Googie Architecture: A Comprehensive Overview

by Alan Morris, Debbie Chabot

Googie architecture is a form of modern architecture, a subdivision of futurist architecture & influenced by the Space Age, car culture, jets, flying saucers, and the Atomic Age. Originating in Southern California during the late 1940s and continuing approximately into the mid-1960s, Googie-themed architecture was popular among motels, coffee houses and gas stations. This reference guide by Alan Morris & Debbie Chabot, covers all of the basics about this subdivision of the futuristic architecture movement. These buildings are more more than just roadside attractions. Explore this fascinating style of architecture in this useful, full-color edition. (Architecture, Reference, History, Study Guide)

146 pages, Paperback

Published December 2, 2015

Reviews

[Angie Kennedy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not really what I expected. The formatting looks like someone printed out a very long Wikipedia entry in terms of the Wiki outline style. There are lots of words printed in a different color, which made me itch to click on them to go to other entries. What I really found strange was the amount of information included that absolutely nothing to do with the architecture. Two entries in particular were strange: Oral Roberts University and Washington Dulles airport. I knew there were some Googie buildings and the prayer tower at ORU, but the entry was 13 pages long; of those pages, only 1.5-2 actually concerned the buildings. The rest of the text looked like it was copied directly from the ORU webpage/wiki entry. I don't think the pages about the programs offered, student population or the leadership related scandals were necessary. In regard to the airport, there was one small photo of the main terminal on the first page, but nine (9!) photos of jets from various airlines taxiing down the runway. Then several pages detailing which concourses served which airline and their associated lounges, which had absolutely nothing to do with the original Eero Saarinen terminal. The last portion of the book had a lot of typos and could have used some editing. I'd have liked a lot less info on some entries and a lot more photos.