Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Such a fantastic reference point to explore new and familiar architectural styles in a beautifully presented and digestible way. Something I’ve gone back to a few times as a reference and has really encouraged me to learn and research further. Makes me sound very intelligent when watching Grand Designs!!

Excellent overview. More of an useful reference book than a (his)tory as such but invaluable for that.

The Short Story of Architecture is a beautiful read, taking you from the Ancient Egyptian to the rather more modern Deconstructionism. The layout is sleek bordering on minimal, and the images are crisp. The text is composed of four sections: Styles; Buildings; Elements; and Materials. I found this to be a useful division as ‘Styles’ provides the grounding and framework, ‘Buildings’ then creates a recognisable visual which ‘Elements’ and ‘Materials’ can further explore.

I particularly loved the use of cross-referencing at the foot of each page, it allowed me to explore the book based on my personal whims rather than just reading it from cover to cover.

I would recommend this text to those who are new to the subject of architecture, or who would like a small reference book to take on their travels.

The Short Story of Architecture is a easy short study of some Architecture. It has some good information and pictures.

This is a nice quick study guide on various architecture styles from ancient (Pyramids of Egypt) to Modern (High-Tech). The book breaks down into four sections: Styles (e.g., byzantine, Moorish, Art Nouveau); Elements (e.g., Wall, Balcony, Arcade, Dome, Gable); Materials (e.g., Plastic, Bamboo, Steel, Titanium), and the largest section is a selection of notable buildings (e.g, Chartres Cathedral, FallingWater, Habitat 67, Pantheon). Interestingly enough, the order of appearance is: 1) Styles, 2) Buildings, 3) Elements, 4) Materials. I would have put the buildings last since they are made up of the other 3 sections.

Each one of the sections has an introduction in the front of the book as well as a really nice set of images on how the book is set up for each building. The design is consistent throughout and you can easily find e.g., a building or style and find out more about it easily and quickly.

The four areas are presented chronologically. Cross references are found at the bottom of every page to help establish connections with other sections. Feature boxes discuss developments and backgrounds of the architects, buildings, materials, or styles. Each page has an example photograph with interesting information about that building/feature and why it was chosen to represent that entry. E.g., The Red House (home of William Morris) was the chosen image/building to describe Arts and Crafts. Toda-ji temple in Nara Japan was pictured for Wood construction buildings. Helsinki Central Railway Station was chosen for the page on Walls due to its unique exterior.

Since this is a pocket guide, everything is nicely presented in a 2 column format with break-out sections and then similar items and their page numbers listed at the bottom. Each page has a large main title, key information such as architectures, other key works, year, architecture, location and sometimes additional images as needed. A few entries such as Versailles and Villa Savoye come with full page photos as well as detail photos. Each entry comes with several nicely condensed paragraphs of information.

As a quick reference to help increase your knowledge of architecture, this is perfect. Small, digestible, and very easy to use. It's something you can enjoy on a train or plane trip or at home. I found I wanted to use a computer to look up more info on these buildings and so preferred to read it by my computer. In all, beautifully presented, well-thought out, and exactly what it purports to be - a great pocket reference on architecture. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

Great short read

I enjoyed this book. There is no fluff here, nothing extra. It’s just a great overview of some great buildings, architectural styles and materials. The photographs are beautiful and the writing crisp and clear. I recommend this book for anyone who wants an introduction to architecture and some insights in the buildings around us or that predate us.

An interesting overview pf architecture, this book has four sections. The first looks at periods and movements. The second takes a more in-depth, buts still short, look at iconic buildings. The third section covers architectural elements, and the fourth materials.

Also useful there are cross references on each page for related articles throughout the book and each article notes important practitioners.

One fault though, the text often mentions interior features, but these rarely appear, sending the reader to other sources to see them.

Styles, buildings and materials are used in this book as keywords to describe architecture as a journey that from the past leads us to the present and maybe even helps us to look at the future that awaits us. If you are not familiar with the subject, this is a perfect book to begin with.

Stili, palazzi e materiali, vengono usati in questo libro come parole chiave per descrivere l'architettura come un viaggio che dal passato ci porta al presente e magari ci aiuta anche a gettare uno sguardo sull'eventuale futuro che ci aspetta. Se siete poco ferrati sull'argomento, questo é un libro perfetto per cominciare.

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

This pocket guide does exactly what it promises by providing a very concise introduction to the styles, buildings, elements, and materials that have influenced architecture throughout history. Beginning with the Ancient Egyptian style (and later looking at the Great Pyramid, wall, and stone to complete the buildings, elements, and materials of the Ancient Egyptian style) and ending with the Deconstructivist style, you'll get a one-page overview of each style before encountering the Buildings section of the book. After which, there's a section full of Elements, followed by Materials.

This isn't meant for people who have a very firm grasp on architecture already. Instead, its purpose is to help educate those who know little to nothing about architecture and want to change that. Of course, the one page per entry style means that you'll only get an introduction to the topic, but it should tell you enough to let you determine if you wish to study architecture in greater detail.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

I am an architect and most certainly enjoyed this book. But being a professional, I am not sure I am part of the targeted audience. The book has an interesting structure and is devided into four encyclopedic parts: 1) Styles, 2) Buildings, 3) Elements and 4) Materials. Especially the chapters Elements and Materials are a nice take on architectural history and will offer valuable information for none professionals!

I see this book as an encyclopedia to get basic information on verious topics. But the very short chapters are really just a starting point. The images are very helpful thorughout and the layout is clean and helps the reader navigate the book.

You are looking for a Short Story of Architecture? That is exactly what you get, in the best possible way.