The House Book
Five hundred houses. One extraordinary volume. The House Book, assembled by the editors at Phaidon Press, sweeps across centuries and continents to present an astonishing breadth of human shelter, from the grandeur of Hadrian's Villa and Palladio's Villa Rotunda to Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye, and on to the provocative contemporary work of Richard Rogers and Frank Gehry. It's a genuinely wide-ranging survey, pulling together architect-designed masterworks alongside the vernacular dwellings of ordinary people, including the modest huts of the Hutu. What emerges, perhaps surprisingly, is how little the fundamental nature of home has shifted across the ages. Palaces and huts, it turns out, speak the same quiet language. Arranged alphabetically in the accessible format established by Phaidon's acclaimed Art Book, the volume functions equally well as a browsable pleasure and a serious reference tool. Each architect receives a full-page colour reproduction of their most notable house, accompanied by a focused text placing both the building and its creator in context. Thoughtful cross-references connect readers to designers working in comparable styles or periods, making it easy to follow threads across time. A clear glossary of architectural terms and movements helps newcomers find their footing, while a directory of houses open to the public gives the whole thing a practical, real-world usefulness. Whether you're a seasoned architecture enthusiast or simply curious about the buildings people have called home, this book rewards both quick dipping and sustained reading.
- Author: Editors of Phaidon Press
- Publisher: Phaidon Press
- Genre: Home Improvement
- ISBN: 978-0714839844
- Pages: 512 pages