The Architecture Book

Architecture shapes every moment of our lives — and yet most of us move through the built environment without the vocabulary to understand what we are experiencing. DK’s The Architecture Book is the guide that provides that vocabulary, presenting the history and principles of architectural design from the temples of ancient Greece through the glass-and-steel towers of the contemporary city in a format that is simultaneously comprehensive and genuinely accessible.

Five hundred of the most significant buildings ever constructed are profiled with floor plans, section drawings, exterior and interior photographs, and expert commentary that explains both what the architect intended and how the building achieves its effects. Major styles — Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, Modernism, Brutalism — are given extended treatment that allows the reader to see the connections between individual buildings and the broader traditions from which they emerge.

An indispensable reference for architecture students and a fascinating introduction for anyone who has ever wondered why a particular building moves them. Published by DK.