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Analysing Architecture
Analysing Architecture offers a unique 'notebook' of architectural strategies to present an engaging introduction to elements and concepts in architectural design. Beautifully illustrated throughout with the author's original drawings, examples are drawn from across architectural history (from primitive places to late 20th century structures) 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 organisational strategies that lie beneath the superficial appearances of buildings.
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 organisational strategies that lie beneath the superficial appearances of buildings.
256 pages, Paperback
First published May 8, 1997
55 people are currently reading
1487 people want to read
About the author
Simon Unwin
22books26followersSimon Unwin is a freelance writer and lecturer based in Cardiff, UK. He is a registered architect but concentrates on writing about architecture and teaching architectural analysis and design. His publications include six books: Analysing Architecture (Routledge, London, 1997, 2003, 2009 and 2014); An Architecture Notebook: Wall (Routledge, 2000); Doorway (Routledge, 2007); Twenty-Five Buildings Every Architect Should Understand (Routledge, 2010 and 2015); Exercises in Architecture (Routledge, 2012); and The Ten Most Influential Buildings in History: Architecture's Archetypes (Routledge, 2016). These books are used in schools of architecture around the world. Analysing Architecture has been translated into Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Arabic. Recently, Unwin has instigated a series of Analysing Architecture Notebooks, which currently include Metaphor (Routledge, 2019), Children as Place-Makers (Routledge, 2019), Curve (Routledge, 2019) and Shadow (Routledge, 2020).
Simon Unwin is Emeritus Professor of Architecture at the University of Dundee, Scotland, where he was Professor from 2004 to 2009. Previously he was Senior Lecturer at the Welsh School of Architecture in Cardiff University, Wales. He has lived in Australia as well as the UK and taught or lectured in Israel, the USA, China, Malaysia, India, Sweden, Turkey and at other schools of architecture in the UK and Europe.
Contact: [email protected]
Simon Unwin is Emeritus Professor of Architecture at the University of Dundee, Scotland, where he was Professor from 2004 to 2009. Previously he was Senior Lecturer at the Welsh School of Architecture in Cardiff University, Wales. He has lived in Australia as well as the UK and taught or lectured in Israel, the USA, China, Malaysia, India, Sweden, Turkey and at other schools of architecture in the UK and Europe.
Contact: [email protected]
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 31, 2012
A good overview of architecture for the layperson with a casual interest. Goes over the fundamentals of architecture, what it proposes to achieve, and some of the aesthetic considerations that architects must take into account. An unexpected insight I gained from this book, is how fundamental architecture is to humans. Architecture does not necessarily mean "buildings."
July 12, 2012
First, beautiful illustrations. It is hard to believe every single illustration was hand-drawn. It's amazing how beautifully they draw. Reminds me of Francis K. Ching books (which are also great!)
Okay, I think this book might have helped me more if I had read it last year (barely beginning my architecture studies). But all is good. This book shed some light and helped expand my basic knowledge of architecture. It also offered a very poetic perspective of architecture is a simplified and tangible way. Mr. Unwin, instead of talking vaguely about architecture, spoke quite simply and understandably through words and drawings. It is something to be commended on.
I like the idea of architecture as identification of place. That is something I have contemplated but not really gotten into, it was a mere feeling and an idea, rather than a formalized thought. Mr. Unwin created words for what I was trying to expressed.
Being a second year architecture student, I find the language of architecture fascinating. It not only deals with physics and math, but it has to deal with creativity too. And creativity is very subjective, not objective like the sciences (something I like and understand). The language of Architecture is what drawn me too deeply into studying it as a major.
Okay, I think this book might have helped me more if I had read it last year (barely beginning my architecture studies). But all is good. This book shed some light and helped expand my basic knowledge of architecture. It also offered a very poetic perspective of architecture is a simplified and tangible way. Mr. Unwin, instead of talking vaguely about architecture, spoke quite simply and understandably through words and drawings. It is something to be commended on.
I like the idea of architecture as identification of place. That is something I have contemplated but not really gotten into, it was a mere feeling and an idea, rather than a formalized thought. Mr. Unwin created words for what I was trying to expressed.
