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This carefully researched and profusely illustrated work offers abundant insights into the early development of the skyscraper and the influence of two master builders who played key roles in its evolution. Rare photos, floor plans, and renderings document such influential structures as Sullivan’s Wainwright Building in St. Louis, Wright’s Larkin building in Buffalo, New York, and many others.
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good insight into their buildings
In this book, noted architectural scholar Donald Hoffman outlines the contributions of these two men and others to the fledgling skyscraper movement. Among the topics examined are the profit motive behind skyscraperconstruction, the importance of light in skyscraper design, Sullivan'ssoaring idealism, the "anti-skyscraper," exemplified by Wright'sPrice Tower in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, and many more.

Accompanying theperceptive, carefully researched text are 100 excellent illustrations,including rare photographs, floor plans, and renderings that document suchimportant structures as Sullivan's Wainwright Building in St. Louis, alongwith his Masonic Temple, Reliance Building, and Marshall Field WholesaleStore in Chicago; the A.T. Stewart store in New York; the San FranciscoCall Project; Wright's Larkin Building in Buffalo, New York, as well as hisdazzling but never-constructed National Life Insurance Company project,Chicago, and St. Mark's Tower project, New York.

Architectureenthusiasts will find this comprehensive, authoritative study filled notonly with an abundance of insights into the early development of theskyscraper but also with the ideas and influence of two master builders whoplayed key roles in one of the most revolutionary developments in modernarchitecture. ... Read more

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The skyscraper is an American invention that has captured the public s imagination for over a century. The tall building is wholly manmade and borne in the minds of those with both slide rules and computers. The American Skyscraper 1850-1940: A Celebration of Height is the story of the skyscraper s rise and the recognition of those individuals who contributed to its development. This volume is unique; its approach, information, and images are fresh and telling. The text examines America s first tall buildings--the result of twelve years of in-depth research by an accomplished and published architect and architectural historian. Over 300 compelling photographs, charts, and notes make this the ultimate tool of reference for this subject. Biographies woven throughout with period norms, politics and lifestyles help to place featured skyscrapers in context. Quite simply, there is no book like this. The text, carefully and insightfully written, is clear, concise, and easily digestible, the text being the product of well-documented original research written in an informative tone. The American Skyscraper 1850-1940: A Celebration of Height is a richly documented journey of a fascinating topic, and it promises to be a superb addition to libraries, schools of architecture, students of architecture, and lovers of art. ... Read more

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Celebration of Height - Excellent Americana Text!

Skyscraper

By day the skyscraper looms in the smoke and sun and has a soul.
Prairie and valley, streets of the city, pour people into it and they
Mingle among its twenty floors...
It is the men and women, boys and girls so poured in and out all day
That give the building a soul of dreams and thoughts and memories...
--Carl Sandburg's Chicago's Poems (p. 325)

Sheer serendipity brought me into the formal facilities planning and management activities I directed for many years. However, in many ways, it merged with an instinctual love of the architectural form in all of its beauty. Thus, for me, Joseph Korom's The American Skyscraper, will become much more¾a "coffee-table" book to be picked up and read again and again.

In reality, however, it is a complete text on the history of America's creation and use of Skyscrapers with in-depth information and over 300 images highlighting buildings across the United States. It includes over 60 pages for the bibliography, index, footnotes, and tabular presentations of celebrated skyscrapers! The author notes, "Between its covers are the stories of 287 American skyscrapers which were, or still are, located in seventy-one cities and towns..." (p. 21) Reflections of exterior details or interior shots, as well as architects' personal pictures, create a significant historical contribution for the libraries of both students and professionals in the fields of architectural and engineering, as well as all those who, like myself, are awed with the majesty and beauty of structures.

Architect Joseph Korom earned a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he also served as mentor. He is an accomplished artist whose paintings are represented in many private collections and is a freelance writer, architectural critic, and photographer. He is a member of the Society of Architectural Historians, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Milwaukee Art Museum. Joseph Korom, who has also authored Look Up Milwaukee (1979) and Milwaukee Architecture A Guide to Notable Buildings (1995.

"Very tall buildings, those now known as "skyscrapers," were invented here--in America.... Humans built tall for many reasons: to do so was communally satisfying, personally fulfilling and perhaps most of all it was a celebratory act--for everyone. To build tall was defiant, it was risky and it was scary but inherent in these anxieties was the conquering of height itself, to pierce the sky with a manmade object while still tethered to the ground was simply irresistible..." (pps. 14-15) Korom thus introduces his impressive text with a brief historical perspective of the brave men who began to build high and chronicles "this country's unique contribution to architecture..." (p. 16).

