Architectural Record

I asked a friend of mine who is an architecture student to recommend a good magazine for me--a casual reader. He suggested Architectural Record (AR) immediately. I followed his lead and started buying AR from bookstores. After reading about one year, I got some opinions on the pros and cons of this magazine and would like to share them with prospective readers/subscribers. Please note that my evaluation is from a layperson's point of view. It might not work for professionals.

I think the goal of AR is to keep people updated about what's happening in the architectural communities around the world, to present the latest works, and to reveal some patterns or trends in today's design. Based on this mission, I think AR does a great job.

But if architecture is only your hobby, AR might be too much for you. At least we are not making a living with it and do not have to know everything about it. Chances are that only a small part of the content in each issue might interest you. Nevertheless, as what I mentioned, AR is a good and serious architecture journal. So the key question is not whether to read it or not, but how to read it wisely or read which issue(s).

Fortunately, several clues can provide us with good suggestions. Each issue of AR has a special section called "Building Type Study" which focuses on one type of building (such as library, museum, bridge, office building, etc.). You can choose the right issues by skimming through the this section. Moreover, each year AR has a special issue called "Record Houses" featuring about 10 residental projects carefully selected around the world. If you are into residential architecture, you don't want to miss them.

Unless you are a hardcore architecture fan and would like to know all about it, amateurs like me can choose the right issues to read and get the information I need. I think this is the right or smart strategy to take advantage of this quality magazine.

That being said, I am not quite comfortable about the large volume of advertisements in the magazine (though I know it might be necessary).

I love the magazine... but unfortunately had to cancel my subscription because Synapse Inc. (the company that is shipping arch-record through amazon) is incompetent. The magazine arrived badly damaged (they don't wrap it in plastic when they ship it); to be honest, the injuries to the magazine looked so bad that I suspect it was shipped that way. I was incredibly disappointed and tried to contact Synapse to ask for a new magazine... the only problem is that you can not talk to a live person at Synapse. They have an automated customer service hot line with cleverly-worded questions that make it impossible to get satisfaction. Their website offers no other emails or phone number to contact for help. There is not even an option to cancel your subscription! Thankfully Amazon is very helpful and canceled for me. All in all I would say that Architectural Record is a great magazine and a must-have, just DO NOT order it through Synapse Inc.!!

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Order the magazine directly from publisher if you want to get it... I'm in my second attempt via Amazon's magazine dept to find out where the magazine is. Ordered in December and should have received it at latest on Feb 6. Today is Mar 22.

Just got off the phone with synapse mag svc, they're going to have someone call me in 3-5 business days to complete a "customer service action form". Them I'm sure there'll be another several days wait for them to find out they screwed up, fix the problem and tell me I'll get my magazine in 6-8 weeks.

If I ever get the magazine, maybe I'll review it here next time.

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This magazine is great for industry professionals. If you are looking for more decorating type magazines, I recommend Architectural Digest, Veranda, etc. Architectural Record is more technical based and offers industry related information such as elevations and floor plans. In that respect, if you are a student of Architecture or Interior Design, get this magazine because you will be introduced to things you just cannot get in school or in other non-industry magazines. It is wise to add this magazine to your list of subscriptions.

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Unlike some of the previous buyers I have a very positive experience. The first issue arrived within 30 days after the purchase, faster than most other venues for magazines.

I have always been a big fan of McGraw Hill as a publisher. AR is simply another gem.

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