Paris, A short history of architecture

by Félicien Carli

This short history of architecture provides an insight into more than 80 major buildings in Paris, taking you on a stroll through the city’s streets and centuries of architectural movements.
Whether you love the city or architecture in general, this book will help you discover more about Paris through its buildings and remarkable sites, from its medieval walls and Classical mansion houses to its contemporary architecture.

Genres: Architecture, Travel

104 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2017

Reviews

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly easy read that gives a digestible overview of the architectural history of Paris from the middle ages up to the present, with some images, diagrams and map/timeline/glossary references, all packed into a pocket-sized book. I picked this up as a souvenir at the Louvre because there's nothing like visiting the largest museum in the world to make you realize how much you don't know. And honestly, as much as I love art, I spent more time admiring the various stunningly detailed ceilings and general architecture of that place than the collections it housed. As an American it's still hard for me to wrap my head around how old Paris is, so this book helped to put that into perspective for further deep dives/a future visit.

[Santhosh Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paris, A Short History of Architecture by Félicien Carli is a concise yet elegant overview of how French architecture shaped Paris. With its unique style and touches of inspiration from English gardens, the kings and architects of France continuously enriched the city into the masterpiece we know today. The French, ever self-critical, refined not only aesthetics but also materials and the practical use of their buildings—constantly revolutionizing architectural styles over time. The only area still calling for improvement is ventilation, especially in the face of accelerating global warming in Europe.

[Kiely · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this while I was in Paris! It was a pretty good overview of the many impressive and iconic buildings and architectural elements of Paris, as well as putting the history of the city and the buildings themselves into context, but the many egregious typos got on my nerves lol!

[Sofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Lizzie Bruce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny!

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

brief description of Parisian architecture through the years. good for killing time on the metro.

[Arthur Bitar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could be a litte longer, even for a museum shop mini-book, but has great information on it.