Architects Make Zigzags: Looking at Architecture from A to Z

From Publishers Weekly
An elegant alphabet book by New Yorker artist Munro, whose The Inside-Outside Book of New York City was widely acclaimed. Architectural terms and their definitions are discussed in a simple, fluid text: "Facades are the faces of buildings . . . usually the fanciest side"; "keystones are wedged-shaped pieces of masonry set in the center of arches"; "verandas are really just porches with a ritzier name." That particular entry is illustrated with a Victorian veranda from Boalsburg, Pa.; the White Elephant Saloon in Texas is under the "Ornament" heading, and the ornate wrought iron of the Short-Moran House in New Orleans is an apt selection for "Ironwork." This book gives readers the chance to rediscover the world, simply by naming parts of the environment that most people see but never really look at. The black line drawings suit the subject in a way that color couldn'teach detail highlighted against a stark white background. Further information about the illustrations is available in the back of this readable, thoughtful ABC. Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book Description
Drawings by Roxie Munro Architects make zigzags—and they also design brackets, columns, dormers, eaves, facades, gables, houses, ironwork, and all the other architectural delights to be found inside this book. Artist Roxie Munro has created a wonderful, whimsical tour through the architectural alphabet. Her drawings show 26 of the most common features of buildings and neighborhoods and give a tantalizing glimpse into 300 years of American architecture from coast to coast. Follow her eye up to locate unusual curlicues on a seaside balcony and gaze down to see the intricate plantings that welcomed George Washington to Mount Vernon. This look at architecture from A to Z explains some everyday terms and introduces some less familiar words—do you know what jigsaw work, newel posts, and quoins are? Munro makes architecture fun for building lovers of all ages and provides a starting point for endless architectural explorations close to home. "Munro’s line drawings … are full of detail without being cluttered; they capture the activity of these places, and yet they remain serene." —Washington Post "Munro clearly is [able] to breathe life into the inanimate." —New York Times "Munro deserves thanks for this treasure that her fans will hope is the first of many singular achievements." —Publishers Weekly

Card catalog description
An alphabet book of twenty-six architectural concepts, with drawings and definitions of such terms as dormer, facade, and newel post.

The publisher, John Wiley & Sons
Architects make zigzags--and they also design brackets, columns, dormers, eaves, facades, gables, houses, ironwork and all other architectural delights to be found inside this book. ew Yorker cover artist Roxie Munro has created a wonderful whimsical tour through the architectural alphabet. Her 26 line drawings of the most common features of buildings and neighborhoods give a tantalizing glimpse into American architecture.

From the Back Cover
Drawings by Roxie Munro Architects make zigzags—and they also design brackets, columns, dormers, eaves, facades, gables, houses, ironwork, and all the other architectural delights to be found inside this book. Artist Roxie Munro has created a wonderful, whimsical tour through the architectural alphabet. Her drawings show 26 of the most common features of buildings and neighborhoods and give a tantalizing glimpse into 300 years of American architecture from coast to coast. Follow her eye up to locate unusual curlicues on a seaside balcony and gaze down to see the intricate plantings that welcomed George Washington to Mount Vernon. This look at architecture from A to Z explains some everyday terms and introduces some less familiar words—do you know what jigsaw work, newel posts, and quoins are? Munro makes architecture fun for building lovers of all ages and provides a starting point for endless architectural explorations close to home. "Munro’s line drawings … are full of detail without being cluttered; they capture the activity of these places, and yet they remain serene." —Washington Post "Munro clearly is [able] to breathe life into the inanimate." —New York Times "Munro deserves thanks for this treasure that her fans will hope is the first of many singular achievements." —Publishers Weekly

About the Author
Artist ROXIE MUNRO has "always been fascinated by architecture," and her love for the nooks and crannies of old buildings in particular is evident in every drawing here. "To me, buildings are like huge sculptures, with interesting shapes and varied masses. Even the space created between buildings excites me."


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An elegant alphabet book by New Yorker artist Munro, whose The Inside-Outside Book of New York City was widely acclaimed. Architectural terms and their definitions are discussed in a simple, fluid text: ``Facades are the faces of buildings . . . usually the fanciest side''; ``keystones are wedged-shaped pieces of masonry set in the center of arches''; ``verandas are really just porches with a ritzier name.'' That particular entry is illustrated with a Victorian veranda from Boalsburg, Pa.; the White Elephant Saloon in Texas is under the ``Ornament'' heading, and the ornate wrought iron of the Short-Moran House in New Orleans is an apt selection for ``Ironwork.'' This book gives readers the chance to rediscover the world, simply by naming parts of the environment that most people see but never really look at. The black line drawings suit the subject in a way that color couldn'teach detail highlighted against a stark white background. Further information about the illustrations is available in the back of this readable, thoughtful ABC. (8-12)


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