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Architecture
Telling the story of the world's most incredible buildings, from the ancient world to the present day, this book offers a comprehensive and worldwide look at historical and contemporary building
Take a closer look at the beautiful details, principal elements, and decorative features of every architectural style, from the Giza Pyramids and the Colosseum to the Sydney Opera House and the Gherkin and Burj Khalifa. Architecture offers a truly worldwide look at historical and contemporary building, with breathtaking photography, intriguing cross-sections, and unique, specially-commissioned CGI artworks.
Now fully updated, this stunning new edition covers contemporary architecture and green buildings, including the Gherkin and the London Ark with incredible new photography to transport you to the most interesting and iconic buildings on earth.
Previous edition ISBN 9781405310291
Take a closer look at the beautiful details, principal elements, and decorative features of every architectural style, from the Giza Pyramids and the Colosseum to the Sydney Opera House and the Gherkin and Burj Khalifa. Architecture offers a truly worldwide look at historical and contemporary building, with breathtaking photography, intriguing cross-sections, and unique, specially-commissioned CGI artworks.
Now fully updated, this stunning new edition covers contemporary architecture and green buildings, including the Gherkin and the London Ark with incredible new photography to transport you to the most interesting and iconic buildings on earth.
Previous edition ISBN 9781405310291
416 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2017
28 people are currently reading
281 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 20, 2023
This is a really fantastic introduction to architecture for those that are new to the topic. It covers the major architectural movements from the very beginnings of organized human civilization to the present, with very clear and well printed photos and depictions.
I only have 2 disagreements that leave me reducing this to 4 stars. 1) It glosses over a few major pieces of architecture of great historical significance, as well as a few movements that would be good for beginners to at least know about. As a result, the book might present the featured buildings as better/above all others, even though there are many buildings not mentioned that were of equal importance to architectural, cultural, or artistic movements. I am forgiving in that the book is already quite large, but it might have been better to split this into several volumes to cover more territory.
2) I think it would have been great for the author to spend more time defining specific architectural elements and parts before dumping the terminology on the reader. Although I was familiar with many terms, there were some that weren't clear to me, including a few that weren't in the glossary. Just a few pages of diagrams would have been very helpful.
Otherwise, a good introduction to the history of architecture.
I only have 2 disagreements that leave me reducing this to 4 stars. 1) It glosses over a few major pieces of architecture of great historical significance, as well as a few movements that would be good for beginners to at least know about. As a result, the book might present the featured buildings as better/above all others, even though there are many buildings not mentioned that were of equal importance to architectural, cultural, or artistic movements. I am forgiving in that the book is already quite large, but it might have been better to split this into several volumes to cover more territory.
2) I think it would have been great for the author to spend more time defining specific architectural elements and parts before dumping the terminology on the reader. Although I was familiar with many terms, there were some that weren't clear to me, including a few that weren't in the glossary. Just a few pages of diagrams would have been very helpful.
Otherwise, a good introduction to the history of architecture.
August 1, 2024
An interesting and compendious overview of the many architectural styles found throughout history. Glancey tends to focus generally on the most fundamental architectural movements and explains their contribution to global or regional architecture as well as linking many architectural styles to one another. The pictures are very nice, too.
December 7, 2022
I appreciated the layout and selections in this visual history of architecture.
February 9, 2025
It’s good but lacking at the same time, especially coming to Africa, Northeast Asia (China) and Russia.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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