The oldest surviving book on architecture, Vitruvius presented his thoughts on the subject of
building arts to Caesar with the hope that it would guide those who followed. In it, Vitruvius
stressed the importance of understanding architecture within the context of a broader
society. You can also read this book online at Landscape Information Hub.
by Johannes Itten
Itten was one of the principal design teachers of the Bauhaus, bringing his unique artistic
approach to design and color to the German school, which would revolutionize the way we
look at architecture.
by Le Corbusier
Modeled upon Vitruvius' classic book, Le Corbusier redefined the terms of architecture by
stressing a new proportional system and expression for modern materials. This is the
seminal book on Modern Architecture.
by Josef Albers
Albers also taught in the Bauhaus and was instrumental in shaping our contemporary
understanding of color. The book is has also been expanded upon in a CD-ROM edition.
by Francis D.K. Ching
Long regarded as one of the best introductory books on architecture, Francis Ching breaks
down architecture into seven basic components: point, line, plane, volume, proportion, scale,
circulation; and illustrates the book with marvelous free-hand drawings.
by John Summerson
No one understands classical proportions better than John Summerson. In this set of
lectures, he explains the guiding principles behind classical buildings with ample illustrations.
by Kevin Lynch
Kevin Lynch came up with a deceptively simple system by which to better understand the
complex nature of cities. He explores the way we look at cities by landmarks and other
methods of "mapping" our surroundings.
by Francis D.K. Ching and Cassandra Adams
One of the best source books for construction details, Francis Ching impeccably illustrates
the various systems of construction from the ground up.
by William Curtis
William Curtis explores the movement through 20 thematic chapters, with well linked illustrations,
that gives the reader one of the fullest impressions of the movement that defined the 20th century.
edited by Christof Thoenes
A valuable addition to the Taschen library, this book compiles 89 Essays on 117 Treatises that
have strongly influenced architecture over the centuries. The book is categorized by countries
and includes a section on 20th century essays and treatises.
