Product Description

When the late Spiro Kostof's A History of Architecture appeared in 1985, it was universally hailed as a masterpiece--one of the finest books on architecture ever written. Now, updated and expanded, this classic reference continues to bring to readers the full array of civilization's architectural achievements.
Insightful, engagingly written and graced with close to a thousand superb illustrations, the Second Edition of this extraordinary volume offers a sweeping narrative that examines architecture as it reflects the social, economic, and technological aspects of human history. The scope of the book is astonishing. Kostof examines a surprisingly wide variety of man-made structures: prehistoric huts and the TVA, the pyramids of Giza and the Rome railway station, the ziggurat and the department store. Kostof considered every building worthy of attention, every structure a potential source of insight, whether it be prehistoric hunting camps at Terra Amata, or the caves at Lascaux with their magnificent paintings, or a twenty-story hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #97465 in Books
• Published on: 1995-08-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 816 pages

Review

Praise for the previous edition:
"A magnificent guided tour through mankind's architecture....This splendid book is that rara avis, a treat for any reader and a first-rate textbook on the subject."--The New York Times Book Review

About the Author
Spiro Kostof was Professor of Architectural History at the University of California at Berkeley, and was a former president of the Society of Architectural Historians. Greg Castillo was Kostof's research assistant and literary executor.

Customer Reviews

Every architectural library should have htis book.
This is an excellent, reader friendly book. It is standard for many architectural school history courses. The profuse illustrations and photographs are first rate.

Anyone who has an interest in world architecture shoul have this book as a basic part of thier library.

One of the best
One of the best architectural histories ever, written by one of the most respected historians. Spiro Kostof was a Professor in the School of Architecture at UC Berkeley, and was much-admired by students and colleagues. This book is required reading in many schools of architecture.

Comprehensive
Covers all the major styles and period the Western tradition of architecture. It does one chapter on Asian architecture but no single chapter can cover all the styles and 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, and decoratives more.