New Orleans Observed: Drawings and Observations of America's Most Foreign City
New Orleans Observed: Drawings and Observations of America's Most Foreign City
Overview
Amid the chaotic cacophony of the information age, our universities occasionally produce gems that enlighten and inspire us. The School of Architecture at Tulane University recently published one such tiny jewel. Errol Barron s New Orleans Observed: Drawings and Observations of America s Most Foreign City is a small book that can help us to better experience the contrarian embrace from one of the most-loved cities in North America. This sketchbook-proportioned paperback operates on at least three levels. In its basic presence, it s an insider s visual guidebook to New Orleans. The 124 pages of watercolor sketches were done in 2009 while Tulane professor Barron was on sabbatical, a recording of his long-evolved architectural and analytical views of our last intact 18th-century city [, one] that is both easy to talk about, and hard to describe. Most of the watercolors also contain curious little margin diagrams that capture the essence of the technical or architectural images on the page, an elegantly simple method of explaining one of our most complex, improbable cities. Over 20 of the sketches explore delightful porches and stoops in various neighborhoods, places where the public meets the private. The first nine sketches explain the peculiar topography and evolution of this island city. The last few are of memorable urban characters, ranging from a Jazz Fest dancer to the Lucky Dog man. My greatest enjoyment comes from casually leafing through it, letting an image catch my eye, and then devouring all the tidbits of beauty and information scattered across the pages. At its next level, the book is a personal architectural diary Barron has generously chosen to share with us. Like Benjamin Latrobe 191 years before him, he is fascinated by the cultural and sensorial flavors of what he calls America s most foreign city. Barron is known in Alabama through his firm s design of St. James Episcopal Church in Fairhope, recipient of a national AIA design award in 1995. He is a virtuoso performer, both in his practice and in his art. By publishing his dense diary in this most accessible and affordable format, he shares the inspirations that have compelled him to patiently teach the timeless importance of Scale, Proportion and Beauty to hundreds of architecture students during his four-decade tenure at Tulane. At its most subtle level (and maybe its most important), the book is an homage to the lost art of patient observation. It is also a gentle reminder about the limits of modernity. Errol Barron has now spent 38 years in his practice and professorship in New Orleans, delightfully grounded in a city and university that he loves. During a four-month period in 2009, he would spend several hours a day riding around the flat city on his bike, see something that caught my eye, dismount and begin sketching. This discernment usually evolved into a watercolor made from the loose chips of pigment in his pocket watercolor set, mixed with the concocted, aromatic city water. New Orleans Observed is the record of these journeys, an encouragement to wander, slow down one s pace and look closely. This long, slow view of our lives is the opposite of the hasty world that the bloggers and tweeters now propose that we should inhabit. Who should buy this curious little book? Those who love New Orleans, artists, amateur sketchers, architects, historians, travel buffs and any of us who are looking for an alternative to the transient templates offered by our popular culture. It is a long view well worth the time --Press Register CorrespondentDescription
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Overview
Amid the chaotic cacophony of the information age, our universities occasionally produce gems that enlighten and inspire us. The School of Architecture at Tulane University recently published one such tiny jewel. Errol Barron s New Orleans Observed: Drawings and Observations of America s Most Foreign City is a small book that can help us to better experience the contrarian embrace from one of the most-loved cities in North America. This sketchbook-proportioned paperback operates on at least three levels. In its basic presence, it s an insider s visual guidebook to New Orleans. The 124 pages of watercolor sketches were done in 2009 while Tulane professor Barron was on sabbatical, a recording of his long-evolved architectural and analytical views of our last intact 18th-century city [, one] that is both easy to talk about, and hard to describe. Most of the watercolors also contain curious little margin diagrams that capture the essence of the technical or architectural images on the page, an elegantly simple method of explaining one of our most complex, improbable cities. Over 20 of the sketches explore delightful porches and stoops in various neighborhoods, places where the public meets the private. The first nine sketches explain the peculiar topography and evolution of this island city. The last few are of memorable urban characters, ranging from a Jazz Fest dancer to the Lucky Dog man. My greatest enjoyment comes from casually leafing through it, letting an image catch my eye, and then devouring all the tidbits of beauty and information scattered across the pages. At its next level, the book is a personal architectural diary Barron has generously chosen to share with us. Like Benjamin Latrobe 191 years before him, he is fascinated by the cultural and sensorial flavors of what he calls America s most foreign city. Barron is known in Alabama through his firm s design of St. James Episcopal Church in Fairhope, recipient of a national AIA design award in 1995. He is a virtuoso performer, both in his practice and in his art. By publishing his dense diary in this most accessible and affordable format, he shares the inspirations that have compelled him to patiently teach the timeless importance of Scale, Proportion and Beauty to hundreds of architecture students during his four-decade tenure at Tulane. At its most subtle level (and maybe its most important), the book is an homage to the lost art of patient observation. It is also a gentle reminder about the limits of modernity. Errol Barron has now spent 38 years in his practice and professorship in New Orleans, delightfully grounded in a city and university that he loves. During a four-month period in 2009, he would spend several hours a day riding around the flat city on his bike, see something that caught my eye, dismount and begin sketching. This discernment usually evolved into a watercolor made from the loose chips of pigment in his pocket watercolor set, mixed with the concocted, aromatic city water. New Orleans Observed is the record of these journeys, an encouragement to wander, slow down one s pace and look closely. This long, slow view of our lives is the opposite of the hasty world that the bloggers and tweeters now propose that we should inhabit. Who should buy this curious little book? Those who love New Orleans, artists, amateur sketchers, architects, historians, travel buffs and any of us who are looking for an alternative to the transient templates offered by our popular culture. It is a long view well worth the time --Press Register CorrespondentDescription
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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