woolfardis's review against another edition
5.0
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.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Shop | Etsy
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.
Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Pinterest | Shop | Etsy
kingjason's review
4.0
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/2019/09/06/rices-architectural-primer-by-matthew-rice/
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/2019/09/06/rices-architectural-primer-by-matthew-rice/
halfmanhalfbook's review
3.0
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.
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.
More...