A Weekly Dose of Architecture Books

As I gradually make my way from summer vacation mode to fall work mode, I'm posting some of the photos I took during my recent ten-day holiday in the American Midwest. This fourth batch shows Richard Meier's classic Atheneum from 1979 in New Harmony, Indiana.

As I gradually make my way from summer vacation mode to fall work mode, I'm posting some of the photos I took during my recent ten-day holiday in the American Midwest. This third batch shows the Roofless Church designed by Philip Johnson in 1960 for New Harmony, Indiana. Behind the church is a pottery studio Richard Meier (believe it or not) designed and built in 1978, a segue to tomorrow's batch with his much more well-known Atheneum.

As I gradually make my way from summer vacation mode to fall work mode, I'm posting some of the photos I took during my recent ten-day holiday in the American Midwest. This second batch shows the Early Childhood Development/Parenting Education Center at Harris-Stowe Sate University in St. Louis, designed by Adrian Luchini, Kozeny-Wagner and KAI Design & Build. The photos move from the east side of the building and then underneath it to have a glimpse toward the central courtyard. For more information on the project visit Arch Daily .

As I gradually make my way from summer vacation mode to fall work mode, I'm posting some of the photos I took during my recent ten-day holiday in the American Midwest. This first batch shows the Ethical Society Meeting House on Clayton Road in St. Louis, designed by Harris Armstrong and built in 1964. For more on the building and the architect visit Andrew Raimist's blog, architectural ruminations .

I'm conducting three architectural walking tours on four Saturdays in September and October. Click on the links below to purchase tickets from the 92Y. Saturday, September 12, 11am - 1:30pm Saturday, October 10, 11am - 1:30pm The High Line and Its Environs Trek the High Line taking in the park and the surrounding buildings and step off to get a closer look at select buildings. Saturday, September 19, 11am - 1:30pm Columbia University Look at recent additions to the campuses of Columbia University and Barnard College in Morningside Heights, take a sneak peek at Columbia’s expansion into Manhattanville and head up to Inwood to see Columbia’s new athletics complex. Saturday, October 17, 11am - 2:30pm Brooklyn G Train Tour Hop on and off the G train from Carroll Gardens to Clinton Hill and Williamsburg, taking in townhouses, campus facilities and other buildings along the way.

The "So You Want to Learn About" series highlights books focused on a particular theme: think "socially responsible architecture" and "phenomenology," rather than broad themes like "housing" or "theory." Therefore the series aims to be a resource for finding decent reading materials on certain topics, born of a desire to further define noticeable areas of interest in the books I review . And while I haven't reviewed every title, I am familiar with each one; these are not blind recommendations. For the longest time I was not a fan of interviews, though recently I've come around to them to the extent that I sometimes search them out. I'm not sure why I didn't like them nor why I like them now, but it might have to do with having less time to read books in their entirety combined with a desire to know the ideas and motives of particular architects. With this subtle shift of reading habits a number of bo...

Here are some of my photos (and a video at bottom) of the SeaGlass Carousel by WXY Studio at Battery Park in Lower Manhattan. The form of the small stainless steel and glass structure is inspired by nautilus shells. Landscape design was carried out by Starr Whitehouse with Piet Oudolf . The spiraling exterior rises toward the entry where the most glass is found. George Tsypin Opera Factory was responsible for the production design of the aquatic-themed carousel. Instead of riding horses, as is the norm with carousels, people sit inside one of 30 luminescent fish. The experience is meant to be like a "mini opera" that makes people feel like they are underwater. The total effect can't be captured here, since videos projected on the underside of spiraling ceiling will enhance the sense of immersion after sunset. During yesterday's press preview, everybody riding the fish seemed to be having a great time. Lastly, here's my amateur-hour vi...