The Architecture of Happiness
Ratings10
Average rating3.6
15
Ratings10
Average rating3.6
One of the great but often unmentioned causes of both happiness and misery is the quality of our environment: the kinds of walls, chairs, buildings and streets that surround us.And yet a concern for architecture and design is too often described as frivolous, even self-indulgent. The Architecture of Happiness starts from the idea that where we are heavily influences who we can be, and it argues that it is architecture's task to stand as an eloquent reminder of our full potential.Whereas many architects are wary of openly discussing the word beauty, this book has at its center the large and naive question: What is a beautiful building? It is a tour through the philosophy and psychology of architecture that aims to change the way we think about our homes, our streets and ourselves.From the Hardcover edition.
[The inspiration for the TV series: THE PERFECT HOME.]
Reviews with the most likes.
This book started out making an interesting case. By the end, I was convinced that the author should've gone into poetry rather than architecture. I don't get why he insists on injecting the most verbose depictions of tangentially-relevant concepts into what would otherwise be a brief, albeit fascinating essay on the purpose of beauty in design. Still, I cannot begrudge the quality in the meat that is hidden in the potatoes, and so, 3 stars it gets. Cheers.
