Books About Architecture, Architectural Styles and Architects

Search for Used Books Enter title, author or ISBN Architecture: Form, Space, & Order The Four Books on Architecture The Architecture Pack A pop-up book for adults - absolutely amazing! The Architect's Portable Handbook A Field Guide to American Houses House Styles in America The Not So Big House The Complete Guide to Designing Your Own Home Timeless Way of Building America's Painted Ladies The New Cottage Home Architectural Graphic Standards The ultimate building design and construction reference book, which every builder should own - and use!

• A Field Guide to American Houses
  - by Virginia McAlester, Lee McAlester, Lauren Jarrett
  It is an easy to use, & very comprehensive book that contains black & white photographs of hundreds of houses, which are located all around the United States. From the 17th century to the present, virtually every major house style is shown and described.

• Architecture: Form, Space, & Order
  - by Francis D.K. Ching
  Classic introduction to the principles of architecture is everything you would expect from the celebrated architect, author, & illustrator, Francis D. K. Ching. Each page has been meticulously revised to incorporate contemporary examples of the principles of form, space, & order-the fundamental vocabulary of every designer. The result is a beautifully illustrated volume that embraces today's forms & looks at conventional models with a fresh perspective.

• The Four Books on Architecture
  - by Andrea Palladio, Robert Tavernor, Richard Schofield, Richard Scholfield
  One of the most celebrated & influential of architectural texts has been republished in a highly readable version by Robert Tavernor & Richard Schofield (the first new English translation since 1738!) with facsimiles of Palladio's woodcuts, correctly placed in the text. It makes a wonderful introduction to the timeless principles of architecture & to Palladio's dazzling oeuvre. How agreeable it would be to browse this classic in the shade of the Villa Rotunda on a hot summer afternoon.

• The Architecture Pack: A Unique, Three-Dimensional Tour of Architecture over the Centuries: What Architects Do, How They Do It
  - by Ron Van Der Meer, Deyan Sudjic
  A highly sophisticated version of the beloved pop-up book that offers a unique, cross-cultural, three-dimensional tour of architecture through the centuries. By flipping the elaborately engineered pages, we learn what architects do, how they do it, & all about the great buildings of the world from antiquity to the present.

• The Architect's Portable Handbook: First Step Rules of Thumb for Building Design
  - by Pat Guthrie
  Add flexible binding to a pocket-tote reference & you have a fine portable title which serves as an important practical resource for design professionals. From architectural planning to materials assembly & properties, this packs in the latest information on everything from finishes & furniture to glass & building codes.

• The Architect's Studio Companion (Third Edition)
  - by Edward Allen, Joseph Iano
  This laborsaving resource reduces complex engineering & building code information to simple approximations that can be easily incorporated into initial design explorations. It helps architects prepare buildable preliminary designs as a realistic basis for the more detailed design development stage that will follow.

• The Elements of Style: A Practical Encyclopedia of Interior Architectural Details from 1485 to the Present
  - by Stephen Calloway, Elizabeth Cromley
  Offers comprehensive visual evidence of most of the styles of architecture & interior design that have influenced America & Britain since the Renaissance. It is arranged by period style & indexed by specific design features (staircases, windows, and stoves, for example) through the use of color tabs on right-hand pages.

• House Styles in America: The Old-House Journal Guide to the Architecture of American Homes - by James C. Massey, Shirley Maxwell

• The New American House 3
  - by James Grayson Truelove, Il Kim
  A dynamic new trend in residential architecture is documented in this important volume that shows how today's designers are boldly reinterpreting the work of Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, & other modernist masters. Continuing a trend that became evident during the last five years of the twentieth century, architects working at the beginning of the new millennium are looking anew at modernist plan types & styles, taking advantage of new & lighter building materials, & working with a fresh range of colors to enhance the sense of space in a wide variety of residential building types.

• American House Now: Contemporary Architectural Directions - by Susan Doubilet, Daralice Boles (Contributor)

• Almanac of Architecture and Design 2000 - by James P. Cramer

• Analyzing Architecture
  - by Simon Unwin
  In this second edition the framework for analysis has been revised & enlarged, & further case studies added. Many new drawings have been included, illustrating further examples of the themes explored. The link between analysis & learning about the possibilities of design has been reinforced, & the bibliography of recommended supplementary reading has been expanded.

• Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods
  - by Edward Allen, Joseph Iano
  Offers a panoramic view of today's construction systems-from foundation to roof, exterior cladding to interior finishes. Every common system of construction is covered, including wood light frame construction, heavy timber, masonry, steel, sitecast concrete, & precast concrete. New chapters offer coverage of light gauge steel frame construction & detailed information on selecting windows & doors.

• A Visual Dictionary of Architecture
  - by Francis D. K. Ching
  A Visual Dictionary of Architecture is a remarkable, on-of-a-kind compendium which uses a combination of textual definitions & hundreds of superb line drawings to illuminate a comprehensive body of essential terms in architecture, including important interrelationships between building components.

