SOLVED. Non-fiction about differences between good and bad architecture [s]

[Meggan]

I found this book about 2-3 years ago on a house blog. It's a book that explains why you can tell some buildings look "bad" and some look "good", even if you are not familiar with underlying pricniples of architecture. There are lots of pencils illustrations showing the differences between classic, good architecture, and the shortcut more common ones you see today that don't look exactly right. It's non fiction, and it's a large thinner book, like a classic DIY instruction manual or similar.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Probably not right but just in case
Architecture: Form, Space, & Order?

It's probably too fat for your book. But it is full of really nice pencil illustrations. I own an older edition but I don't have it with me so I can't look inside and I don't remember if both good and bad architecture is described.

Is your book more academic oriented or more for the very casual reader?

[Meggan]

Thanks Lobstergirl…I don't think that is it, but I'll check it out next time I'm at the library and make sure. It wasn't super skinny, probably 1/2 inch? I guess that wasn't a very good description. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll give it a shot!

[Kris]

Side comment. Lobstergirl, I do like to browse Francis D.K. Ching's books on architecture. Beautifully illustrated and quite detailed.

[Meggan]

I just noticed your question at the bottom of your comment. I would say it's geared towards people who are not architects, but enjoy good architecture. It talks about the changes in architecture over the last century, and how a lot of houses built recently will have "architectural features" that don't actually follow the rules of classic architecture. For example, shutters that are purely decorative and don't fit the windows they are accenting, or lines of the house that makes it look imbalanced instead of pleasing to the eye. It basically explains why you can look at a house and know it doesn't look right, even if you don't know what the problem is. It has example pictures showing well done architecture, vs. short cut or "wannabe" architecture. Does that make sense?

[Kris]

The Image of the City by Kevin Lynch?
A long shot - The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton?

Meggan, were the pencil illustrations of all types of buildings, not just houses?
Detailed, how-to-build drafting illustrations?
Photos of famous buildings or styles of architecture?

[Meggan]

I think it was mostly houses. I didn't get to read the whole book, so I don't remember if there were other buildings. The drawings were mostly pencil illustrations of specific features. For example, a window with correct balance and proportions next to a window that looked wrong.

The "Architecture of Happiness" looks really good. I think I want to read that one too!

[Kris]

Get Your House Right: Architectural Elements to Use & Avoid by Marianne Cusato?

Here are some examples from this book:
http://www.pixleylumber.com/on_the_pl...
http://pixleylumber.com/on_the_plane/...

[Meggan]

Ooh, Kris, I think that's it! I'll have to grab it at the library. Thank you so much! I could not find it for the life of me.

[Kris]

Good luck! Please let us know if it's the right book. :)

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

That looks like a good book.

[Railyn]

Agreed. There's a house down the road from me that has big rounded windows and these teeny tiny half-round shutters on either side that even if they could be closed would come nowhere near fitting the windows. Drives me nuts every time I see it, lol.

[Meggan]

Railyn wrote: "Agreed. There's a house down the road from me that has big rounded windows and these teeny tiny half-round shutters on either side that even if they could be closed would come nowhere near fitting..."


Yeah, that kind of stuff drives me crazy. We have town homes they are building nearby, and they have these random pieces of balcony railing on the second floor, with just a tiny little window above them. What? Why would you do that? It's looks dumb!

[Railyn]

Glad it's not just me, lol.

[Meggan]

So I finally got, "Get Your House Right" from the library and it definitely is the right book! It's a lot thicker than I remembered, but maybe that is because it is hardback? I am really enjoying it. It's mostly about the exterior of your house, but it explains a ton about what is wrong with current architecture. If you are a house nerd, it's a great reference book.