Vous voulez voir cette page en français ? Cliquez ici.

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Manchester: A Guide to Recent Architecture
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

Manchester: A Guide to Recent Architecture [Paperback]

David Hands (Author), Sarah Parker (Author), Keith Collie (Photographer)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Available from these sellers.


Product Details

Product Description

Book Description

Manchester is a city undergoing continual change. Rich in heritage, diverse in nature, it is uniquely characterized by its inherent ability to transform itself. Originally known as 'King Cotton', Manchester was the leading textile and cotton-manufacturing center in Great Britain. Following the decline of its manufacturing base in the late 1960s and 1970s, traditional industries were replaced by diverse forms of employment, including banking, new technology and the service industries. The massive Arndale Shopping Centre opened in 1976, reflecting the changing character of the city, transforming itself into the new commercial and retail epicenter of the north-west of England. June 1996 witnessed a defining moment in Manchester's turbulent history, with an IRA bomb explosion acting as the catalyst for change. The book is about the city's rebirth, and its changing identity. It documents the pioneering spirit and ingenuity of the planners, architects and developers who have shaped and redefined the essence of a city in motion.

About the Author

David Hands is involved in design research at Birmingham Institute of Art and Design. He is a lecturer in Interior Architecture. Sarah Parker graduated from the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design with an MA in Design Management.

Tag this product

 (What's this?)
Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.
Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

1 Review
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most helpful customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A city we can learn from, Nov 25 2002
By 
Charles S. Houser (Binghamton, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Manchester: A Guide to Recent Architecture (Paperback)
I bought this book after watching the British television movie, "Queer as Folk," which is set in Manchester, England. The bars, restaurants, public relations offices, apartment buildings (old and new), provided an exciting backdrop to the club-hopping, trend-setting characters in that movie. The combination of modern architecture and the thoughtful repurposing of nineteenth century factories and warehouses struck me as exciting and playful.

Although I have been unable to identify any of the buildings from the movie in David Hands and Sarah Parker's "little guide to [Manchester's] recent architecture," the book did confirm my sense that the people of Manchester have worked hard to be neither pure preservationists nor reckless redevelopers. Each of the 65 structures covered is represented by one or two photographs and receives, at the most, a page and a half of descriptive text. The photographs are beautiful black and white images, though sometimes it is difficult to tie the image (often a detail, such as an entryway) to any particular description within the text. The writing is delicious and beautiful in its own right, even when you're not quite sure what the authors are talking about. (For instance, this of Malmaison: "To avoid pastiche the new facade is grey-granite aggregate and concrete block. Designed to be behind the Hoyles building, sliding into a former lightwell in its V-shaped plan. This juxtaposition has informally bonded the two volumes, creating a large hard-landscaped piazza, clearly identifying the hotel's presence and purpose.") There's a lot in these descriptions to unpack, but I feel the authors have made astute observations and assessments (usually positive, though they are not afraid to deliver a well-earned jab here and there as well).

As a guide, I felt it suffered from the lack of a good, comprehensive introduction (for instance, I would like to have learned more about Manchester's industrial past and to have gotten an analysis of how the city responded to the 1996 IRA bombing that was responsible for much of the city's recent rebuilding). I would also have liked to have had a map or two, suggested walking tours, and more context photos. But for it's price and size (a very compact 4 X 4 inches), I was quite satisfied with what I got.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com: 5.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A city we can learn from, Nov 25 2002
By Charles S. Houser - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Manchester: A Guide to Recent Architecture (Paperback)
I bought this book after watching the British television movie, "Queer as Folk," which is set in Manchester, England. The bars, restaurants, public relations offices, apartment buildings (old and new), provided an exciting backdrop to the club-hopping, trend-setting characters in that movie. The combination of modern architecture and the thoughtful repurposing of nineteenth century factories and warehouses struck me as exciting and playful.

Although I have been unable to identify any of the buildings from the movie in David Hands and Sarah Parker's "little guide to [Manchester's] recent architecture," the book did confirm my sense that the people of Manchester have worked hard to be neither pure preservationists nor reckless redevelopers. Each of the 65 structures covered is represented by one or two photographs and receives, at the most, a page and a half of descriptive text. The photographs are beautiful black and white images, though sometimes it is difficult to tie the image (often a detail, such as an entryway) to any particular description within the text. The writing is delicious and beautiful in its own right, even when you're not quite sure what the authors are talking about. (For instance, this of Malmaison: "To avoid pastiche the new facade is grey-granite aggregate and concrete block. Designed to be behind the Hoyles building, sliding into a former lightwell in its V-shaped plan. This juxtaposition has informally bonded the two volumes, creating a large hard-landscaped piazza, clearly identifying the hotel's presence and purpose.") There's a lot in these descriptions to unpack, but I feel the authors have made astute observations and assessments (usually positive, though they are not afraid to deliver a well-earned jab here and there as well).

As a guide, I felt it suffered from the lack of a good, comprehensive introduction (for instance, I would like to have learned more about Manchester's industrial past and to have gotten an analysis of how the city responded to the 1996 IRA bombing that was responsible for much of the city's recent rebuilding). I would also have liked to have had a map or two, suggested walking tours, and more context photos. But for it's price and size (a very compact 4 X 4 inches), I was quite satisfied with what I got.

› Go to Amazon.com to see the review  5.0 out of 5 stars 
 
 
Only search this product's reviews


Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject






















i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?