• African Architecture: Evolution and Transformation - by Nnamdi Elleh

• Architecture: From Prehistory to Post-Modernism / the Western Tradition
  - by Isabelle Hyman, Marvin Trachtenberg
  Focus on monumental structures within each epoch, & give stylistic detail priority over social or political context. Even so, they often make broad connections between buildings & people.

• Timeless Way of Building
  - by Christopher Alexander
  Excellent text for architectural theory and design, a must for design students.

• A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction
  - by Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, Murray Silverstein
  Overview of some 250 patterns that are the units of this language, each consisting of a design problem, discussion, illustration, & solution. Extraordinarily thorough, coherent, & accessible, this book has become a bible for homebuilders, contractors, & developers who care about creating healthy, high-level design.

• A History of Architecture: Settings and Rituals
  - by Spiro Kostof, Greg Castillo, Richard Tobias
  Covers all the major styles & period the Western tradition of architecture. It does one chapter on Asian architecture but no single chapter can cover all the styles & history of the Asian countries of India, China, Japan, etc. It will be great for any aspiring architect who wants to have a good foundation...or to anyone who wants to appreciate the history of spatial design, & decoratives more.

• Albert Frey, Architect
  - by Joseph Rosa, David Gebhard
  Some of the projects in this collection are the Aluminaire House, Loewy House, Palm Springs City Hall, North Shore Yacht Club, & Frey's own houses. Numerous duotone photographs, many taken by Julius Shulman, as well as plans and sketches are also included. An introduction by David Gebhard discusses Frey's relevance within the Modern Movement and Frey's connection to nature & to historical precedent in his designs. This title is an updated & redesigned edition of a 1990 publication.

• Albert Frey: Houses 1 + 2
  - by Jennifer Golub
  Visually, palm springs is back as one of our culture's most interesting spots. the mix of sand, glass, & metal that is modernism's desert design signature is in perfect shape here. albert frey, who perhaps more than anyone helped to shape that look, gets to showcase the two homes he built & lived in here.

• 50 Favorite Rooms by Frank Lloyd Wright - by Diane Maddex

• Time-Saver Standards for Interior Design & Space Planning
  - by Joseph De Chiara, Julius Panero, Martin Zelnik
  Comprehensive reference of all that was left out of the well known 'Ramsey-Sleeper' Graphics Standards that serves as the standard reference of many architectural offices... thorough & informative, providing what every office needs. It is clearly a superior and more organized interior design 'reference' book than most others on the market. A must for any office involved in interior design & space planning"

• American Shelter: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Homes
  - by Lester R. Walker, Charles Moore
  103 styles of American housing are featured in this book, spanning the earth lodge (circa 300) to the projected space unit (circa 2000). There are full diagrams, history, & a description for each of the Native American & settler homes, including the pueblo, longhouse, & wigwam; the log cabin, garrison house, & saltbox; & on through the Georgian, Greek Revival, false front, Queen Anne, & neomodern.

• Evolutionary Architecture: Nature As a Basis for Design
  - by Eugene Tsui
  Eugen Tsui is a visionary who sees in the natural world forms & functions that can be used by man in his created environments to the benefit of mind, spirit, ecology & wallet. Innovative & unorthodox building methods & materials; making the most of the vast sea of unapplied knowledge overlooked by most architects is his specialty. Tsui ia a genius who is unlikely to be fully appreciated by his own era. In this book Tsui explains his ideology & presents visuals to stun the mind out of its "stick-built" suburban tract house rut.

• America's Painted Ladies : The Ultimate Celebration of Our Victorians
  - by Elizabeth Pomada, Michael Larsen, Douglas Keister, Elizabeth Pomanda
  A fantastic book, a must for anyone who is thinking about painting a Victorian house. It was very helpful to me & my husband who had to come up with a color scheme for our three-story Queen Anne built in 1895. If you're in the same boat, then you know that deciding on a color scheme for a detailed Victorian house isn't easy & takes careful thought and consideration. This book will help you. It will give you countless ideas, & just looking at the photos is inspiring.

• Adirondack Style - by Ann S. O'Leary
  Provides an overview of this distinctive area & the original owners and builders of the Great Camps, explore the region's finest camps, both inside & out. More than 200 full-color & historical black-and-white photographs highlight all the elements unique to this style, from exterior stonework & twig filligree to interior fabrics & wall decor.

• American Bungalow Style
  - by Alexander Vertikoff, Robert Milton Winter
  Provides a historical & architectural overview of bungalows, describing room by room the function & importance of each to a bungalow dweller's lifestyle. Beautifully photographed examples of restored houses from throughout North America comprise the majority of the book. Ending with descriptions & suppliers of decorative items that typify bungalow interiors, this comprehensive guide will be a popular addition to any interior design collection.

• The Bungalow: America's Arts and Crafts Home
  - by Paul Duchscherer, Douglas Keister
  This an outstanding book for anyone interested in the familiar & well loved style of architecture known as the bungalow. All color photos show the gamut of this genre ranging from basic to elaborate. Both interior & exterior shots detail this rich archetictural art form. An inspiration to anyone interested in maintaining, restoring or recreating one of America's favorite homestyles.

