Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

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, 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.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Claiming that airports are "the most important building type in the world," architecture critic Pearman here recounts the 100-year-long history of their design. The book's authoritative text and striking photography combine to create the first grand survey of the subject. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.

Publishers Weekly Review

With a text rich in information clearly presented, and with some of the 325 illustrations (175 in full color) rising above the usual stock and archival fare, one would think the results of this niche history would be satisfying. A clear knowledge of (and affection for) his subject informs the presentation by Pearman, architecture correspondent for London's Sunday Times, but the text lacks the spark of travel from the opening sentence: "We tend not to stop and look at airports." The layout is disjointed, with photos placed and bled in a perfunctory attempt at variety rather than a design suitable to its subject, which suggests speed, romance, the unknown-and the state of waiting for them. Still, Pearman is affable and voluble on the development of aircraft and the architecture that serves them, and he hits unexpected locales like Kuala Lumpur and Cape Town (though the overwhelming emphasis is on the U.S., U.K. and Europe). A sepia photo of a 1930s interior of France's Rochambeau flying boat, packed with stylish women at a bar and lounging on bunk beds, for example, is arresting after a parade of uninhabited interiors and exteriors from a variety of eras. The overall effect, while offering all the necessary amenities, falls short of charm and adventure, much as functionality defines the beginnings and ends of most flights. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

CHOICE Review

This book is the most recent in a series of wide-ranging offerings from prolific London-based architectural journalist and critic Pearman, who describes what he considers "strategically, the most important building type in the world," yet one that he recognizes is often overlooked because its complexity makes it more like a city than like a typical building. The highly readable, informative text and numerous high-quality illustrations go a long way in illuminating an important but elusive subject. Beginning chapters describe the early history of aviation from the first experiments in heavier-than-air flight to regularly scheduled passenger service and the facilities needed to support these activities. The middle chapters describe the evolution of the defining features of airports, including those that have been inspired by the imagery of flight. The final chapters provide a catalog of airport projects, large and small, in service around the world today. The epilogue speculates on alternative futures for the airline industry and the buildings that serve it. Although the book is not a definitive description of a building type, it is a thoughtful introduction to the problem of airport design and an enjoyable book to read and peruse. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. General readers; lower- and upper-division undergraduates; professionals. D. Sachs Kansas State University