Rice's Architectural Primer

by Matthew Rice

RICE€™S ARCHITECTURAL PRIMER covers the grammar and vocabulary of British buildings, explaining the evolution of styles from Norman castles to Norman Foster. Its aim is to enable the reader to recognise, understand and date any British building. As Matthew Rice says, €˜Once you can speak any language, conversation can begin, but without it communications can only be brief and brutish. The same is the case with an inability to describe the component parts of a building leaves one tongue-tied and unable to begin to discuss what is or is not exciting, dull or peculiar about it.€™ RICE€™S ARCHITECTURAL PRIMER will explain the language of architecture. With it in your hand, pocket or car, buildings will break down beguilingly into their component parts, ready for inspection and discussion. There will be no more references to that curly bit on top of the thing with the square protrusions. Ungainly and inept descriptions will be a thing of

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Art, History, Reference

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[[ J o ] · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains information and beautiful illustrations that explain and explore the terminology of British architecture; from the Classical styles of the Romans to the modern and full-of-glass of the 21st Century. The book is illustrated by hand instead of utilising photographs to remove the complication and focus upon what it is Rice is trying to convey to us.

I wish I were an architect. I think I have always been fascinated with buildings, but it was until recently I found myself endeavouring to know what it all meant. What these lines were for, even if only for decoration; why certain aspects of a building seemed to partner certain other things most of the time; what a flying buttress actually was.

I can't actually find words to express my love for this book. I obviously haven't read every single word on the page because that would be too mind-expanding and would overload me with so much architecture lingo I'd probably suffer an aneurysm. This book needs to be delved in to at stages, and perhaps not even from cover to cover but at any page at random. You also need to heed his words at the beginning and commit a few terms at the beginning and take a few days to really immerse yourself in the architectural world, if only to stop yourself from really becoming lost.


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[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because of a reading challenge I was taking part in where I had to read a book with the word "Rice" in the title. Everything I could find sounded really dull or was a cookery book, then I stumbled across this one and thought "What the hell! sounds better than the others", my library actually had it so I got it out. I never would have bothered with this book if it wasn't for the reading challenge.

Hooray for reading challenges! I loved this book. I've always enjoyed visiting castles and stately homes, now though because of this book I am fully prepared to bore the pants of everybody pointing out keystones, flying buttresses and Gothic Finials.

Rice doesn't bog you down with masses of information and tedious history, each section is about an era, he writes about some of the most popular architects, and each of the styles that were developed and even helpfully puts the important words you need to remember in caps.

The highlight of the book and the main reason everybody should check this out is the illustrations, you can tell Rice has had a great time doing these, they are wonderful, colourful and display the features perfectly.

My one mistake with this book though I got it from the library, I'm gonna have to get myself a copy as at the end of the book Rice has kindly included a list of buildings to visit and their location in the UK.

Give this book a go, I reckon you'll be surprised how much you enjoy it.

Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2019...

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Until now if I was to stand a look at a building I could tell you the basic elements, windows, doors, roof, gables, eaves and soffits. But there is a lot more to learn for the amateur. In this little book Rice takes us way back to Norman architecture, with an explanation of key design elements of the that time, and illustrated with cheeky little sketches of buildings and details from pilasters to pediments, buttresses to bulls eyes and queen post to quoins.

I really liked the sketches in the book too; they are little freehand ones that have a certain charm, panache and humour to them. There are broad brushed strokes of significant buildings that he recommends you visit, detailed ones of the specific elements that you should look for to date a building and even a set for the brick, stone and other materials that you will find. The explanations are clear as he describes how trends drift from one era to another and significant architects are highlighted in the text. One thing that did bug me was that key elements were highlighted in capitals and so were other random elements. Generally, not a bad introduction to architecture.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I work in a department that has an architectural and interior design division, and most of my handful of architects are all classically trained. They often round the corner of my desk to copy sketches, scan, etc., and the curiosity built to the point that I mauled a few of them for recommendations from our in-house library.

I was given two books to start, this being one of them. After the first chapter, I was hooked. Rice is subtly witty and extremely knowledgeable (as far as I can tell) on many facets of architecture. The book delves into different architectural eras in England, and starts with Classical as a base and fans out from there. It goes through Gothic, various Medieval, Renaissance, Tudor, Elizabethan, Queen Anne Revival, Edwardian, Victorian, Modern, etc. Each section has four to six pages of history and summary of different components of the era, plus great little sketches labeling styles and ornaments.

