WHAT'S UP IN ARCHITECTURE: A Look at Modern Building

It's not just a quick glimpse, but a probing, appraising, selective view. W.G. Rogers has been Arts Editor of The Associated Press, has written several well-received books for adults and is the author of A Picture is a Picture (1963, p. 1151-J-335), an outstanding survey of modern art. The book starts from the ""let's take a walk"" angle. This is frequently an annoying device. In this case it makes sense. This is a walk with a purpose. It brings readers directly into the three dimensional descriptions that follow. Several of the important buildings in American cities as well as a few in Europe are analyzed. The foundation of the book is a discussion of materials and techniques with a brief historical survey of the roots of American architecture. Chapters are devoted to the important names--Richardson, Sullivan, Wright, Le Corbusier, Mies. Mr. Rogers often speaks from a critical standpoint. (For instance, ""New York is saying: We welcome run-of-the-mill architects and penalize your good ones. You may favor the embellishment of your streets and avenues, but we shall prevent it if we can."") The building blocks of this book are the author's aesthetic sense, an awareness of architecture's role in social problems, some personal gossip and honest criticism. It is topped off with some insight into current trends and the problems of city planning. Like the best buildings, the book is made to last.