Being a second year architecture student, I find the language of architecture fascinating. It not only deals with physics and math, but it has to deal with creativity too. And creativity is very subjective, not objective like the sciences (something I like and understand). The language of Architecture is what drawn me too deeply into studying it as a major.
September 24, 2021
Firstly, the hand-drawn illustrations are really beautiful!
I'm glad that my faculty decided to have a discussion on this book. It is enlightening and helped me expand my architectural vocabulary and knowledge. The constant comparison with language and music coupled with the sketches made it quite simple to understand.
As a second year student, it made me realise that architecture is subtle, subjective, complex and frustrating but ultimately rewarding. I feel motivated and excited to learn and master the language of Architecture.
I'm glad that my faculty decided to have a discussion on this book. It is enlightening and helped me expand my architectural vocabulary and knowledge. The constant comparison with language and music coupled with the sketches made it quite simple to understand.
As a second year student, it made me realise that architecture is subtle, subjective, complex and frustrating but ultimately rewarding. I feel motivated and excited to learn and master the language of Architecture.
February 22, 2011
i read this in the beginning of my course, its quite a good introduction to architecture and it proved quite useful when I wanted to quote something theoretical
August 12, 2022
(The English review is placed beneath the Russian one)
Эта книга и эта тема (архитектура) много лет назад заинтересовала меня с точки зрения…маркетинга. Да, именно так. Архитектура меня интересует постольку, поскольку она хоть и слабо, но пересекается с маркетингом. А я стараюсь читать все книги, которые, так или иначе, касаются темы маркетинга. Вот и большое искусство, в которое входит живопись и скульптура, начиная с росписей пещер сделанные нашими древними предками до современного искусства, а также дизайн и архитектура, попали в поле моего внимания. Поэтому я сразу хочу сказать, что у меня не очень обширные знания по этим трём предметам (архитектура, дизайн и art). Я подхожу к этой книге с позиции - понравиться ли эта книга человеку, который всего лишь интересуется этой темой. И мой ответ: да, это хорошая или даже одна из лучших книг для непрофессионала в теме архитектура.
Название книги передаёт всю её суть � это основы архитектуры. Даже не те основы, о которых могут подумать многие люди, когда им кто-то говорит об основах архитектуры, и они сразу вспоминают греческий Акрополь. Т.е. основами не является понимание того, где какой ордер в архитектуре и где какой стиль и что их отличает друг от друга. Именно поэтому я и рекомендую эту книгу, как одну из лучших для неспециалистов по архитектуре или кто только начинает знакомиться с этой темой. Она как раз даёт самые-самые основы, до всех эти типологий по архитектурным стилям.
Главная идея автора, это понимая места. А под этим может подразумеваться практически все, начиная от места для костра и местом на пляже. Вот это и есть основа, ибо, что мы первым делом видим? Место, где располагается здание и что это здание окружает, т.е. что окружает (это) место. Пусть это и кажется крайне банальным, но под этим скрывается огромное количество вопросов. К примеру, выбор неправильного места для строительства здания может привести к разрушению оного (грунт не подходит для строительства здания). Или когда выбирают постройку жилого дома рядом с портом или свалкой или эстакадой. Место � это главное, с чего начинается любая архитектура. А вот далее автор уже знакомит читателя с основными понятиями или инструментами в архитектуре, такими как стена, окно, дверь, а также очаг, кровать, алтарь, сцена и т.д. Плюс, подразделяет постройки на две категории или два архетипа: архетип «храм» и архетип «жилой дом» («это не строение, а его идея», как пишет автор). Если очень упрощённо и как я это понял, то архетип Жилой дом вписывается «в окружающую среду как символ полного ей подчинения, смирения и, возможно, в некоторых случаях лишений». Что касается архетипа «храм», то Храм «стоит отдельно от всего мира как выражение власти, недоступности и, возможно, высокомерия».
Однако мне больше всего понравилась и запомнилась идея, что при анализе архитектуры даже запах играет важную и вполне реальную роль. И действительно, запах с какой-нибудь виллы в Италии и запах в доме в Финляндии или Норвегии, различается существенно. И он же указывает нам на место.