• Inside the Bungalow: America's Arts & Crafts Interior
  - by Paul Duchscherer, Douglas Keister
  Devoted to all aspects of bungalow interior design include the front door, with its sense of arrival; the fireplace, a major Arts & Crafts symbol of hearth & home; the living room, hub of bungalow living; the den, study, or library; the kitchen & dining room; & bedrooms that range from nursery to sleeping porch.

• Classic Cracker: Florida's Wood-Frame Vernacular Architecture
  - by Ronald W. Haase
  In this visually delightful book, laced with quotations from one of the best chroniclers of Florida Cracker life, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Ronald Haase takes us on an intimate tour of the utilitarian wooden structures constructed by early settlers in North Florida. These houses, raised high off the ground and surrounded by shady porches, responded both to the warm and sultry climate & to the very idea of living side by side with nature in such a beautiful environment...

• Craftsman Bungalows: 59 Homes from the Craftsman
  - by Gustav Stickley
  Aside from the introduction, is comprised of reprints of articles, with photos & blueprints, on bungalows originally featured in the magazine "The Craftsman" from 1903 through 1916.

• More Craftsman Homes
  - by Gustav Stickley
  Stickley pioneered an architecture based on beauty, simplicity, utility, & organic harmony. His approach came to be known as the Mission style. Complete plans for 78 authentic Mission-style dwellings are reprinted here from an original 1912 publication with over 300 black-and-white illustrations.

• Craftsman Homes: Architecture and Furnishings of the American Arts and Crafts Movement
  - by Gustav Stickley
  296 architectural drawings, floor plans, & photographs illustrate 40 different kinds of "Mission-style" homes from The Craftsman (1901-16), voice of American style of simplicity & organic harmony. Thorough coverage of Craftsman idea in text and picture, now collector's item.

• William L. Price, Arts and Crafts to Modern Design
  - by George E. Thomas, Robert Venturi (Introduction)
  Following catalog & chronology of his work contain ample descriptions, detailed historical data, & excellent illustrations. A fine addition to larger architecture collections.

• Paul Rudolph: The Florida Houses - by Christopher Domin, Joseph T. King

• Japanese Detail: Architecture - by Sadao Hibi

• Measure and Construction of the Japanese House
  - by Heinrich Engel
  Anyone who wishes to build a Japanese tea room either in the garden or attached to their house could do well to start with this book. You can also use this book to design accents for a single room, or to craft an entire house. It was written by a German architect who lived in Japan several decades ago & carefully measured surving older buildings as well as studying architecture there. While there are more detailed books in Japanese, this may well still be the best available book in English.

• Mediterranean Style: Relaxed Living Inspired by Strong Colors and Natural Materials
  - by Catherine Haig
  A repeat visitor to the sunwashed shores of the Mediterranean Sea, House & Garden editor Catherine Haig has firsthand knowledge of & strong affection for the relaxed pace, saturated colors, & natural materials of the region. From Provence to Tuscany to Marrakech, every photographed interior . . . reflects today's sensibilities for casual, earthy living. . . . Easy-to-do projects sprinkled throughout give you the tools to bring elements of the style to your home.

• Safari Style - by Tim Beddow, Natasha Burns
  In this lavishly produced volume, he presents 200 full-color photographs of the city's neighborhoods & landmarks, including breathtaking views of its skyline, from the George Washington Bridge & the Statue of Liberty to Rockefeller Center & the Chrysler Building.

• Tuscany Interiors/Interieurs De Toscane/Toskana Interieurs - by Paolo Rinaldi

• Classic Meets Contemporary - by Henrietta Spencer-Churchill

• The New Cottage Home
  - by Jim Tolpin
  The main purpose is to show how contemporary architects, using modern design techniques, have developed the cottage style for contemporary living. Architects, interior designers, & students will find this book especially useful for its last chapter on designing a cottage home.

• Victorian House Designs in Authentic Full Color: 75 Plates from the 'Scientific American-Architects and Builders Edition,' 1885-1894
  - by Blanche Cirker (Editor)
  Exquisitely detailed, exceptionally handsome designs for an enormous variety of attractive city dwellings, spacious suburban & country homes, charming "cottages" and other structures — all accompanied by perspective views & floor plans with measurements. Invaluable to architects, home restorers & preservationists; of immense interest to lovers of Victorian architecture.

• Victorian Domestic Architectural Plans and Details: 734 Scale Drawings of Doorways, Windows, Staircases, Moldings, Cornices and Other Elements - by William T. Comstock (Photographer)

• Bicknell's Victorian Buildings: Floor Plans and Elevations for 45 Houses and Other Structures - by A. J. Bicknell

• Architectural Graphic Standards (10th Edition) - by Harold Reeve Sleeper, Charles George Ramsey, John Ray Hoke (Editor), Philip Johnson (Afterword)
  
  • Note: Even though this edition includes Architectural Graphic Standards CD-ROM version 3.0, which includes almost everything in the book, it is only a demo that must be "unlocked" with a code purchased online for an additional fee of $425.00 (USD). If you know you also want the working CD, you can save a little time by using the following link:
  • Architectural Graphic Standards 10th Ed. and CD-ROM