For a first read in architecture, this was a great book and I highly recommend it. I can't shut off my brain to all that is around me that I simply strolled past before! I plan on reading many more books on the topic, thanks to this introduction.

I casually read this over the course of five days. Rice's style is easy and pleasant, and very informative. I've already purchased a copy for myself to keep as a reference guide for vocabulary and other terminology.

[Cora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: (!) I didn't "read" this per se! I am not an architect!

I just want to say, for anyone who likes to be able to identify details in the world around them, that this is a gorgeous book to keep around for occasional brushing up. Crystal clear, meticulously drawn images. Maybe for an architect it's the kind of thing you can read cover-to-cover, but for the curious layman (like myself) it's all about the pretty pictures and associated blurbs.

Supposedly this is the seminal architecture textbook, but I don't know anything about that. I'm just deliriously happy I own it.

[Ceri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not really much for non fiction books, I only really wanted it for a reference guide. This book is written in such a way that it is humorous and accessible to someone who doesn't have a background in architecture. The building illustrations whilst more sketches that finished pieces are quirky and understandable, with funny touches in terms of the background characters.

Rice has a way of making the facts a quick read and enjoyable. And general make you want go to a lot of the National Trust places to look at buildings and eat cream teas.

(Also it is a really nicely finished book, with lovely paper that do justice to the coloured illustrations)

[Naomi Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very enjoyable. It was easy to understanding with an undercurrent of humor that I always admire in my non-fiction. It was a little bit easier to visualize some of the ideas as I was able to visit London not too long ago. I think it would be fantastic if a similar book was done with America's Architecture, or even Russia's, or Italy's. The drawings were wonderful. Over-all a great read.

[Lysergius · Rating 4 out of 5]

A superb introduction with many fine drawings. Made me want to read more about Architecture.

On re-reading this 10 years later I am much more impressed by the drawings than the text. I would really like to see a volume about European Architecture from Mr. Rice, sadly this one deals only with British Architects. Well worth a read!

[Tabbetha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to keep for reference. It was nice to see pictures of all the abstract concepts that other architecture books only write about.

[Kym Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beautiful book—it would make a great gift. If you’re buying it for yourself as a reference book...well, I would get something different. the book is too focussed on the details and doesn’t give enough grounding on the fundamental components of a building to be considered an actual reference work (it is now published under the title Rice’s Language of Buildings; it was previously published under the name Rice’s Architectural Primer...I guess they changed it because it’s not actually a “primer” but a potted history of English architectural details and styles). Overall: cautiously recommended.

[Ali Jon Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book light on information and pompously written. Of the five introductory books to British architecture I read this month, it was the second worst for conveying meaningful information. It was more just a list of big-name architects and the word 'muscular' repeated several times. However, the diagrams showing the names of building parts are very clear and will probably be useful to me if a word slips my mind from time to time, so I have to give it credit there.

[Eleanor Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful edition to my educational bookshelf.

An intricate and aesthetically pleasing little book which helped a predominantly visual learner wrap her head around brick bonds. I highly recommend to anyone who has a penchant for the arts in the built environment.

Rice is clearly an extremely talented illustrator - applause and commendations all around.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings. Great illustrations, immense amount of information, nice sense of humor.

But the prose is often pretty opaque--new ideas are introduced with little explanation, there seems to be an assumption that the reader is already familiar with a lot of terminology, English history, etc. So if you're a complete layperson (like me) I don't know how well it serves as a primer.

[Yuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was such a fun read. I need to read more of his books on British architecture.

[Paul Dickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very readable.

[Terrence Rollins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet illustrations, makes for a good gift too

[Hallie Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rice's Architectural Primer (2009) by Matthew Rice

A handy reference book that I definitely feel like I should have read before embarking on any of the The Buildings of England series, but I'm glad to have had a thorough glossing-over of it now by any rate. Written in a very engaging way, well organised by era which is especially helpful for me and the project which is the reason why I read it, and I love Rice's watercolour illustrations. They're really the selling point for sure.

[Kevin de Ataíde · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book for basic terminology you can use when you're walking around with people and pretending to know the architectural history of your surroundings. Short read, with lots of hand-drawn imagery designed to control the detail that would become a problem with photography. There is also a nice general history of English architecture.

[Geoff Cumberbeach · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good visual reference to architectural features of buildings. I enjoyedthe subtle humour in some of the sketches.

[Terri D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Matthew Rice's artwork and his whimsical inclusions of humour into them occasionally. An entertaining and educational book. Looking forward to reading his church primer next.