Official Review: Fabricating the Frank Gehry Legacy
Posted: 03 Sep 2017, 11:05
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Fabricating the Frank Gehry Legacy" by Rick Smith.]
4 out of 4 stars
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Fabricating the Frank Ghery Legacy. A memoir by Rick Smith
Fabricating the Frank Ghery Legacy is a fascinating memoir of Rick Smith. It meticulously unfolds the series of events in his life within a particular period of time with emphasis on his ground breaking successes using CATIA, zooming in on the events which transpired in Frank Ghery's architectural company. Rick Smith is known and famous for the masterful art of using 3D application program, specifically the CATIA (Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interractive Application) and its application to various fields.
Rick Smith loves architecture and computers, his fascination with computers however surpassed his love for architecture especially when he realized that architecture was taught using pencils and T-squares, he shelved his education in architecture and pursued a degree in mechanical engineering with emphasis on 3D computer aided design. He has 4 children with his wife who later on died of cancer. He also suffered 2 heart attack which he survived.
Le Corbusier, a world reknowned architect said " there is one profession and only one, namely architecture, in which progress is not considered necessary. Architecture is stifled by customs." Such was the case when Rick Smith first drafted to work with Frank Ghery's architectural company. Frank Ghery is well known for his bizarre and uncommon architectural designs, and he made known his dislike for the computer at every opportunity he got. He was a household name in that field, also a controversial one. Rick Smith's CATIA was resisted by the architect and his associates but with persistence and perseverance, they warmed up to it and made use of it which culminated in huge successes for the company. Due to office and corporate politics, Frank Ghery's company deliberately terminated Rick's relationship with the company and ignored to mention his central role in single-handedly taking them from the traditional pen and paper models to 3D digital modeling technology, using CATIA.
The book has 332 pages consisting of 21 chapters. It's written in first person narrative and the structure was chronological, building levels from low to high complexity. It features a compelling story structure that reads like a novel. It chronicled the memoirist's major revolutionary impact using 3D application program CATIA in several fields focusing mainly on architecture because the most resistance came from this field and the most successes also.
Several themes run through this book. One of them is the courage to question the norm and improve on it, overcoming the challenges that come from disrupting established tradition, navigating the issues of office politics and human relations and persistence towards a positive conclusion in spite of difficulties. Reading the book brought tears to my eyes, I saw how he persisted and honed his skills, how we was able to overcome the challenges of something that has never been done before. I saw how he didn't mind his own comfort but he stayed on to prove to the world that mere men can change the world. I like how he didn't fight but painstakingly followed through. I especially wept when he had a heart attack in court when the IRS took him there. I felt elated, when finally, in 2014, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) honored Rick Smith with the Institute's Honor for collaborative Achievement Award for his significant contribution to 3D, declaring him a "pioneer in Computer Aided Design and 3D digital modeling, whose work helped to usher in Architecture's digital age." In all, Rick Smith worked on 42 architectural projects using CATIA.
I'm highly impacted by the life of Rick Smith. His doggedness in making a positive impact on his generation and having the belief that all things are possible. I enjoyed the book which was professional in its presentation and I am rating it 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend it to anyone who faces challenges in life especially when starting something new and who is about giving up on their dreams.
******
Fabricating the Frank Gehry Legacy
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Like Ayosinmi's review? Post a comment saying so!
4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Fabricating the Frank Ghery Legacy. A memoir by Rick Smith
Fabricating the Frank Ghery Legacy is a fascinating memoir of Rick Smith. It meticulously unfolds the series of events in his life within a particular period of time with emphasis on his ground breaking successes using CATIA, zooming in on the events which transpired in Frank Ghery's architectural company. Rick Smith is known and famous for the masterful art of using 3D application program, specifically the CATIA (Computer Aided Three-dimensional Interractive Application) and its application to various fields.
Rick Smith loves architecture and computers, his fascination with computers however surpassed his love for architecture especially when he realized that architecture was taught using pencils and T-squares, he shelved his education in architecture and pursued a degree in mechanical engineering with emphasis on 3D computer aided design. He has 4 children with his wife who later on died of cancer. He also suffered 2 heart attack which he survived.
Le Corbusier, a world reknowned architect said " there is one profession and only one, namely architecture, in which progress is not considered necessary. Architecture is stifled by customs." Such was the case when Rick Smith first drafted to work with Frank Ghery's architectural company. Frank Ghery is well known for his bizarre and uncommon architectural designs, and he made known his dislike for the computer at every opportunity he got. He was a household name in that field, also a controversial one. Rick Smith's CATIA was resisted by the architect and his associates but with persistence and perseverance, they warmed up to it and made use of it which culminated in huge successes for the company. Due to office and corporate politics, Frank Ghery's company deliberately terminated Rick's relationship with the company and ignored to mention his central role in single-handedly taking them from the traditional pen and paper models to 3D digital modeling technology, using CATIA.
The book has 332 pages consisting of 21 chapters. It's written in first person narrative and the structure was chronological, building levels from low to high complexity. It features a compelling story structure that reads like a novel. It chronicled the memoirist's major revolutionary impact using 3D application program CATIA in several fields focusing mainly on architecture because the most resistance came from this field and the most successes also.
Several themes run through this book. One of them is the courage to question the norm and improve on it, overcoming the challenges that come from disrupting established tradition, navigating the issues of office politics and human relations and persistence towards a positive conclusion in spite of difficulties. Reading the book brought tears to my eyes, I saw how he persisted and honed his skills, how we was able to overcome the challenges of something that has never been done before. I saw how he didn't mind his own comfort but he stayed on to prove to the world that mere men can change the world. I like how he didn't fight but painstakingly followed through. I especially wept when he had a heart attack in court when the IRS took him there. I felt elated, when finally, in 2014, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) honored Rick Smith with the Institute's Honor for collaborative Achievement Award for his significant contribution to 3D, declaring him a "pioneer in Computer Aided Design and 3D digital modeling, whose work helped to usher in Architecture's digital age." In all, Rick Smith worked on 42 architectural projects using CATIA.
I'm highly impacted by the life of Rick Smith. His doggedness in making a positive impact on his generation and having the belief that all things are possible. I enjoyed the book which was professional in its presentation and I am rating it 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend it to anyone who faces challenges in life especially when starting something new and who is about giving up on their dreams.
******
Fabricating the Frank Gehry Legacy
View: on Bookshelves
Like Ayosinmi's review? Post a comment saying so!