Porphyrios Associates: The Allure of the Classical Hardcover – October 11, 2016

The market seems to be at flood tide with a plethora of books about the current practitioners of Classical and Traditional and Eclectic architecture in all is manifold forms. Demetri Porphyrios was early on the scene, but hardly among the pioneers of the 1960's and 1970's. What we have here is his book which covers the span of his works. As such, it is a most impressive book - large, thick, and brimming with excellent color illustrations.Although he defines himself as a Classical architecture, it is a title that requires his own definition to understand, as he prefers to understand it is a philsophical approach to architecture and not a stylistic approach. The result is that his work is best can be described as eclectic with forays into inspirations from everything from Classical Greek architecture to Modern masters. In the journey he has produced a number of pleasing buildings, but also some rather mediocre structures, especially where he blends classicism with modernism.Stylistic biases aside on my part, my chief disappointment with the book its limitation to exterior photographs only and, of those, many variations on the same angle. Likewise, plans and other drawn illustrations are sadly lacking.