Nice Introduction to Architecture for Laypersons. Only the Basics.

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	• ABC of Architecture James F. O'Gorman University of Pennsylvania Press, 1997 - 127 pages average customer review:based on 9 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Short and, mostly, sweet.

This is a very informative, short book. While he doesn't ignore periods entirely, O'Gormans approach is to concentrate on key architectural principles, primarily structural, and use buildings, or even simplified sketches, to illustrate them. The book would have been even better if the glossary at the end were expanded, and used some sketches: words are frequently far less useful than pictures in explaining a term. Also, I found O'Gormans introduction a bit forced and wordy. Conversely, the last few pages of the book, in which he hurriedly covers such topics as the importance of history and association in interpreting architectural work, were fascinating, but rushed.

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Excellent Introduction to Architecture

My college freshman daughter told me she was thinking about majoring in environmental design. Knowing nothing about environmental design, I decided I needed to know more. Architecture is a part of environmental design, and I feel fortunate to have found this book. It is a fast read at about 120 pages, and it is focused on the three principles of an ancient Roman architect named Vitruvius: Utilitas, Firmitas, and Venustas in Latin, or function, structure, and beauty. The book devotes a chapter to each of these principles, and has additional chapters on architecture as communication and the vocabulary of architecture. The book also stresses the importance of history on architecture. The book has numerous drawings that help illustrate the points in the text. After reading this book I feel like I have a high-level picture of what architects have to consider in their profession.

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O'Gorman is too old fashioned ...

Although it is intended for a more amateur architectural audience, O'Gorman doesn't seem to encompass modern thinking into his book. He pretty much re-vamps Vitruvius' famous work into this contemporary style. However, with his contemporary writing, he doesn't bring in any contemporary ideas... He leaves post modernism and modernism out completely... He refers to Mies Van der Rohe, yet he wrongly references him. Mies wasn't concerned with utility, where as O'Gorman's main thesis is that architecture IS utilitarian. The book is a fast easy read however, and it's been interesting... and it WILL certainly help first year arch. students.

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Nice Introduction to Architecture for Laypersons. Only the Basics.

"ABC of Architecture" is a catchier title than "Introduction to Architecture" but a little misleading. It sounds like it might be a dictionary of architectural terms. The book is, in fact, an introduction to the principles of architecture written for the uninitiated by James F. O'Gorman, professor of architecture and author of a dozen books on the subject. His intention is to demystify the basics for interested laypersons or beginning undergraduates. There is a Précis, which one may read instead of the entire book to get the basics of the basics, but I don't think it contains enough specifics or examples to be helpful.

O'Gorman's approach is to explain architecture by explaining its three components, as proposed by ancient Roman architect Vetruvius: Utilitas (function), Firmitas (structure), and Venustas (beauty). A building's function is expressed by the client in a building program. It is given structure by the builder, while design or beauty is the domain of the architect. A chapter is devoted to each of these aspects of building creation, in which the basic choices are explained: The plan may be additive or divisive, the structural system trabeated or arcuated, the design formal or picturesque, with the ideas, implications, and examples for these basic options.

There is also a chapter that addresses how architecture communicates through associative meaning and one that gives the reader an amusing tour of architectural vocabulary. There is a short glossary of terms in the back and a list of recommended reading. Black-and-white drawings by Dennis E. McGrath provide examples of basic concepts and designs. "ABC of Architecture" is a nice primer that avoids overwhelming the beginner with perplexing terms and engineering but tells the reader enough to know if you want to find out more about the subject or not.

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The vocabulary of architecture

Just as the title implies, this book is about how to read architecture. Reading requires understanding the vocabulary and structure of the language concerned. O'Gorman begins with Vitruvius' notions of function, structure, and beauty, and relates them to a building's plan, section, and elevation drawings respectively. Those, he claims, are the ABC's of architecture. But he also, knowingly or not, emphasizes that the future architect or critic study another, less metaphorical, vocabulary. It is important to know the names of architectural components and activities, and O'Gorman includes a chapter in which he recommends several dictionaries and presents some words, their meanings, and their histories.

For an introductory book on architecture, ABC OF ARCHITECTURE is very concise and well structured. His text is accompanied by useful illustrations. While he seems a bit disdainful of "celebrity architects," that is fine for the beginning architect who needs a strong foundation. The main flaw is its emphasis on Western architecture, but that is a characteristic shared by many other books.

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reviews: page 1, 2

ABC of Architecture is an accessible, nontechnical introduction to architectural structure, history, and criticism. Author James F. O'Gormon moves seamlessly from a discussion of the most basic inspiration for architecture (the need for shelter from the elements), to an exploration of space, system, and material, and, finally, to an examination of the language and history of architecture. He shows the nonspecialist how to read a design in plans, sections, and elevations, and how architects, like other artists, make creative use of space and light.

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