Icons of American Architecture [2 Volumes]: From the Alamo to the World Trade Center (Greenwood Icons)

Marc Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and index.

Biographical Note:

DONALD LANGMEAD is an adjunct professor at Louis Laybourne Smith School of Design, University of South Australia. Now retired, his primary training is as an architect, although he has spent most of his professional life in academia. He holds postgraduate qualifications in city planning, and the history of architecture. Langmead has published nine books in the field (four as joint author) in Australia and the USA, as well as many articles in Australian and overseas journals.

List of Photos

Series Foreword

Preface & Acknowledgements

Volume 1

The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas

Alcatraz, San Francisco, California

Brooklyn Bridge, New York City

Empire State Building, New York City

Fallingwater, Bear Run, Pennsylvania

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, Califorina

Graceland Mansion, Memphis, Tennessee

Grand Central Terminal, New York City

Hearst Castle, San Simeon, California

Hoover Dam, Colorado River, Nevada/Arizona

Hotel del Coronado, San Diego, California

Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC

Volume 2

Monticello, Charlottesville, Virginia

Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia

Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois

Statue of Liberty, New York City

United Nations Headquarters, New York City

United States Capitol, Washington, DC

USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Hawaii

Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, DC

Washington Monument, Washington, DC

White House, Washington, DC

World Trade Center, New York City

Glossary

". . . once engaged, researchers will appreciate the thoroughness of the information and will find the stories compelling and satisfying. As with other selections in the Icons series, this offers a unique way to introduce the popular history of the U.S. to students and is recommended for most secondary collections. Collections supporting architectural programs will also want to consider it."

Booklist

"This two-volume encyclopedia of 'iconic' examples of American architecture, part of the Greenwood Icons series, discusses 24 of the most memorable structures such as Alcatraz Prison, the Empire State Building and the Washington Monument. Langmead (architecture and design, U. of South Australia) explains the historical significance of each icon by

exploring the reasons why it was built and how it became an icon. He provides an architect's view of the unique features of each structure and even provides details on the costs and challenges of construction. He provides plenty of illustrations and photographs of these icons--the images of the Golden Gate Bridge while under construction are particularly striking--and he includes a glossary that makes this reference equally accessible to architectural students and general readers.' "

Reference & Research Book News

"His guide is suitable for public and academic libraries."

Lawrence Looks at Books

What turns a building into an icon? What is it about some structures that makes their history and legend even more important than their original intended use, making them a part of American, and world, popular culture? Twenty four buildings and structures, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the White House, the Hotel del Coronado, and the Washington Monument are presented here, along with their roles in fiction, film, music, and the imagination of people worldwide. Approximately twenty five images are included in the set, along with sidebars featuring additional structures.

Review Citations:

• Booklist 07/01/2009 pg. 78 (EAN 9780313342073, Hardcover)
• Reference and Research Bk News 05/01/2009 pg. 230 (EAN 9780313342073, Hardcover)

Contributor Bio:Langmead, Donald

DONALD LANGMEAD is an adjunct professor at Louis Laybourne Smith School of Design, University of South Australia. Now retired, his primary training is as an architect, although he has spent most of his professional life in academia. He holds postgraduate qualifications in city planning, and the history of architecture. Langmead has published nine books in the field (four as joint author) in Australia and the USA, as well as many articles in Australian and overseas journals.