Presenting Chicago's Sear Tower as his first picture, he notes that it "is the ultimate expression of skyscraper technology and is the embodiment of vertical manifest destiny. It stands 110 floors, 1,454 feet tall, and is North America's tallest skyscraper." The author includes interesting factual information such as when he notes, "When the sun sets, pedestrians at the Sears Tower's base are plunged into shade. But due to the curvature of the earth, shade covers the tower's floors from bottom moving upward at the rate of one floor per second. Consequently, those at the building's top enjoy approximately two more minutes of sunlight..." (p. 21)

When I explored the buildings on the West Virginia University campus, working to better manage the utilization of those facilities and then plan what was needed to meet future needs, it was always the older buildings that I found more intriguing. Exploring Woodburn Hall all the way up into the clock tower, or walking through Chitwood and Martin Halls, prior to their being gutted and renovated, I thrilled at the basic beauty we wanted to retain, while at the same time, create updated classrooms, offices, and teaching laboratories that were needed for our School of Journalism and many departments within our College of Arts and Sciences.

Thus, as I read through A Celebration of Height, it was not surprising that I eagerly studied the buildings with the older styles that were used during the "courageous beginnings" starting in 1850. (p. 22). Zachary Taylor was president "during the planning and erection of the famed Jayne Building in Philadelphia. Knowing that "Old Rough and Ready" was in charge helps place the birth of the American skyscraper in historical context." (p. 23)

The following buildings included in the Celebration are just a few of those particularly enjoyed by this former Facilities professional/reviewer! I am sure others will choose those more modern.

· The Palmer House Hotel in Chicago; built 1872, by the "first merchant prince of Chicago, Potter Palmer, at the cost of $200,000. (pps. 49-50)
· Madison Square Garden Tower, 16 floors, 304 feet, New York. (P. 158)
· Women's Temple, Chicago, 1892, home of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. (p. 166)
· Columbus Memorial Building, topped by a giant bronze status of Christopher Columbus, built in 1893. "In an utterly wanton act, this delightful skyscraper was demolished in 1959." (p. 179)
· Trinity Church, New York City. Its steeple once ranked it the tallest structure on Manhattan Island. (p. 190)
· The Carson Pirie Scott Store's main entrance is marked by a most robust example of foliage This twisting mélange was executed in iron then painted a forest green. This building, completed in 1904, immediately was propelled into the annals of architectural immortality. The Chicago Loop was now home to a large department store, rising twelve stories, 168 feet. The building featured some of the most compelling ornamentation anywhere. (pps. 231-232)
· City Investing Building, New York City, 1908, 487 feet, and containing one-half million square feet, making it the world's largest office building. "If ever there was a skyscraper that evoked romance, historicism, capitalism, and the optimism of the early twentieth century the City Investing Building was it. Here was a tower that drew upon inspiration from French Baroque sources, and in so doing, cut a delightful profile on New York's skyline. (p. 271)
· Bromo-Seltzer Tower, Baltimore, 1911, 15 floors, 280 feet tall, with a facsimile of the original Bromo-Seltzer bottle atop its tower! (pps. 294-295)
· Peter Cooper first manufactured structural beam for the Cooper Union Building in New York, thus setting the stage for skeleton construction and ultimately the skyscraper. (p. 25). Also in New York, the mid-19th century marked the age of cast iron architecture and is still concentrated in the "Cast Iron District, as a living museum, near the Greenwich Village. (p. 28)
· And, of course, the history of the skyscraper must also include the invention of the elevator. Manhattan's Haughwout Building was the first commercial building to employ a passenger elevator. "It was capable of lifting one-half ton at the rate of forty feed per minute and it was the first of its kind anywhere" when it was installed in 1857. Any facilities professional will not be surprised to hear that Elisha Graves Otis who eventually founded the Otis Elevator Company installed it. (pps. 28-29)

In addition to detailed facilities information, I also enjoyed the smaller details Korom added for interest, such as "Probably for the first time unrelated men and women worked side-by-side for eight or more hours in the same one or two rooms...skyscrapers, probably from their very inception, were places where `advantages were acted upon' or there were rumors of such behavior..." (p. 137) and the various interior shots of those men and women dressed as they were at that time. Truly, The American Skyscraper 1850-1940: A Celebration of Height is a book that is highly recommended to all those interested in America's history!

By his buildings great in influence and power...
His philosophy where, in "Form Follows function"
Sullivan has earned his place as one of the greatest
Architectural forces in America...
--Memorial Mark to Louis Henri Sullivan (p. 195)
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Les achats comprennent une adhésion à l'essai gratuite au club de livres de l'éditeur, dans lequel vous pouvez choisir parmi plus d'un million d'ouvrages, sans frais. Le livre consiste d'articles Wikipedia sur : Musée Des Monuments Français, Centre Canadien D'architecture, Pinakothek Der Moderne, Skyscraper Museum, Musée D'architecture Suisse. Non illustré. Mises à jour gratuites en ligne. Extrait : Le Musée des monuments français a été créé par Alexandre Lenoir après les destructions du patrimoine architectural lors de la révolution de 1789. Ce premier établissement a été fermé en 1816. En 1879, un second musée des monuments français est fondé par Viollet-le-Duc. Il rassemble d'importantes collections de moulages, de peintures reproduites grandeur nature et de maquettes, reproduisant les chefs-d'œuvre du patrimoine architectural français. Le musée a été abrité successivement par le couvent des Petits Augustins, le Louvre et l'ancien Palais du Trocadéro, devenu Palais de Chaillot. L'Assemblée constituante et la Convention nationalisent sous la Révolution française les biens du clergé, puis ceux de la couronne de France et des émigrés. Les députés décident alors en 1790, de consacrer le couvent des Petits-Augustins au dépôt d'une partie des statues et tombeaux issus de ces aliénations et place Alexandre Lenoir à sa tête en 1791. Le 1 septembre 1795, Alexandre Lenoir ouvre au public le dépôt, qui devient, le 21 octobre suivant, le Musée des monuments français, qui présente une histoire de la sculpture française. Lenoir est nommé administrateur du musée. Avec le retour de la monarchie, le musée ferme ses portes et une grande partie des œuvres sont restitutuées à leurs propriétaires d'origine. Le reste est intégré aux collections du Louvre, en 1824, et au musée de Versailles, en 1836. En 1879, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc suggère de réunir les restes des collections dans le palais du Trocadéro, resté vide depuis l'Exposition universelle...http://booksllc.net/?l=fr ... Read more

