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Skyscrapers (Building Amazing Structures)
'Building Amazing Structures' is a series that explores key types of large structures and the materials and technology behind their construction. The books provide National Curriculum support but will also interest the general reader.
- GenresNonfictionArchitecture
32 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2000
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About the author
Chris Oxlade
892 books14 followersChris Oxlade is the best-selling author of more than 150 non-fiction books, most of them explaining complex scientific ideas and modern technology to young readers in readable text.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 18, 2013
Book Title: Skyscrapers
Author: Chris Oxlade
Publisher: Firefly Books
Topic: Skyscrapers
Nonfiction Book Checklist: (all listed apply)
-1. Table of Contents
-2. Index
-3. Photographs
-4. Realistic, accurate illustrations
-6. Diagrams
-7. Captions
-9. Page Numbers
-10. Transparent Overlays (other)
I selected this book because I like the science behind things. I also enjoy architecture, not only how buildings look but how and why they were built.
The author wrote this book to educate people. For example, I learned that there were no deaths during the construction of the Chrysler Building. I also learned the main time periods and features of diffrent skyscraper design periods. They are (in chronological order): Functional, Eclectic, Art Deco, International, Supertall, and Postmodern.
An interesting section that I found in this book is "Coping with the Natural World." In this section, you learn about how skyscrapers survive earthquakes, intense heat and sunlight, strong winds, and lightning. I found this interesting because some skyscrapers, like the U.S. Bank Tower in San Francisco, are designed to bend. Others, like the National Commerce Bank in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, have windows that face inwards into a courtyard which has larger shaded windows to let in less intese light.
Another interesting section is "Future Plans." In this section you learn about what future skyscrapers might look like. I found this interesting because the planned skyscrapers seem so modern and tall.
Facts I learned:
1. One skyscraper, the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, was demolished in 1929 to make way for the Empire State Building, then rebuilt in a different spot in 1931.
2. In 1916, laws were made in New York City to restrict the size and shape of new skyscrapers because skyscrapers were blocking sunlight and air.
3. The Sears (now Willis) Tower has the same amount of floor space as 65 soccer fields, and enough steel to make 50,000 cars.
4.The ground of the city Shanghai, China, is sinking because of the massive weight of its skyscrapers.
5. The International Style was when skyscrapers were in simple geometric shapes with little or no decoration, just metal and glass. It started in the 1950s.
Suggestions/Compliments to the author:
1. I like the many detailed illustrations on every page. They really show the true form and details of each skyscraper.
2. I would suggest a timeline, showing the different periods of design, and examples from each period.
I would recommened this book because it has good explanations and vivid pictures of skyscrapers.
Author: Chris Oxlade
Publisher: Firefly Books
Topic: Skyscrapers
Nonfiction Book Checklist: (all listed apply)
-1. Table of Contents
-2. Index
-3. Photographs
-4. Realistic, accurate illustrations
-6. Diagrams
-7. Captions
-9. Page Numbers
-10. Transparent Overlays (other)
I selected this book because I like the science behind things. I also enjoy architecture, not only how buildings look but how and why they were built.
The author wrote this book to educate people. For example, I learned that there were no deaths during the construction of the Chrysler Building. I also learned the main time periods and features of diffrent skyscraper design periods. They are (in chronological order): Functional, Eclectic, Art Deco, International, Supertall, and Postmodern.
An interesting section that I found in this book is "Coping with the Natural World." In this section, you learn about how skyscrapers survive earthquakes, intense heat and sunlight, strong winds, and lightning. I found this interesting because some skyscrapers, like the U.S. Bank Tower in San Francisco, are designed to bend. Others, like the National Commerce Bank in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, have windows that face inwards into a courtyard which has larger shaded windows to let in less intese light.
Another interesting section is "Future Plans." In this section you learn about what future skyscrapers might look like. I found this interesting because the planned skyscrapers seem so modern and tall.
Facts I learned:
1. One skyscraper, the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, was demolished in 1929 to make way for the Empire State Building, then rebuilt in a different spot in 1931.
2. In 1916, laws were made in New York City to restrict the size and shape of new skyscrapers because skyscrapers were blocking sunlight and air.
3. The Sears (now Willis) Tower has the same amount of floor space as 65 soccer fields, and enough steel to make 50,000 cars.
4.The ground of the city Shanghai, China, is sinking because of the massive weight of its skyscrapers.
5. The International Style was when skyscrapers were in simple geometric shapes with little or no decoration, just metal and glass. It started in the 1950s.
Suggestions/Compliments to the author:
1. I like the many detailed illustrations on every page. They really show the true form and details of each skyscraper.
2. I would suggest a timeline, showing the different periods of design, and examples from each period.
I would recommened this book because it has good explanations and vivid pictures of skyscrapers.
February 9, 2013
I did not like this book all that well. I'm not a huge fan of architecture, so maybe it wasn't the one for me. If there was a student within a classroom that loved architecture and buildings, this would be the book for him/her. The illustrations are beautiful (my favorite part about the whole book). It had clear slide paper in between each page and on the clear slide paper it had before and after pictures. You could look at a skyscraper on one page and it is how the building looks in the present, but if you flipped that clear paper, you could see what it looked like during construction.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews