The Architecture Book

An accessible guide to the most important ideas and developments in the history of architecture, and the people behind them.

Discover the key architectural concepts behind the world's most incredible buildings and structures.

The Architecture Book goes beyond other architecture books to analyse not just buildings themselves, but the ideas and principles that make each of the featured structures key to the history and evolution of our built environment.

From ancient and classical architecture through Medieval, Gothic, and Renaissance buildings, the explosion of Baroque and Rococo, and the 19th-century "battle of the styles", to the emergence of modernism, postmodernism, and the glittering skyscrapers of the 20th and 21st centuries, the book traces the evolution of construction. Using stunning infographics and mind-maps, it shows how architects throughout history have pushed boundaries and created innovative buildings. Examples of architectural movements and styles are drawn from all over the world and celebrated buildings from Europe and North and South America feature alongside key examples from China, Japan, and India, and stunning religious structures from mosques to churches, and from stupas to pagodas and temples.

Offering a fresh perspective on our man-made environment, The Architecture Book is the essential guide for everyone who is passionate about buildings and the ideas behind them.