What do you think?
Rate this book
Architecture: A Visual History
Explore the world’s most incredible buildings, from the magnificent architecture of the ancient world to green buildings of the present day.
Discover the beautiful details, principal elements, and decorative features of every architectural style, from the Great Pyramid of Giza, Machu Picchu, and the Colosseum to the Sydney Opera House, the Gherkin, and Burj Khalifa. Architecture offers a truly worldwide look at historical and contemporary buildings, with breathtaking photography and intriguing cross-sections to enhance your view. See how and why certain features were common in specific time periods and how these amazing buildings have stood the test of time.
Unique specially-commissioned CGI artworks throughout the book showcase more than 10 specific buildings, including The Pantheon and the United States Capitol, giving you an pristine view of their features. Clear annotations of each artwork, along with exquisite photography of specific details, make sure that you don’t miss a thing.
Presented in a special slipcase, this stunning guide makes the perfect purchase for anyone who is fascinated by our world’s most wondrous buildings.
Discover the beautiful details, principal elements, and decorative features of every architectural style, from the Great Pyramid of Giza, Machu Picchu, and the Colosseum to the Sydney Opera House, the Gherkin, and Burj Khalifa. Architecture offers a truly worldwide look at historical and contemporary buildings, with breathtaking photography and intriguing cross-sections to enhance your view. See how and why certain features were common in specific time periods and how these amazing buildings have stood the test of time.
Unique specially-commissioned CGI artworks throughout the book showcase more than 10 specific buildings, including The Pantheon and the United States Capitol, giving you an pristine view of their features. Clear annotations of each artwork, along with exquisite photography of specific details, make sure that you don’t miss a thing.
Presented in a special slipcase, this stunning guide makes the perfect purchase for anyone who is fascinated by our world’s most wondrous buildings.
416 pages, Hardcover
Published November 21, 2017
31 people are currently reading
296 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
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