The Buildings That Revolutionized Architecture

Book excerpt: From Rome’s Parthenon to Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia; from the ancient village of Petra to Beijing’s Forbidden City; from New York’s Empire State Building to the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, this visually stunning collection of 100 milestones of architectural history explores how they changed the course of architecture forever. Why do some buildings stand the test of time? What makes a building unique, or groundbreaking? How do function, environment, and technology impact an architect’s vision? These questions and more are succinctly addressed in this wide-ranging tour of 100 of the world’s most important manmade structures. This compilation spans the ancient to the modern eras and represents nearly every continent. Gorgeous photographs of each building are featured in double-page spreads, which include concise texts offering fascinating histories and contextual information, as well as biographies of the architects. The book also includes a glossary at the back of the book that explains important terms. An invaluable introduction to the world of architecture, this book guides readers through every milestone of architectural triumph—be it an ancient city, modern sports arena, cathedral, or office building.