ravished by stone slabs and other conceptual artworks.
Botton is equally illuminating when pondering aesthetic and emotional contexts of buildings: a rural Swedish living room, a McDonalds, a stark office complex in Troy, Mic More...
Botton is equally illuminating when pondering aesthetic and emotional contexts of buildings: a rural Swedish living room, a McDonalds, a stark office complex in Troy, Mic More...
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Sep 25, 2010
Ryan
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A gorgeously written book about the nature of beauty and happiness as it relates to art and architecture. As someone who spends a substantial amount of time thinking about buildings, this book brought me a lot of comfort and insight into the underpinnings of how buildings can shape a person's mood so severely.
Even more than the book's subject, the brilliant richness of Alan de Botton's writing is often the star of the book, and I spent much of my time reading it frantically underlini More...
Even more than the book's subject, the brilliant richness of Alan de Botton's writing is often the star of the book, and I spent much of my time reading it frantically underlini More...
Sep 25, 2010
Rhi
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This book is essentially one long essay about why architecture matters. It's clearly written by a philosopher, both in terms of the logical way he presents some of his arguments, and his tendency to talk about the human condition. His descriptions of architecture are not very technical or particularly complete - he chooses a few themes (symmetry, balance, etc) and talks about them and the buildings or objects which illustrate his points. It was easy for me to like the book because I fundament
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Sep 25, 2010
Dale
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Alain de Botton writes elegantly and brilliantly. He has an easy-going and deceptively casual style, never harsh or overbearing, always humane. He has thought deeply about architecture and design, seeing them as varieties or art and thus, in his view, having the potential to fill the gaps in our life. 'Every type of beauty is a vision of happiness' - this quote drives much of his thinking about architecture as art.
He starts with a longish discourse on the general nature of architectu More...
He starts with a longish discourse on the general nature of architectu More...
Sep 25, 2010
Miles
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One of the great causes of both happiness and misery is the quality of our environment: the kind of walls, buildings and streets we are surrounded by.
The Architecture of Happiness starts from the idea that where we are heavily influences; who we can be, and argues that it is architecture’s task to stand as a reminder of our full potential.
However, many architects are alert of discussing the word “beauty”. The book centers the question: what is a beautiful building? It amo More...
The Architecture of Happiness starts from the idea that where we are heavily influences; who we can be, and argues that it is architecture’s task to stand as a reminder of our full potential.
However, many architects are alert of discussing the word “beauty”. The book centers the question: what is a beautiful building? It amo More...
Sep 25, 2010
Matthew
rated it:
My friend X never unpacks. She lives out of boxes and suitcases. It is not unusual for her to simply abandon her possessions in an apartment or storage locker for which she has not paid rent. I understand this behavior. We both grew up essentially homeless: constantly uprooted and often living temporarily in a space belonging to somebody else. Self-expression through the alteration of our surroundings, even when it was allowed, was pointless and inevitably painful when we had to leave the place
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Sep 25, 2010
Melissa
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This book is a good introduction to architecture - it really makes you think about what good architecture is - both high and low - and why we respond more favorably to some buildings than others. Beautiful black and white photos illustrate almost all of the authors examples and it was great to see both famous buildings and ones that may often be overlooked in architectural surveys. He makes an interesting argument that the concept of beauty is not only something we are born with but can be learn
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Sep 25, 2010
James
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1. I read the book while Katherine & I settled into our new Vancouver flat. It was a most appropriately timed read.
2. I listened to a little snippet of the author speaking on the book on a Philosophy Bites podcast and liked what he had to say about the rational/sustainable cloak often put over architecture that could simply be admitted as beautiful. I liked what he had to say there. It was bite-size and made me nod my head.
3. The book doesn't speak much of the happiness o More...
2. I listened to a little snippet of the author speaking on the book on a Philosophy Bites podcast and liked what he had to say about the rational/sustainable cloak often put over architecture that could simply be admitted as beautiful. I liked what he had to say there. It was bite-size and made me nod my head.
3. The book doesn't speak much of the happiness o More...
Sep 25, 2010
Gloria Suzie
rated it:
I think Alain DeBotton is a wildly learned self-help guru for the so-called intellecturally bourgeois.
I also think this book has one of the most apt titles for a book that I've ever come across. I'd say the aptness of the title says a lot about DeBotton's work in general.
This book was an amusing anti-dote for both architectural indoctrination and architectural apathy, because he never over champions (what tends to go on inside architecture school) nor underestimates(wh More...
I also think this book has one of the most apt titles for a book that I've ever come across. I'd say the aptness of the title says a lot about DeBotton's work in general.
This book was an amusing anti-dote for both architectural indoctrination and architectural apathy, because he never over champions (what tends to go on inside architecture school) nor underestimates(wh More...
Sep 25, 2010
Alicia
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I loved this book. It's sort of an examination of how architectural and design trends have changed over the last several centuries according to changes in our ideas about happiness and beauty. But it's mostly about the psychology of taste. The book presents a series of arguments about how the buildings we inhabit and what we fill them with dramatically affect how we feel. The premise is that every architectural style speaks of an understanding of happiness and prompts a state of the soul. As som
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Sep 25, 2010
Nicole
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I read some review of this book recently, I think maybe on archinect.com, that hit the nail on the head. If you haven't had the benefit of an ARCH 101 class, but are interested in understanding what architecture - and design - are, or in my opinion should, be about, then this is your book. Even having taken the intro classes I found it to be a valuable refresher.
It is a general discussion of the motivators and benefits of thoughtful design. I enjoyed the imagery employed in the bo More...
It is a general discussion of the motivators and benefits of thoughtful design. I enjoyed the imagery employed in the bo More...
Sep 25, 2010
Gina
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I enjoyed the more general discussion that this book began with about beauty and why we are drawn to certain things. His idea is that we like what we lack. For example, the simple, clean lines of a modern design speaks to a longing for simplicity and order. More ornate, gilded things look beautiful to people in a rough, dirty, violent world. Et cetera. It was interesting for me to reflect on why I want to bring certain looks and feelings - rustic and earthy - into our house we've recently bought
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Mar 08, 2011
Ludo
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Well, it's Alain de Botton, so the quality is assured. As with his other works he has a knack of making you look pass the banal and the surface of things. This book has led me to see buildings in a different way. It takes its rightful place amid a number of de Botton Books that make the shells drop from your eyes. And as always, beautiful prose.Not my top de Botton book (that would be 'How Proust can change your life' - or 'The art of travel) but a very interesting read, as always.
Oct 24, 2010
Aimee
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Enjoying this little book doesn't require expertise in architecture. Alain de Botton discusses the ways architecture and design affect, or fail to affect, our lives and characters. He also considers some of the motivations that have led architects and other builders to their greatest triumphs and failures. All the while, he builds toward the stirring final chapter, an eloquent argument about how our tastes are shaped and a call for intelligence and honor in what we choose to create.
Mar 09, 2011
Terry
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So, a philosopher wanders into the territory of the architect-I'm amazed he wasn't more brutal!!
'The failure of architects to create congenial environments mirrors our inability to find happiness in other areas of our lives. Bad architecture is in the end as much a failure of psychology as of design. It is an example expressed through materials of the same tendency which in other domains will lead us to marry the wrong people, choose inappropriate jobs and book unsuccessful holiday More...
'The failure of architects to create congenial environments mirrors our inability to find happiness in other areas of our lives. Bad architecture is in the end as much a failure of psychology as of design. It is an example expressed through materials of the same tendency which in other domains will lead us to marry the wrong people, choose inappropriate jobs and book unsuccessful holiday More...
