How to Read Modern Buildings: A Crash Course in Architecture of the Modern Era

by Will Jones

Small enough to fit in a pocket yet serious enough to provide real answers, this is the ultimate field guide to understanding modern architecture.
 
This eighth entry in Rizzoli’s popular How to Read … series is a one-stop guide to understanding the world’s iconic modern an indispensable pocket-sized guide to the architecture of the modern era.
 
This volume takes the reader on a tour of modern architecture through its most iconic and significant buildings, showing how to read the hallmarks of each architectural style and how to recognize them in the buildings. From Art Deco and Arts and Crafts through Bauhaus, the International Style, and Modernism to today’s environmental architecture and the rise and fall of the “starchitect”, all the major architectural movements from the 1900s to the present day are traced through their classic buildings. Examining the key architectural elements and hidden details of each style, we learn what to look for and where to look for it.
 
Filled with detailed drawings, plans, and photographs, this book is a fascinating architectural history—a must-read for anyone with an interest in architecture, urbanism, and modern design.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction, Art, Design

256 pages, Paperback

Published March 7, 2017

Reviews

[Kevin]

Cool little book. I'm told architects are poor writers. Book confirmed.

[Anna Makarova]

A great introduction into architecture that will make it a lot easier for you to decipher the fabric of modern built environment. Love the “How to Read” editions: always concise, straight to the point and filled with photos and sketches.

[Hesham Ahmad]

Great pocket sized guide for precious information about architecture genres starting from late 19th century till now,
simplified and straight forward, aided by sketches,photos,and diagrams. Serves well as a tiny dictionary for an architect

[Rob]

Great intro to architecture! I am noticing so many things on houses and other buildings now!

[Eneko Polo]

No me ha gustado nada; aunque he podido rescatar datos interesantes, la lectura es pesada, mal estructurada y que motiva la lectura en diagonal.

[Ken Nilsestuen]

Pretty good overview of modern buildings. I enjoyed seeing some familiar places and reading the brief descriptions about them.

[Rana]

This book is a great introduction to architecture. It’s structure guides the reader’s understanding of modern buildings and the illustration allows the reader to imagine every detail written. Highly recommended!

[Barbara]

Nice summary of modern architecture filled to the brim with examples. Quite a good quick reference and also could be used as a guide of what to see in a city (the index by building location is a very nice touch).

[Amy]

Like others in the "How to Read" series, this is an excellent primer that handily comes in a not-so-hefty size. I found the second section, where you can compare how different types of buildings (e.g. religious buildings, cultural buildings, etc.) have changed with various architecture styles, the most enlightening. Also makes for a good checklist of buildings to visit. If you're remotely interested in architecture and learning about why 19th/20th century buildings look the way they do, this is a good book for you.

[Colin Sutter]

Cute little book, very informative. Wish there were real images instead of sometimes hard to read line drawings, especially for a book at this scale.