Synopses & Reviews
An insightful look at the principles of design DESCRIPTION: Documenting the thought processes and decisions that architects make is a difficult task, but one that is important when trying to understand the development of architectural design through the ages. Michael Brawne uses his experience as a practicing architect, academic, and educator to provide an overview of the subject. By looking at the practices and buildings of architects past and present he incorporates history and philosophy in the search for a theory of design. TABLE OF CONTENTS: Introduction; Time; Two Temples; Can we Describe how we Design?; Three Monuments; Witnesses; Thinking and Drawing; Was it like this?; Travel, Books & Memory; The Vernacular & Style; Materials; Structure; Architecture & Language; Looking at Pictures; The Office and School; Does it Matter?; Critical Innovation; Afterword; Notes; Bibliography.
Review
'An intelligent, provoking and rewarding book'
The Architect's Journal
...providing an overview of architectural thought and extends the discussion beyond architecture into other design fields... - Builder News
Review
'An intelligent, provoking and rewarding book'
The Architect's Journal
Synopsis
An introduction to architectural thought, this text is a thorough and accessible discussion in search of the principles of the design process.
Documenting the non-verbal processes and decisions that architects and designers make is a difficult task, but one that is important when trying to understand the development of architectural design through the ages. Michael Brawne uses his experience as a practicing architect, academic and educator to provide an overview of the subject. By looking at the practices and buildings of architects past and present he incorporates history and philosophy in the search for a theory of design.
* Provides a well-rounded look at the development of architectural thought.
* Written at a level that is accessible for professionals and students.
* Illustrates how the design process has developed from antiquity to the present day.
About the Author
Michael Brawne was a highly respected architect, academic and educator. Educated at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he worked in the office of Sir Denys Lasdun before setting up his own practice. Much of his long design and writing career focused on museums and libraries; Michael was the architect of the National Library of Sri Lanka in Colombo and has designed major art exhibitions in London at the Tate Gallery, VictoriaandAlbert Museum, and the Haywood Gallery. He taught at the University of Cambridge and was Professor of Architecture at the University of Bath for 12 years. He has also been Aga Khan Visiting Professor at MIT.
Table of Contents
Introduction; Time; Two Temples; Can we Describe how we Design?; Three Monuments; Witnesses; Thinking and Drawing; Was it like this?; Travel, BooksandMemory; The VernacularandStyle; Materials; Structure; Light; ArchitectureandLanguage; Looking at Pictures; The Office and the School; Does it Matter?; Critical Innovation; Afterword; Notes; References.