Disney Architecture...

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

Im taking an architectural history class this semester, and I realized this morning that you can find most of the "styles" right at Disney World! (how exciting)
anyways I was looking on Google for some books specifically about the architecture of Disney and I came accross a review of Building a Dream: The Art of Disney Architecture. After a quick search I found that someone mentioned that book in another thread. I thought it was worth checking out... Half.com has it "very good" for 40 bucks, while Amazon sells it new for 80!!
I'd really rather not take my chances that the Half.com book is in BAD condition, and I was wondering if anyone has this book, or has at least seen it... Do you think its worth searching for deeper? Are there any other architecture-specific books (about Disney specifically) that anyone recommends?

Thanks

~alicia~:wave:

 

[Foolish Mortal]

Not sure of any other books, but I think the book you mentioned is exactly what you want. I flipped thru it here and there and was impressed. I've also heard/read others in your position rave how helpful that book is. And personally, I dont think i'd buy this book second hand unless I could phsically inspect it first.

 

[lukacseven]

Alicia, I happen to be an architect and you are absolutely right. You can find nearly every style of architecture within the Disney parks and resorts. I have seen the book you are talking about, and it goes alot into the animation and art, but might be useful, as it does talk about the construction of the parks and the buildings. The best way to further research the architecture of Disney is by either checking sites on the web, or by visiting them in person. The Behind-the-Scenes tours are great for this if you have time during your next visit.

 

[77johnson77]

WOW, My Life dream is to become a WDW architect, may not be too possible but Im gunnna keep tryin, And youre right WDW does have many types of Architecture

 

[pan11435]

That's actually my favorite book. I think it is great.

 

[jrriddle]

Amazon.com has some great reviews for this book.
It's next on my list (as soon as DP:Sketch to Reality arrives).

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

Originally posted by lukacseven
Alicia, I happen to be an architect and you are absolutely right. You can find nearly every style of architecture within the Disney parks and resorts. I have seen the book you are talking about, and it goes alot into the animation and art, but might be useful, as it does talk about the construction of the parks and the buildings. The best way to further research the architecture of Disney is by either checking sites on the web, or by visiting them in person. The Behind-the-Scenes tours are great for this if you have time during your next visit.

IM me sometime because i wonder about some of the styles...
Its so funny to be in class and looking at the slides and all im thinking in my head is hmm that looks like ___ at disney!!
i have a one track mind LOL

 

[RG62]

That is why I love EPCOT !

 

[stewdog1]

I have that book and it is very good in what it represents. There are some aspects that it digs really deep into, like WDW and the castle, and the casting building for example. Not a whole lot for DLP.

I would get it if you have the money available.

 

[cloudboy]

I have the book and it is excellent. It is not so "Disneyfied" - there is a lot of critical thinking going on in it. Yet it really manages to pull off talking about Disney in the mindset of design. I can't believe that Amazon wants $80 for it - it was cheaper than that when I bought it. Try and see if there are any other versions available (usually a small link somewhere on that page), sometimes they post special editions and such.

PS best way to anger many architects is to start a discussion about Disney and applying architectural terms to it. Get's 'em all riled up - you should try it sometime - lots of fun!!

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Originally posted by cloudboy
I have the book and it is excellent. It is not so "Disneyfied" - there is a lot of critical thinking going on in it. Yet it really manages to pull off talking about Disney in the mindset of design. I can't believe that Amazon wants $80 for it - it was cheaper than that when I bought it. Try and see if there are any other versions available (usually a small link somewhere on that page), sometimes they post special editions and such.

PS best way to anger many architects is to start a discussion about Disney and applying architectural terms to it. Get's 'em all riled up - you should try it sometime - lots of fun!!

Hehe, that's because a building...or "architecture" is not all about looks but functionality too. Disney's "architecture" is mostly facades or "copies" and not done to serve any purpose except "look" good

(Take Mission:Space or the Haunted Mansion for instance...the main building is basically a warehouse...with a pretty "facade" )

But yes, Disney does have a lot of different styles of architecture

Then you have structures like Spaceship Earth, and the Land, and the Living Seas, etc...and you just say..."WOW!"

 

[barnum42]

I too have the book and it's great.

You may also be interested in the book "Designing Disney's Theme Parks. The Architecture of Reassurance" Edited by Karal Ann Marling.

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

Originally posted by cloudboy
I have the book and it is excellent. It is not so "Disneyfied" - there is a lot of critical thinking going on in it. Yet it really manages to pull off talking about Disney in the mindset of design. I can't believe that Amazon wants $80 for it - it was cheaper than that when I bought it. Try and see if there are any other versions available (usually a small link somewhere on that page), sometimes they post special editions and such.

