City by Design, An Architectural Perspective of Texas ~ A Texas Coffee Table Book – Great Christmas Gift

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BOOK DETAILS

City by Design, An Architectural Perspective of Texas

Publication: 2009, $40, Hardcover, ISBN 1-933415-56-8, 336 pages, 9″ x 12″, 300+ color photographs

Author: Panache Partners

Publisher: Brian Carabet and John Shand, Panache Partners

Distributor: Independent Publishers Group

Subject: Texas Architectural Projects designed by Texas based Architectural Firms

Book Chapters:
Built to Play and Stay
Urban Living
City Projects
Industry Leaders
Sustaining Growth
City Futures

Architectural Firms Include:
Gensler
PageSoutherlandPage
HKS
Kirksey
Overland Partners
Lake | Flato Architects
Powers Brown Architecture
Graeber, Simmons & Cowan
SHW Group
Ford Powell & Carson

Editorial Content: Includes design inspirations, theories, perspectives, anecdotes and lesser known interesting details.

Comments: The book is a compilation of more than 70 architectural edifices located around the state. The collection is diverse with landmark skyscrapers from the state’s metroplexes as well as smaller thoughtfully designed buildings located in the suburbs and small towns. The selected works include all manners of buildings including retail, hospitality, dining, recreation, multifamily, mixed-use residential, public, education, government, religious, historic preservation and renovation, institutional, corporate, health care and research.

From someone that appreciates great architecture I was surprised, inspired and impressed by the numerous gems that the book uncovered that I was unaware of.

The book’s compilation of works was very thoughtfully assembled. While it is apparent that a conscious effort was made at including a variety of projects in different locales across the state, the book does not sacrifice quality at the expense of trying to be all things to all people. The projects presented are of high quality and it’s hard to find fault with the selections.

As a citizen of the state, there was a real sense of pride when looking at the quality of the design work, the variety of project types and the beauty of the constructed results all located within our borders.

Strengths:
Representative variety of quality projects
Wealth of locales that projects are located across the state
Breadth of quality project types included
Photo quality

Weaknesses:
I would have like to have seen a summary of sorts for each project that told me who, what, and where. I am also of the opinion that the font size could have been larger.

Audience: Recommended for Texans, architecture enthusiasts, coffee table book buyers.

Grade: 3 out of 4 stars