Skyscrapers

by Philip Johnson

Skyscrapers is a lavish and appropriately soaring celebration of the world's most spectacular buildings. From the ancient Lighthouse at Alexandria to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, from the Empire State... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1884822452
• ISBN13: 9781884822452
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 2.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.9" x 18.2"

Customer Reviews

A Tall Book For Tall Buildings!

(The following review is dedicated to the brave men and women who lost their lives on 9/11/01.)At first glance, the aptly titled "Skyscapers" pictorial has the guise of a tall building. With an impeccable presentation, the book faithfully maintains the original context of each building represented with beautiful black & white photos. It gives the reader a nuts-and-bolts perspective: Judith Dupre, et al, along with the enigmatic architect, Philip Johnson, the unparalled book takes the reader on an incredible journey. From the pioneering Reliance Building in Chicago to the defunct World Trade Center in New York City, from the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco to the Ulm Cathedral in Germany--it never ceases to amaze me, the enormous contributions these towering marvels have made in our behalf. They're magnificent places where people gather to work and make an honest living. And, they're magnificent places where people gather to worship and reflect upon life's mere existance. All things considered, this book will inspire any aspiring architect to reach for the sky. At home, it proudly sits atop my desk. If you're an architectural buff, this is the book for you.

A book for everyone

I have the 1996 hardcover edition of this book and do not know what revisions have been made to this latest addition, however I imagine the text and content will be very similar.I have found this book to be an excellent source of information on skyscapers in general and the buildings featured in particular.It has a very easy to read format, witch follows the developement of the skyscraper, with two pages at a time dedicated to one building. This makes it ideal for flicking through and just reading here and there at what ever catches your eye. There are also small gerneral interest and overviews pages troughout the book that help to explain the developement of these buildings.Not a lot of technical details also make this an easy read and ideal for younger readers.This is one of the best books I have seen on the subject and I have no reservations recomending this book to anyone even remotely interested in these large buildings.

Stunning Look at the Modern "Pyramid"

When I first saw this book, I knew that it had to be on my Christmas "wish list." Upon receiving it, my excitement knew no bounds for this is an exquisitely produced homage to the skyscrapers of the past, present, and future. All the famous are here, from the cover featuring the oft-photographed Chrysler Building in New York to The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center to The IBM Tower of San Francisco. Included are many less known mammoth structures from foreign lands, such as Malaysia's Petronas Towers, touted presently as the tallest of all, and the uniquely designed Bank of China in Hong Kong. When one says, "The sky is the limit," the pages of this book showcase the adage perfectly.

It has amazing photographs and outstanding facts!!!

Its black and white photography is amazing! And it covers all the famous skyskrapers such as the Sears tower and the Petronas towers. It has amazing facts with great details about the building and its history. It tells from what its made of to the architects who made them. It even tells several interesting facts. It is fun to read or even just to look at

A treasure trove of big photos and little treats!

By Jeffrey K. Herzer -- The jacket notes accurately describe the author's work as exploring "the interaction of text and image on the printed page". This book is wonderfully presented, a collage of big pictures and little treasures -- like under construction photos, sketches and diagrams, or other "trivia bits". You will find some new and precious treat every time you crack the cover. "Skyscrapers" is primarily a history of fifty important and world-famous skyscrapers, beginning with the Washington Monument and the Eiffel Tower & finishing with the Petronas Towers (Malaysia), the Jin Mao Building (Shanghai), and the planned Kuningan Persada Tower (Jakarta, Indonesia). A book about tall buildings should have tall pages...and this book is 18 inches tall and 7-1/2 inches wide. The format is entirely black & white, but most enjoyable. Ms. Dupre's text is short and direct and a perfect complement; it illuminates without getting bogged down in technicalities. Whether you're a skyscraper fanatic, an architect or engineer, or just plain fascinated with tall buildings, it matters not...this is a book everyone can enjoy.