PS best way to anger many architects is to start a discussion about Disney and applying architectural terms to it. Get's 'em all riled up - you should try it sometime - lots of fun!!

well i guess the book is out of print now so that may explain why its so ex$pen$ive!!

And I was planning on bringing the book, or at least some pictures to my class!! :sohappy:

 

[Daannzzz]

Originally posted by barnum42
I too have the book and it's great.

You may also be interested in the book "Designing Disney's Theme Parks. The Architecture of Reassurance" Edited by Karal Ann Marling.

I have this book as well. I was lucky enough to see the exhibit that the book is about. It is awesome though a bit more serious than the "Building the Dream Book which I also have. IMO both could have several volumes and I wouldn't loose interest.

 

[cloudboy]

I missed that show. I wishi I knew about it while it was touring!

What interests me so much about Disney is more the planning than the actual architecture. Walt Disney World is perhaps the largest and most successful planning projects, and few people even recognize it. It has a successful transportation system (try finding that any where else in the US), services are kept running, and everything is well organized and laid out.

There are a few legitimate architectural interests in Disney, besides of course Spaceship Earth. The Disney Team Building and Casting Center (whether you like them or not), and I particulalry like the firehouse by Boardwalk.

 

[MonorailBlack]

Disney is what made me desire to become an architecture. My BA is is achitecture, but many architectural professors dispise Disney, unfortunately. They call it fake and compare it to Las Vegas. On the otherhand, I find it amazing since it makes plaster, fiberglass, and cement look the opposite of what they are......for instance I have seen in Disney concrete that looks exactly like wood...the texture down the splits and cracks of real wood. I find this to be exceptional architecture.

Additionally, my interest in architecture in "Entertainment Achitecture", theme parks, hotels, resorts, and cruise ships. But theme parks are my main stay.

Now, what I am truly impressed, is Disney does not skimp with its architecture...at all. They have the top architects from around the world. They include Arquitectonica (?) which is down here in Miami (they designed the condo seen in the intro to Miami Vice), Michael Graves, I forget the Japanese architect who designed the casting building, as now they have the beuatiful syphony building in California by Frank Ghery.

I have the Disney Architecture book and its great. Michael Graves orginal design for the Swan and Dolphin a a huge clam at the top of the dolphin....really a far departure from what we have now.

 

[cloudboy]

I think you are thinking of Isozaki. He did the Team Disney building, I think, and Stern did the casting center. But I get the two of them mixed up.

It's great to find someone who is interested in Dsiney architecture - I worled for an arichitecture firm for a while and no one wanted to talk about Disney! I have one friend from there who was interning at Graves when he was desingning either the swan or the dolphin. He did not have a lot nice to say about it.

I find that I enjoy the park stuff much better when I think about it as set design and not architectural form. The resorts and other buildings are where I look for that stuff.

What do you think of Epcot? Some of those buildings are the epitome of ugly early eighties shapes, but in some ways I think they have a lot of merit to them. World of Motion - the pure cylinder really worked well for transportation, and I like the Journey Into Imagination concept of the crystal-shaped pyramids. It seems like that at Epcot originally, they actually made an attempt to build real buildings, not the basic boxes with facades like in the rest of the park.

Oh, someone had told me that UNLV offfered or was going to offer a degree in entertainment design. Ever hear of it?

 

[MonorailBlack]

Yes Isozaki is who I was thinking of. Always love to discuss architecture with another design buff. When I was studying modern architecture (the 80's) I always thought of EPCOT....the expansive concrete (ie Communicore, Horizons) and the use of metal (Spaceship Earth, World of Motion) Furthermore, World of Motion follows Frank lloyd Wrigh's, "Form Follows Function:....a wheel shaped building about wheels!

Never heard of the entertainment design degree, but that would be right up my alley.

I think the best part about Disney is their urban planning skills. The transportation works well, the landscaping is great,a nd the parks pathways are logically laid out? What do you think of the resort in an urban planning point of view?

 

[AliciaLuvzDizne]

Originally posted by MonorailBlack


I think the best part about Disney is their urban planning skills. The transportation works well, the landscaping is great,a nd the parks pathways are logically laid out? What do you think of the resort in an urban planning point of view?

I absolutely agree!! Olmstead would be proud ( I am SO going to get an A in this class LOL)
I also REALLY like how Diz lays out their parks and resorts so that you really cant see them from the road (except for the Epcot ball but thats real exciting to see from the road so its okay!)
It keeps the magic a mystery while you're sitting in traffic! LOL

 

[cloudboy]

Not just from the roads, but at least in the Magic Kingdom, from one land to the next. Those transitions can be pretty difficult, but I think they do a great job in making them work together. Particularly the archway from Frontierland to Adventureland, and the transition from Fantasyland to Liberty Square.