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Architectural Insights: Exploring the Past to Shape the Future.

Gaining an understanding of the history of architecture is an essential aspect of design. Many famous architects drew inspiration from historical buildings to create great designs. (For instance, Mies van der Rohe’s design of the Barcelona Pavillion was inspired by Greek temples.) To aid in this task, I shared the top 4 books that were helpful for me.

If you wish to obtain a copy of any of these books, click on the image, and you will be redirected to the Amazon website.

Understanding Architecture continues to be the only text in the field to examine architecture as a cultural phenomenon as well as an artistic and technological achievement with its straightforward, two-part structure: The Elements of Architecture and The History and Meaning of Architecture. Comprehensive and clearly written, Understanding Architecture is a classic survey of architecture.

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.

This revised edition includes a section on neighborhoods, expanded and completely new categories of house styles with photos and descriptions of each, an appendix on "Approaches to Construction in the 20th and 21st Centuries," an expanded bibliography, and 600 new photographs and line drawings.

The Language of Architecture provides students and professional architects with the basic elements of architectural design, divided into twenty-six easy-to-comprehend chapters. This visual reference includes an introduction to architectural design, a historical view of the elements, as well as an overview of how these elements can and have been used across multiple design disciplines.