Customer Reviews

Architecture Of Happiness

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It is a third book I read from Alain de Botton's publications.
This time also, the book didn't turn down my expectation of his work.

The book reflects Botton's a tranquil and poetic observation towards our built environment along with his signature dry wit.

I can assume that generel public who's not really involved with related professions (architect or engineer) might find it bit boring, as they probablly wouldn't think that serious about buildings and given the fact that the points he's making are very subtle. But - there are many interesting analysis and authentic insights of 'Why' we think some buildings beautiful and moving.

This helped me to see architecture (I'm a intern architect) in a broader scope, through a eye of non-professional architect but intellectural general public who really cares about our houses and buildings.

After tackling such diverse topics as Proust, status and love, Alain de Botton has turned his erudite eye to architecture in his new book The Architecture of Happiness. Using a bit of history, a bit of pop psychology and a lot of his own opinions, this book talks about how and why buildings make us feel the way we do. This is a charming little book filled with photographs of the buildings and paintings he discusses. This book isn't as funny as some of his previous writing, but it is an interesting diversion.

First time I've read something from de Botton, and he lives up to his reputation as articulate and insightful. While architects might argue that everything he says is well-known among architects, it is not well-known among 'civilians', who generally can only express their requirements by square footage and generic 'style'... which results in soul-less McMansions and spawling suburbs. The book reviews some history, explains why a cookie-cutter approach to architecture cannot work, and proposes some interesting metrics.

This book covers a vast range of architecture related topics, but does it in a way that's quite readable. I enjoyed the read a lot and came away with plenty of interesting ideas.

Alain De Botton recognizes the role of architecture as an important milieu to inform the delight of what we are and what we do, but really does not pose nor answer the question how an architect can conceive a happy building. De Botton search for a felicitous architecture is done describing many buildings that have an eudemonic status, but never gets close to reveal the subtle architectural virtue or arête that make them blissfully cosmopoietic events.

I am an architect. De Botton tries to tell the laymen things that he dosn't know that most architects know. He draws more examples from arts, furnitures, decorations, and paintings than from architecture itself. I don't blame him on this (he is not trained in this profession) except on the title of the book. I tried my best to read and understand the book and managed to finish it at the end. I didn't learn anything new from the book.