The architecture of the facade / Randall Korman.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

"The Architecture of the Façade provides a comprehensive study of the façade as both a physical and cultural artifact, highlighting its significance as a critical component of the civic realm and arguing for the restoration of the art of the façade as both a subject of study within academia and an aspiration within the profession at large. As the principal surface of mediation, contextualization, and representation, the façade carries the lion's share of responsibility for containing the internal environment and confronting the outer world. And yet, in recent decades, the very question of what exactly a façade is has been raised by the dramatic changes in building technology, advances of parametric design, and the ubiquity of "blob" architecture. The Architecture of the Façade addresses these and other related issues. The book is organized into twelve chapters, with each chapter addressing a particular aspect of the phenomenon of the façade such as those of wall, the frame, transparency, and the role of the façade in civic space. Korman also discusses proportional systems, the language of composition, the role of precedent, the importance of context, the role of structure, and much more. Over 350 photos and diagrams provide readers with a variety of examples of artful façades throughout history. Online teaching resources to accompany this book include a course syllabus and a glossary. This will be of great interest to design architecture students in architecture studios as well as instructors and professional architects interested in façade design"-- Provided by publisher.