A History of Architecture: Settings and Rituals

by Spiro Kostof

Book Overview

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. The New York Times Book Review, in a front cover review, called it "a magnificent guided tour through mankind's architecture," and The San Francisco Chronicle wrote that "Kostof...has enthralled a generation of students.... Now he has done the same thing for the public at large,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195083784
• ISBN13: 9780195083781
• Release Date: May 1995
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 816 Pages
• Weight: 4.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 11.4" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

First Purchase at Amazon

This was my first attempt at ordering a book online. I fully expected the product to be in worse shape. However, there were only a few page corners bent and all of the pages were intact. The item arrived very quickly. I am very pleased with this purchase.

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.

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.

I was looking for another book by this title

If you're asking for "A History of Architecture," youmight as well ask for Sir Banister Fletcher's. My copy is the 18thedition, revised by J. C. Palmes, published by Scribners, 1975. 0-02-338340-2. This book is the standard reference used by architects at Walt Disney Imagineering.