Iconic Buildings: An Illustrated Guide to the World's Most Remarkable Architecture

by Studio Esinam

This charmingly illustrated volume showcases iconic structures from the world’s most important and most architecturally interesting cities—sure to appeal to amateur enthusiasts, aspiring architects, and even professionals. This book presents unique visual profiles of the most iconic buildings in the world, from twenty-five of the most important and most visited cities. Featuring remarkably detailed line drawings elegantly rendered in black and white, these captivating artworks and the accompanying text help the reader learn each structure’s history and understand what makes them so visually and culturally iconic.
With the aim of exploring and communicating the deeper qualities of architecture by looking at it from new angles and presenting it in fresh and engaging ways, the illustrations are distinctive and elegant—inspired by Studio Esinam’s Landmarks and Elevations series of prints. Among the buildings included are such global icons as New York’s Chrysler Building, London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Sydney Opera House, along with lesser-known yet equally outstanding structures like the Centre Pompidou in Paris or Mies van der Rohe’s Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin.

Genres: Architecture, Nonfiction

80 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2017

Reviews

[Karl Gruenewald · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light and entertaining survey of the most iconic buildings sprinkled throughout the world's capital cities. While beautifully presented, those looking for any substantial information – that is, more than the building's elevation and some quick facts – may be disappointed. I myself was somewhat disoriented trying to make sense of some of the buildings I wasn't familiar with, without any additional context. A plan view here and there would have gone a long way towards giving the reader enough context to understand the projects more fully. That said, the book is still a visually pleasing look at the world's architectural landmarks and would likely serve as a great jumping off point for those looking to dive more deeply into the world of architecture.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Studio Esinam has created an interesting view of many of the well-known and lesser-known buildings from cities around the world. The buildings are grouped in their own cities so you can see how architecture has changed over the centuries there.
The cities seem to be grouped geographically, starting with the New World (both North and South America), North Africa (Marrakech), Europe, Middle East (Dubai), Asia (India, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo), and Australia (Sydney).
All are given a line drawing, the time of construction, architect (if known), location (address), size, materials, style, and some details.
New York City includes One World Trade Center, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (Frank Lloyd Wright), the Statue of Liberty, the High Line, the Woolworth Building, the Chrysler Building, and the Empire State Building. Sydney, Australia gives us the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Tower, the Queen Victoria Building, and the Sydney Opera House. In Rome we have the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, the Forum Romanum, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Pantheon. In London there's Nelson's Column, Georgian townhouses, Marble Arch, Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben), and St. Paul's Cathedral. For Paris the give us Palais Garnier (the opera house), Pont Marie (a Romanesque bridge), Centre Pompidou, Sacré Coeur, Arc de Triomphe de L'Étoile, Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.
There's an index which includes buildings, architects, and terms like Romanesque style, Art Nouveau, and National Romantic Style.
It's a physically somewhat awkward book, being 9.5 inches x 14.6 inches high, according to Amazon, but only 80 pages so it's not heavy.
Really interesting if you like architecture, history or travel.