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Examines the history, design, construction, and uses of skyscrapers and describes some notable examples. ... Read more

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A Boy with a Secret...
"I Still Hate to Read!" is a book about a boy who hates to read -- or at least this is the image that her puts on. It's not that he really hates to read -- it's just that he's not much into his schoolwork, or the books everybody tries to keep getting him to read through reading lists, etc. etc.His secret friends are a rabbit, a crocodile, a parrot and a field mouse. The only one he's shared his secret with is his pet dog (or rather lioness) Page.

The boy, Victor, finds his secret possibly exposed when his teacher sends home a letter asking him to put on a performance of "Hank the Cowdog" with his lioness. How will he keep his secret?

A nice book with some lively illustrations and an imaginative tale. The only disappointment is that the ending seems a bit abrupt.

This book is apparently based in part on a book originally released nearly fifteen years ago called "I Hate to Read!" I haven't read it myself, but this book has definitely sparked my interest in it. ... Read more

Product Description
This history of skyscrapers examines how these tall buildings affected the cityscape and the people who worked in, lived in, and visited them. Much of the focus is rightly on the architects who had the vision to design and build America's skyscrapers, but attention is also given to the steelworkers who built them, the financiers who put up the money, and the daredevils who attempt to "conquer" them in some inexplicable pursuit of fame. The impact of the skyscraper on popular culture, particularly film and literature, is also explored. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Canada and the World Backgrounder, published by Taylor Publishing Consultants Ltd. on March 1, 1996. The length of the article is 1986 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Skyscrapers.(brief history of skyscrapers and the suggested impact of telecommuting)
Publication: Canada and the World Backgrounder (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 1, 1996
Publisher: Taylor Publishing Consultants Ltd.
Volume: v61Issue: n5Page: p14(1)

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A large format paperback consisting of 32 pages illustrated in black and white plus a centre pull-out section in full colour to cut out and make a model "Empire State Building". Full instructions are given and children over eight should be able to construct the model with minimum adult supervision. The book covers the reasons why skyscrapers first came to be built and describes the engineering and social problems associated with them. There are details about high-life living: safety factor, lift maintenance and how the windows are cleaned. Finally, the author takes a look into the future - what other architectural flights of fancy are planned? ... Read more

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H99 is the first housing skyscraper to be built in France for many years. Designed by the young architect, Jean-Baptiste Pietri, it is incorporated into a 90,000mA development project in the Cite de la Mediterranee, Marseille. The ambitious programme also includes two other skyscrapers, one containing offices and designed by Jean Nouvel and the other, designed by Yves Lion, containing housing. Through three sections - photographic, text and graphic - the aim is to follow the project's development while simultaneously raising the issue of the relevance of skyscrapers and their ability to meet housing requirements. ... Read more

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History of the skyscraper
The famous architectural critic has written the history of the skyscraper in the US, from its origins in the late 1800s to about 1980. Naturally, New York City and Chicago comprise the vast majority of the examples, but Goldberger frequently includes other US cities as well. The emphasis is on the aesthetics of exteriors, not interiors. There are many b&w photos, averaging roughly one per page, plus 14 color illustrations. There are no floor plans.

The nine chapters are as follows (the descriptions are my wording, not the actual chapter titles): (1) Early NYC buildings (such as Singer Building, Times Tower), (2) Chicago skyscrapers up to 1905, (3) Flatiron and Woolworth Buildings, (4) buildings from 1917-1931, (5) The Chanin, Chrysler, and Empire State Buildings, (6) the 1930s, (7) modernism in the 1950s, (8) late modernism, especially projects emphasizing open plazas (such as the World Trade Center), (9) postmodernist projects that were on the drawing board as the book was being written (such as Battery Park City). ... Read more

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How tall is the world’s tallest skyscraper? Why is the Leaning Tower of Pisa crooked? Who invented the elevator brake? To uncover the hidden facts behind everyday things, explore the secrets of True Stories. True Stories reveals the surprising truth about

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