Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #61199 in Books
• Published on: 2004-10
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

Synopsis
Since their emergence at the start of the 20th century, airports have become one of the most distinctive and important of architectural building types. Often used to symbolize progress, freedom and trade, they offer architects the chance to design on a grand scale. At the beginning of the 21st century, airports are experiencing a new and exciting renaissance as they adapt and evolve into a new type of building; one that is complete, self-contained, adaptable and catering to a new range of demands. As passengers are held in airports far longer than they used to be, they have also now become destinations in their own right. Airports celebrates the most important airport designs in the world. Beginning with an exploration of the first structures of aviation, and early designs such as the Berlin Tempelhof, the book explores the key airports of the century up to the present day, including Eero Saarinen's TWA Terminal in New York, Renzo Piano's Kansai Airport and Norman Foster's Chek Lap Kok in Hong Kong.

Concepts and theories, from the imagery of flight to the vision of the airport as a city, are considered, suggesting that the likeliest outcome for the airport of the 21st century is continuing and everlasting change.

Customer Reviews

Super summary of airports and air travel around the world
Charting the evolution of the airport all the way from the Wright Brother's barn to the massive cities that airports are today, this book covers airport architecture very well.

Lovely glossy pictures fill the book, as you would expect, though that doesn't mean the text is weak. Pearman writes very well covering a wide range of issues in a simple yet adult manner. He doesn't constantly talk about architecture, for he chronicles the development of flight and aircraft. Overall, it is a nice summary of the history of air travel.

However, there is a bad point. I would recommend you go for Amazon's price or cheaper, as for £40 you would expect a really thick hardback, but this particular book I thought was quite thin for its high price. A book like "The Book of Cities" is relatively better priced at £20ish. Despite this, I highly recommend this book.