Architecture: The Natural and the Manmade

by Vincent Scully

Scully is a pioneer of 20th century architecture. This volume is the grand sum of his career. It is not only the history of great edifices, but also a book that explores the unique dialogue between human beings and their buildings and the natural world. 500 color/b&w photos.

Genres: Architecture, History, Nonfiction, Reference, Art, Design

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Joseph Adelizzi, Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

In hindsight it should have been obvious I wasn’t the intended audience for Architecture The Natural and the Manmade by Vincent Scully. I’m embarrassed to admit my first reaction upon hearing of this book was “I didn’t know the Dodger broadcaster was into architecture.” That’s on me. However, it didn’t take long to realize Vincent Scully - the architecture expert, not the baseball broadcaster - had no interest in dumbing things down for me or anyone like me.

The man loves architecture. He sees things differently, finds life, meaning, messages, even transcendence where, try as I might, wish as I might, I see, at best, “cool” buildings. Yes I can appreciate structures. I remember being deeply moved when I saw the Pantheon and the Colosseum in Rome, the Valley of the Temples in Sicily’s Agrigento, Powerscourt in Ireland, the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, and so much of Paris. But all my observations and opinions on architecture were like a bases-empty swinging bunt single to Scully’s grand slam insights.

There are two types of wizened veterans on a baseball team: those with the ability and willingness to share their wisdom, and those who repeatedly do great things on the field but are either unwilling or unable to share their gnostic knowledge in a way to benefit the rookies. Scully feels like the latter. For example, take the quotations he shares. Quotations in Latin, or Italian or French. Scully provides no English translations anywhere in this book. He assumes everyone, or anyone he is interested in reaching, understands. I was out in left field.

And the photographs! So many beautiful enumerated photographs! But so frustrating! The photographs were referenced by number, so one would think they’d be easy to find, but I never found many of them. On more than one frustrating occasion I handed the book to an innocent bystander and asked them to find the referenced photograph for me. They all swung and missed.

I’ve been to many baseball games. Often I’d be reveling in my good fortune to be present for a historic performance or legendary sequence of on-field events, like Roy Halladay’s no hitter in the 2010 NLDS. I’d feel the pride swelling in my chest and look around to enjoy others appreciating the same moment. But often I’d see some fans missing the moment in favor of making fish lips in a selfie.

Reading Scully’s Architecture I felt like the one making fish lips. I have no doubt there are great insights in Architecture, but most of them sailed way over my head. And I get the feeling that wouldn’t bother Vincent Scully in the least.

[Jessica Kung Dreyfus · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I want to connect to the brilliance of Vincent Scully I just open to a page in this book. My practice and passion for art and architecture today are directly inspired by the perspective that Scully provides. He was one of the greatest lecturers on Art and Architecture history and inspired generations of architects, artists, and clients, myself included.

Read about Scully's Legacy here:
https://www.metropolismag.com/archite...

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/05/op...
by Robert AM Stern
"Vincent Scully, America’s most important architecture historian, died on Nov. 30, at age 97. The architect Philip Johnson proclaimed him “the most influential architecture teacher ever.” But Professor Scully was more than a teacher. He was a critic and a passionate public intellectual. He brought his interests, intellect and knowledge to bear on the world around him. Thanks to him, generations of architects, urbanists and scholars learned to see the world around them through the lens of human tradition and experience."

The bad reviews for this book miss a major point. Just because his lectures are better than this book, that does not mean this book is three stars. His influence was so much greater than a single book. Do not expect the book to be Scully. This book is just one facet of his immense contribution to the field.

If you are new to his work, I would recommend checking out some videos aswell.

https://vimeo.com/ondemand/scully

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so when I say read, that's a little misleading. Really, I've been attending Scully's lectures, and not actually reading the book. This is essentially equivalent because there is a remarkable degree of overlap. His lectures are brilliant... as a book, however, they fall a little flat.

[EAL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, full of insights and wonders. The plates are often out of order, but some of them are quite beautiful. Highly recommended. Andrea Palladio is on par with Imhotep; Italian Renaissance gardens equal those of Babylon.

[Nathan Bernacet · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my curriculum I give a lesson using wall paper paste where students create furniture with newspaper.

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a big fan of the ligo. Required reading.

[Robert Giambo · Rating 2 out of 5]

More a series of essays than a text book, the writing was just to obscure to be interesting to me. Supposedly a classic.

[Tommy]

Hardcover.