Я не могу сказать, что я понял книгу полностью (хоть и прочитал книгу два раза), ибо книга как-никак ориентирована на студентов первого курса обучения, т.е. на тех, кто относится к архитектуре как к будущей профессии. Поэтому главу «приложение», я просто пропустил, не став читать. Да, для учащихся она будет наверняка интересна, но для таких любителей как я, самым интересным была первая часть книги.
И последнее. Разумеется, одна эта книга не способна ответить на все вопросы, связанные с основами архитектуры, ибо даже для того, чтобы быть просто любителем, одной книги по архитектуре определённо мало. Однако именно с этой книги я рекомендую начинать первое знакомство с миром архитектуры.
This book and this subject (architecture) many years ago interested me in terms of...marketing. Yes, that's right. I am interested in architecture insofar as it intersects with marketing. And I try to read all books that, in one way or another, touch on the subject of marketing. So great art, which includes painting and sculpture, from cave paintings made by our ancestors to modern art as well as design and architecture, has come to my attention. So, I want to say right away that my knowledge of these three subjects (architecture, design, and art) is not very extensive. I am approaching this book from the position of whether this book would appeal to someone who is only curious about the subject. And my answer is yes, it is a good or even one of the best books for the non-professional in the subject of architecture.
The title of the book captures its essence: the fundamentals of architecture. Not even the basics that many people might think of when someone tells them about the basics of architecture, and they immediately think of the Greek Acropolis. That is, the basics are not understanding where what order is in architecture, and where what style is and what distinguishes them from each other. That is why I recommend this book as one of the best for non-specialists in architecture or who are just beginning to get acquainted with the subject. It just gives you the very, very basics, before all these typologies on architectural styles.
The author's main idea is to understand the place. And by this, we can mean almost everything: from a place for a fire to a place on the beach. This is the basis because what is the first thing we see? The place where the building is located and what surrounds this building, i.e., what surrounds (this) place. Even though this seems extremely trivial, underneath it there are a huge number of questions. For example, the choice of the wrong place to build a building can lead to the destruction of it (the soil is not suitable for the construction of the building). Or when one chooses to build a residential building next to a port or a landfill or overpass. The place - this is the main thing with which any architecture begins. And then the author goes on to introduce the reader to basic concepts or tools in architecture, such as a wall, window, door, as well as hearth, bed, altar, stage, etc. Plus, divides the buildings into two categories or two archetypes: the "temple" archetype and the "dwelling house" archetype ("it is not the structure, but its idea," as the author writes). If very simplified and as I understand it, the Dwelling House archetype fits "into the environment as a symbol of complete submission, humility and, perhaps, in some cases, deprivation." As for the Temple archetype, the Temple "stands apart from the world as an expression of power, inaccessibility and perhaps arrogance."
However, I liked and remembered most of all the idea that in the analysis of architecture, even smell plays an important and very real role. And indeed, the smell from some villa in Italy and the smell in a house in Finland or Norway are very different. And it also points us to the place.
I can not say that I understood the book completely (although I read the book twice) because the book, after all, is aimed at first-year students, i.e., those who refer to architecture as a future profession. Therefore, the chapter "application", I just skipped without reading it. Yes, for students it will probably be interesting, but for amateurs like me, the most interesting part was the first part of the book.
One last thing. Of course, this book alone is not capable of answering all questions related to the basics of architecture, for even to be just an amateur, one book on architecture is definitely not enough. However, it is with this book that I recommend that one begin his or her first acquaintance with the world of architecture.
Эта книга и эта тема (архитектура) много лет назад заинтересовала меня с точки зрения…маркетинга. Да, именно так. Архитектура меня интересует постольку, поскольку она хоть и слабо, но пересекается с маркетингом. А я стараюсь читать все книги, которые, так или иначе, касаются темы маркетинга. Вот и большое искусство, в которое входит живопись и скульптура, начиная с росписей пещер сделанные нашими древними предками до современного искусства, а также дизайн и архитектура, попали в поле моего внимания. Поэтому я сразу хочу сказать, что у меня не очень обширные знания по этим трём предметам (архитектура, дизайн и art). Я подхожу к этой книге с позиции - понравиться ли эта книга человеку, который всего лишь интересуется этой темой. И мой ответ: да, это хорошая или даже одна из лучших книг для непрофессионала в теме архитектура.
