Recommendable Architecture Books?
Does anyone have suggestions for good introductory architecture books? I'm starting a project management position for a developer and, although I know it isn't necessary, I would like to have some architectural knowledge. Not looking for something academic, but something educational, at least.
Appreciate any suggestions!
A great, quick read a mentor recommended to me is: "Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down" by J.E. Gordon.
Right up my alley - I'm an architect and avid reader!
These recommendations are assuming you are a non-savvy individual who's willing to spend a limited time on this stuff:
Hands down my #1 reccomendation is the Architecture of Happiness. It effectively explains why architecture is important to most architects, why idealistic architects see it as an art and not a technical discipline by demonstrating how the architectural environment affects people. It's an outsider's wonderful take on the discipline, and should be interesting for anyone invested in the spaces they are creating.
To learn the basics of what good design should encompass, 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School is an obvious choice and you can get through the thing in 10 minutes, but in its mere 101 sentences it still has some fluff...
Going deeper - Architecture, Form, Space & Order is a classic and goes into the depth of why those 101 things are taught to architects - all architecture students graduated within the last 20 years are familiar with this book, but is a bit longer (albeit with readable, short chapters).
Want to impress people with your comprehensive knowledge of architectural styles and history? American Homes is your best bet for an illustrated encyclopedia, less comprehensive than the authoritative but cumbersome Field Guide.
cre_questions hit the nail on the head with the half-century old Death and Life of Great American Cities hands down the single most informative book on planning, etc. All architects have read this, at least in part, as well. I'd also recommend The Highway and the City to understand the social side of architecture, viewed from a 1960s lens.
Astute Pulitze-prize winning architectural critic Paul Goldberger's best hits are compiled in Building Up and Tearing Down - this is a good one as it's a compilation of journalistic pieces (short) about recent buildings which likely include some you've actually walked by and noticed.
I've also heard good things about Structures, as TheWildMan has recommended - haven't read it myself though.
If you particularly love an architect, try to find their highest rated monograph on Amazon, as the work will be beautifully documented in photographs, drawings, and sketches and generally sits impressively on a coffee table.
While Vitruvius, Le Corbusier, Palladio can all be considered cornerstones of Western architectural canon, they are painfully dry and should really only be read for academic purposes. A summary of their points should be sufficient if you're interested.
What I'm missing right now is an easy book that explains the architectural drawing best, but all that comes to mind is overly academic and I think I've left you for enough now...