Product Description

Analysing Architecture offers a unique ‘notebook’ of architectural strategies to present an engaging introduction to elements and concepts in architectural design. Now in its third edition, this best selling book has been revised to include new discussion on how analysis helps design. Beautifully illustrated throughout with the author’s original drawings, new case studies and examples are drawn from across architectural history to illustrate analytical themes and to show how drawing can be used to study architecture.

Simon Unwin clearly identifies the key elements of architecture and conceptual themes apparent in buildings. He describes ideas for use in the active process of design. Breaking down the grammar of architecture into themes and ‘moves’, Unwin exposes its underlying patterns to reveal the organizational strategies that lie beneath the superficial appearances of buildings.

Exploring buildings as results of the interaction of people with the world around them, Analysing Architecture offers a definition of architecture as ‘identification of place’ and provides a greater understanding of architecture as a creative discipline. This book presents a powerful impetus for readers to develop their own capacities for architectural design.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #955878 in Books
• Published on: 1997-06-23
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Review
I have not recommended any other books on this topic to my students, because it is currently the classic in the field of architectural design studies. – Professor Howard Ray Lawrence, Penn State

Review
'I have not recommended any other books on this topic to my students, because it is currently the classic in the field of architectural design studies.' – Professor Howard Ray Lawrence, Penn State

Customer Reviews

So, so
I used this text for a architecture class I was enrolled in. The writing isn't exactly a brilliant discovery into architecture, but it is a great starter book to figure out how architects think and what building design means. The figure/ground drawings are useful.

Excellent introduction.
Beginning with the root definition of architecture as its "conceptual organization, its intellectual structures"., the author makes clear its function as "identification of place", goes on to identify the basic elements and concepts, examines the use of natural features of the landscape, analyzes primitive place types, geometry in architecture, space and structure, and other key concepts.
From the campsites of primitive man to the sophisticated structures of the late twentieth century, architecture as an essential function of human activity is explained clearly, and illustrated with the author's own excellent drawings. Highly recommended as a well-organized and readable introduction.

(The "score" rating is an unfortunately ineradicable feature of the page. This reviewer does not "score" books.)