Название книги передаёт всю её суть � это основы архитектуры. Даже не те основы, о которых могут подумать многие люди, когда им кто-то говорит об основах архитектуры, и они сразу вспоминают греческий Акрополь. Т.е. основами не является понимание того, где какой ордер в архитектуре и где какой стиль и что их отличает друг от друга. Именно поэтому я и рекомендую эту книгу, как одну из лучших для неспециалистов по архитектуре или кто только начинает знакомиться с этой темой. Она как раз даёт самые-самые основы, до всех эти типологий по архитектурным стилям.
Главная идея автора, это понимая места. А под этим может подразумеваться практически все, начиная от места для костра и местом на пляже. Вот это и есть основа, ибо, что мы первым делом видим? Место, где располагается здание и что это здание окружает, т.е. что окружает (это) место. Пусть это и кажется крайне банальным, но под этим скрывается огромное количество вопросов. К примеру, выбор неправильного места для строительства здания может привести к разрушению оного (грунт не подходит для строительства здания). Или когда выбирают постройку жилого дома рядом с портом или свалкой или эстакадой. Место � это главное, с чего начинается любая архитектура. А вот далее автор уже знакомит читателя с основными понятиями или инструментами в архитектуре, такими как стена, окно, дверь, а также очаг, кровать, алтарь, сцена и т.д. Плюс, подразделяет постройки на две категории или два архетипа: архетип «храм» и архетип «жилой дом» («это не строение, а его идея», как пишет автор). Если очень упрощённо и как я это понял, то архетип Жилой дом вписывается «в окружающую среду как символ полного ей подчинения, смирения и, возможно, в некоторых случаях лишений». Что касается архетипа «храм», то Храм «стоит отдельно от всего мира как выражение власти, недоступности и, возможно, высокомерия».
Однако мне больше всего понравилась и запомнилась идея, что при анализе архитектуры даже запах играет важную и вполне реальную роль. И действительно, запах с какой-нибудь виллы в Италии и запах в доме в Финляндии или Норвегии, различается существенно. И он же указывает нам на место.
Я не могу сказать, что я понял книгу полностью (хоть и прочитал книгу два раза), ибо книга как-никак ориентирована на студентов первого курса обучения, т.е. на тех, кто относится к архитектуре как к будущей профессии. Поэтому главу «приложение», я просто пропустил, не став читать. Да, для учащихся она будет наверняка интересна, но для таких любителей как я, самым интересным была первая часть книги.
И последнее. Разумеется, одна эта книга не способна ответить на все вопросы, связанные с основами архитектуры, ибо даже для того, чтобы быть просто любителем, одной книги по архитектуре определённо мало. Однако именно с этой книги я рекомендую начинать первое знакомство с миром архитектуры.
This book and this subject (architecture) many years ago interested me in terms of...marketing. Yes, that's right. I am interested in architecture insofar as it intersects with marketing. And I try to read all books that, in one way or another, touch on the subject of marketing. So great art, which includes painting and sculpture, from cave paintings made by our ancestors to modern art as well as design and architecture, has come to my attention. So, I want to say right away that my knowledge of these three subjects (architecture, design, and art) is not very extensive. I am approaching this book from the position of whether this book would appeal to someone who is only curious about the subject. And my answer is yes, it is a good or even one of the best books for the non-professional in the subject of architecture.
The title of the book captures its essence: the fundamentals of architecture. Not even the basics that many people might think of when someone tells them about the basics of architecture, and they immediately think of the Greek Acropolis. That is, the basics are not understanding where what order is in architecture, and where what style is and what distinguishes them from each other. That is why I recommend this book as one of the best for non-specialists in architecture or who are just beginning to get acquainted with the subject. It just gives you the very, very basics, before all these typologies on architectural styles.
