Product Description

In his highly acclaimed reference work, David Watkin traces the history of western architecture from the earliest times in Mesopotamia and Egypt to the dramatic impact of CAD (computer-aided design) on architectural practice at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Adopting an approach that sees architectural history as a living continuity rather than a museum of neatly labelled styles, the author emphasizes the ongoing vitality of the classical language of architecture, underlining the continuity between, say, the work of Ictinus in fifth-century BC Athens and that of McKim, Mead and White in twentieth-century New York. Authoritative, comprehensive and highly illustrated, this fourth edition has been expanded to bring the story of western architecture right up to date.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62764 in Books
• Published on: 2005-09-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 720 pages

Review
...an outstanding narrative history of architecture, the best currently available... --Architectural Review

About the Author
David Watkin is Professor of the History of Architecture at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Peterhouse. He has written many books, including Morality and Architecture Revisited and Sir John Soane (1996), and is a leading authority on Classicism and its successive renewals in architecture.

Customer Reviews

Interesting subject matter, but confusing book to read.
I bought A History of Western Architecture for the course I am taking in Art History as it was one of the course's obligatory textbooks. I have to admit that, despite the very interesting subject matter, this is not one of the most pedagogical textbooks I have read. In fact, I believe a few things could defenitely be improved. Many complexe architectural terms are not explained or, if they are so in another chapter, there is no reference to where this explanation is. Some words are listed in the back of the book with definitions, but this does not emcompass all. Also, the authors mention many buildings without including images, plans or drawings of them. This book can, therefore, only be enjoyed if one has already knowledge about architecture or read other, better explained textbooks in advance.

Cheaper than a more expensive book.....
This book has prooved to be extremely useful in the history part of my degree. Obviously, this book cannot compare in detail and magnificance to Sir Banister-Fletchers' Bible ('A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method'), but it is a great deal more affordable. If an older version of Banister-Fletcher (ie, pre 18th edition) can be found then it is better to get that instead, but if not, this book is equally resourceful. All the descriptions and illustrations are there, though the detailing doesn't go to as much depth as B-F's. This book is ideal though if all you need is a brief reference to a particular historical movement.