The building is forever the touchstone of architecture. Photographs,
even great photographs, can only remain vivid visual synopses to
recall or entice. What the architect has done, and how he has done
it, require study of the structure. Why the architect created as he
did, and his plans for a future still years distant, only the architect
himself can illumine. For this reason the present analysis of
twentieth-century architecture views each building against the
totality of the man's work, both past and future, and relies on the
architect's own words whenever possible; these words can also serve
to introduce the reader to the great creative architectural person-
alities of our own time.

I am overwhelmingly grateful for the hours spent in conversa-
tion with the men discussed in this book, including time passed with
the late Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin North and Taliesin West.
My debt is nearly as great to many whose work is barely touched
upon in these pages. My hope is that, in telling in some detail of the
few, I may have illuminated the achievements of the many.

Appreciation is also gratefully acknowledged to my many col-
leagues on Time, in particular to the late Edward O. Cerf, as well
as to Time's staff of correspondents who assist so wholeheartedly in
discovering and reporting world-wide excellence in architecture.
To the publisher of Time I wish to express my appreciation for his
permission to use the color plates that have accompanied my weekly
articles. I would also like to thank the publishers of Life and Archi-
tectural Forum for permissions granted for the use of color plates.

While the pleasure in architecture can be shared, much of the
task of writing cannot. Therefore, most of all, I extend my deep and
abiding gratitude to my wife, whose forbearance has been sorely
taxed but whose support and assistance have been boundless.

Cranston Jones

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