The author's main idea is to understand the place. And by this, we can mean almost everything: from a place for a fire to a place on the beach. This is the basis because what is the first thing we see? The place where the building is located and what surrounds this building, i.e., what surrounds (this) place. Even though this seems extremely trivial, underneath it there are a huge number of questions. For example, the choice of the wrong place to build a building can lead to the destruction of it (the soil is not suitable for the construction of the building). Or when one chooses to build a residential building next to a port or a landfill or overpass. The place - this is the main thing with which any architecture begins. And then the author goes on to introduce the reader to basic concepts or tools in architecture, such as a wall, window, door, as well as hearth, bed, altar, stage, etc. Plus, divides the buildings into two categories or two archetypes: the "temple" archetype and the "dwelling house" archetype ("it is not the structure, but its idea," as the author writes). If very simplified and as I understand it, the Dwelling House archetype fits "into the environment as a symbol of complete submission, humility and, perhaps, in some cases, deprivation." As for the Temple archetype, the Temple "stands apart from the world as an expression of power, inaccessibility and perhaps arrogance."
However, I liked and remembered most of all the idea that in the analysis of architecture, even smell plays an important and very real role. And indeed, the smell from some villa in Italy and the smell in a house in Finland or Norway are very different. And it also points us to the place.
I can not say that I understood the book completely (although I read the book twice) because the book, after all, is aimed at first-year students, i.e., those who refer to architecture as a future profession. Therefore, the chapter "application", I just skipped without reading it. Yes, for students it will probably be interesting, but for amateurs like me, the most interesting part was the first part of the book.
One last thing. Of course, this book alone is not capable of answering all questions related to the basics of architecture, for even to be just an amateur, one book on architecture is definitely not enough. However, it is with this book that I recommend that one begin his or her first acquaintance with the world of architecture.
April 18, 2015
When i started this book i almost convinced that architecture can be 'learned' from studying its work since i still have not interest in practicing. However, as i finished the question only partially answered. The books explain that place (in architecture) is identified space (and so forth). Thus, every effort of analyzing work of architecture should departed from it. Strong point of the book are generally classifying element for analyzing architecture in clear sense, with several example and case. A must read for introduction of researching architecture.
February 1, 2017
Gör sitt jobb. enkelt och klart upplägg. Lätt att derivera en metod från texten.
March 24, 2017
O livro nos dá instrumentos para melhor analisar obras de arquitetura. Quando aprendemos a destrinchar projetos, também aprendemos como desenvolver nossas próprias criações. Ao final do livro há um conjunto de estudos de caso, onde o autor aplica seus princípios.
October 11, 2020
Very useful for architecture beginners.
July 13, 2011
Simon Unwin's sketches are fascinating. He includes simplified and thematic drawings, floorplans with associated views, details and three dimensional drawings to illustrate the principles of "identification of place."
He doesn't judge architects, but discusses works in their context through thematic perspectives. It is exactly what he says it is; one broad system of analysis. A comprehensive and valuable overview of architecture as a whole.
He doesn't judge architects, but discusses works in their context through thematic perspectives. It is exactly what he says it is; one broad system of analysis. A comprehensive and valuable overview of architecture as a whole.
March 8, 2016
a very informative book about the ways, architects and also students can analyse a architectural work and also it introduces the elements that are effective in a final work...and the examples of the analysed buildings at the last chapter of this book are very good examples to use the method presented in this book.
January 24, 2023
A beautiful book. And it peeps deeply into Architecture, philosophically.
Intelligent; sparse and voluptuous at the same time !
Go ahead and buy it ! If you are in pursuit of substance in things, you’ll not be disappointed.
Intelligent; sparse and voluptuous at the same time !
Go ahead and buy it ! If you are in pursuit of substance in things, you’ll not be disappointed.
June 4, 2008
A very general overview.
October 8, 2008
wonderful illustrations
January 9, 2010
A good primer to architectural theory. Excels in its ability to tie theory and practice together.
February 2, 2017
a truly amazing book on how to analyze a building. A must read for all young architects.. Brilliant sketched references included.
August 2, 2014
از نظر من کتابی است که هر دانشجوی نوپای معماری باید مطالعه کنه، بسیاری از مبانی معماری به خوبی شرح داده شده اند و گرافیک خیلی خوب کتاب حمایت کننده ی این یادداشت هاست.
August 17, 2015
It is too simple.
It is like an introduction to the field. New architects can learn a lot, for it introduces a simple way to analyize and understand buildings.
It is like an introduction to the field. New architects can learn a lot, for it introduces a simple way to analyize and understand buildings.
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