Understanding Ugly

Understanding Ugly:  Human Response to Buildings in the  Environment

Understanding Ugly explores research about the visual factors that determine how a building will be received, sometimes esteemed by one group and despised by another.  It effectively translates the rich collection of research done in universities, into language and concepts that can be used by practitioners and enhance the enjoyment of those who appreciate buildings and urban spaces.

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Links to reviews:

Why some buildings beguile us, and others bewilder - Western News

Shedding light on ugly buildings - St.Catharines Standard

Reader comments:

I finished reading your book and agree with you throughout, therefore it was brilliant! Also readable and clear. Congratulations! I loved your side remark about how you must have missed the lecture on honesty being a criterion for a building’s attractiveness.  That made your point most eloquently!

Comprehensive look at what makes buildings attractive or NOT in the eye of the beholder. Authors extensive, diverse and expert level knowledge of the built environment is key. Will be enjoyed by anyone who is curious about the diverse appeal of a wide range of notable buildings around the world.

So interesting I will never look at architecture the same way again. 

sier min lune gode venn og samarbeidspartner  “Architecture is about people, and people are amusing.”  (Comment on LinkedIn)

Ian Ellingham, MBA'79, chose the Hundertwasserhaus, an apartment building in Vienna (above) for the cover image of his book "Understanding Ugly: Human response to buildings in the environment" because it challenges people's ideas about how an urban environment should look.  (from a review in 'Western Gazette')

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