The Architecture Book : Big Ideas Simply Explained (2023)

This guide explores the key architectural concepts behind the world’s most remarkable buildings and structures. It examines not only the buildings themselves, but also the ideas and principles that make them important to the history and evolution of our built environment. From ancient and classical architecture through Medieval, Gothic and Renaissance buildings, the rise of Baroque and Rococo, and the 19th-century “battle of the styles” to modernism, postmodernism and the skyscrapers of the 20th and 21st centuries, it traces the evolution of construction. Infographics and mind maps show how architects throughout history have pushed boundaries and created innovative buildings. Examples of architectural movements and styles come from around the world, including celebrated buildings from Europe and North and South America, key examples from China, Japan and India, and religious structures ranging from mosques and churches to stupas, pagodas and temples. The book offers a fresh perspective on the human-made environment and serves as a guide for anyone interested in buildings and the ideas behind them.