作者簡介：

卡羅爾·戴維森·珂拉格（Carol Davidson Cragoe）博士是一位知名的建築史學傢、專業作傢、講師，任教於紐約和倫敦。她擅長於揭示建築本身對其設計者和使用者的影響。目前，她正從事一項關於英國教堂傳統建築曆史研究項目。

譯者簡介：

徐寅嵐，女，南京工程學院藝術與設計學院講師。畢業於東南大學建築學院美術學專業，獲文學碩士學位，現為東南大學藝術學院藝術學理論專業博士研究生。

Review

"...this pocket-size volume packed with handy visuals is a perfect reference tool." ~Elle Decor

"This practical primer not only provides the answer,

but proves that buildings can be the stuff of page-turners, too." ~ReadyMade Magazine

"The draftsmanship of the fine pen and ink drawings, the color-coding of sections, the compactness of trim size, and the quantity of material presented, makes for an illuminated text. A book of architecturally refined elegance on a small scale." ~ForeWord Magazine

"This little guide, measuring just over 5 by 6 inches, is a charmer--chiefly because of the appealing design and the choice of skillfully drawn illustrations in colored ink." ~Interior Design

"I'm leaving How to Read Buildings on my nightstand for a few weeks, but you can bet I'll tuck it into my carry-on bag when we head to Europe next month." ~James H. Schwartz in Preservation

Product Description

This practical primer is a handbook for decoding a building’s style, history, and evolution. Every building contains clues embedded in its design that identify not only its architectural style but also the story of who designed it, who it was built for, and why. Organized by architectural element (roofs, doors, windows, columns, domes, towers, arches, etc.), the book is roughly chronological within each section, examining the elements across history, through different architectural styles, and by geographical distribution. Additional chapters offer overviews of how architecture has been affected by geography, history, and religion, along with an illustrated timeline of architectural elements. Also included is a chapter on applied ornament and a handy introduction to naming each part of a building. All entries are accompanied by examples in the forms of period engravings, line drawings, and pictures. The extended captions make the book invaluable for anyone who has ever pondered the meaning or importance of a hipped roof, rounded doorway, or classical pediment.