Author Description
"This bestselling, illustrated survey of Western architecture is now fully revised throughout, explaining the structure, function, history, and meaning of architecture in a way that is both accessible and engaging. The long-awaited third edition includes increased global coverage with new mini chapters on Africa, Japan, China, India, and Islamic Architecture; a new chapter covering the future of architecture in the twenty-first century; updated coverage of sustainability and green architecture and its impact on design; an update to the historical survey; and over fifty images in full color. 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: (1) The Elements of Architecture and (2) The History and Meaning of Architecture. Comprehensive and clearly written, Understanding Architecture is a classic survey of Western architecture. "--
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This text investigates the fundamental question of how architecture functions simultaneously as a technological achievement, an artistic expression, and a reflection of cultural values. Leland M. Roth, an established scholar in architectural history, utilizes a structured pedagogical framework to deconstruct the built environment. By organizing the material into distinct sections on structural elements and historical evolution, the author provides a comprehensive lens through which to analyze both Western and global architectural traditions.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of structural components and design principles
- Historical survey of Western architecture with expanded global coverage
- Examination of sustainability and green design practices
- Discussion on the future trajectory of twenty-first-century architecture
Scope Limits
- Does not provide an exhaustive technical manual for construction engineering
- Focuses primarily on historical and cultural analysis rather than contemporary interior design trends
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Experts and educators frequently cite this work as a foundational survey for students and general readers interested in the built environment. Readers often note the clarity of the prose and the effectiveness of the dual-part structure in organizing complex historical and technical information.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
1993-01-01
Publisher:
HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN-10:
0000016063
ISBN-13:
9780000016065
Architecture
Non-Fiction
Design
Art History