How to Read Skyscrapers: A Crash Course in High-Rise Architecture

by Edward Denison, Nick Beech

The ultimate field guide to the icon of modern architecture - the skyscraper - in a handy format small enough to fit in a back pocket while providing serious information.

The scope of the book is deliberately broad, with a thematic first section that describes the skyscraper's historical evolution from antecedents rooted in the very human desire for a commanding height, and then a geographical second section. Conceptual chapters introduce advancements in engineering and materials that permitted the first "tall" buildings to rise at the end of the 19th century and explore the skyscraper's role in fuelling our imaginations through different modes of cultural expression.
This detailed yet compact guide to understanding skyscrapers -- from the earliest steel-framed Chicago high-rises to the most recent Manhattan super-tall condominium -- is the latest addition to the highly successful How to Read... series. With a very accessible price point, it will appeal to all readers who want to know more about and better understand these iconic structures that transform the built environment. Filled with detailed drawings, plans, and photographs, this is both a fascinating architectural history and an effective I-spy guide -- a must-read for anyone with an interest in architecture, design, engineering, and urbanism in general.

Genres: Architecture

256 pages, Paperback

Published May 14, 2019

About the author

Dr Edward Denison is a Lecturer at The Bartlett School of Architecture and an independent architectural, urban and cultural specialist. He is Director of the MA Architecture and Historic Urban Environments, Co-coordinator of Year5 Thesis, Module Coordinator of Multiple Modernities Architecture on the MA Architectural History, and a PhD Supervisor.

Reviews

[Maryanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful little book and it is just what the title says, all about the interesting, beautiful and mundane skyscrapers. Lots of fun facts and brief descriptions about construction, architecture, architects and design.

[Donald · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pro - great pictures and timeline of bigger and bigger skyscrapers.
Con - focus on materials science and architectural/customer egos, at the expense of anything on funding from kleptocrats, money laundering by foreign oligarchs into manhattan apartments, consequences of in-commuting to work in towers and back to the suburbs at night, not an affordable apartment in sight.

Title should be, How to make money off bigger and bigger buildings. Feh.

[Pinar G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitabın ilk yorumunu ben yazıyorum ve ilk goodreads okuyucusu da benim. :) Kitabın ismi ilgimi çektiği için okudum, içeriği de aynı şekilde ilgi çekiciydi. Mimarlık bilgim hiç olmamasına karşın beğendim, biraz daha hikayecilik katıp binalar hakkında tarihi bilgiler verseler benden 5 puan alırlardı.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite feature of this handsomely illustrated book was that the author did not choose the most obvious building that are usually included in similar books. The only thing I did not like was that many pictures were in a form of drawings, while I believe it could be better if they were photos.

[Leonard Tang · Rating 4 out of 5]

a lot of nice trivia about some beautiful buildings. wish there were less sketches and more photos