Think Like an Architect

Roger Fullington Series in Architecture

By: Hal Box

Narrated by: Mark D. Mickelson

Length: 7 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

The design of cities and buildings affects the quality of our lives. Making the built environment useful, safe, comfortable, efficient, and as beautiful as possible is a universal quest. We dream about how we might live, work, and play. From these dreams come some 95 percent of all private and public buildings; professional architects design only about five percent of the built environment. While much of what non-architects build is beautiful and useful, the ugliness and inconveniences that blight many urban areas demonstrate that an understanding of good architectural design is vital for creating livable buildings and public spaces. To help promote this understanding among non-architects, as well as among those considering architecture as a profession, award-winning architect and professor Hal Box explains the process of making architecture from concept to completed building, using real-life examples to illustrate the principles involved in designing buildings that enhance the quality of life for those who live with them.

Box believes that everyone should be involved in making architecture and has organized this book as a series of letters to friends and students about the process of creating architecture. He describes what architecture should be and do, how to look at and appreciate good buildings, and how to understand the design process, work with an architect, or become an architect. He also provides an overview of architectural history. For those involved in building projects, Box offers practical guidance about what goes into constructing a building, from the first view of the site to the finished building. For students thinking of becoming architects, he describes an architect's typical training and career path. And for the wide public audience interested in architecture and the built environment, Box addresses how architecture relates to the city, where the art of architecture is headed, and why good architecture matters.

©2007 University of Texas Press (P)2016 Redwood Audiobooks

Bad reading, Buy a hard copy

it is either read by an automated system or a bad reader.
missing number and words and wrong stops.
yet yet the book is very valuable.

loved it

I loved the fact that the book leterly helps you to think like an architect. Although, there are many points I find myself need to search for an architectural terminology. But if you really need to think like an architect you need to write down some points.

monotone narrator

the monotone narrator is inconsistent with reading speed from chapter 1-3, so speeding up the narration to make it more interesting doesn't work for the entire book. I don't want to hear this book to fall asleep to, I want to be engaged and learn about architecture.

Great ideas on how to revive architecture.

I liked Mr. Box's opinions on architecture, and his thoughts on the decline of architecture. The narration was devoid of feeling, and detrimental to the book. Like how modern architecture has taken away alot of what is special about great buildings.

Narrator monotone

Very monotone reader, but contains surpassed expectations. Overall good just really hard to pay attention to.

The worst narration

This narrator is just boring. His voice is one tone throughout the book. I think it is a matching reading. Such an ugly voice. It really made the book not worth listening to.

monotone

the narrator was too monotone, made it very hard to listen and digest the information given. I believe a better narrator would have made the book much better, when I did digest info it was very good.

Interesting book

Any additional comments?

I purchased it since i am interested in architecture. I just purchased it, lets see how it goes.

Computer voice

I didn’t like the computer voice. Overall it represents good, general knowledge, that’s a little different than what I expected which is something more like “design thinking.” I enjoyed it, particularly insights toward the end about urban planning and zoning ordinances.

Good content but with robotic performance

This is an excellent book for architects and non-architects alike. It successfully describes what it's like to be an architect and how to think like one. However, the narration makes it sound like being an architect is monotonous and boring. Quite frankly, there were some parts that were overly tedious and difficult to listen to. It would really be great if the narration could be remixed with someone who doesn't sound like a robot.
In spite of this, I'd highly recommend this book for it's content and the things you will learn about architects and architecture.