Architecture: Defining Structures

Sandra Forty’s *Architecture: Defining Structures* offers a visual survey of architectural history, focusing on the physical components and materials that define built forms. The text moves through various structural styles and influential architects, using high-quality photography to illustrate how specific elements function within larger designs. Rather than a dense theoretical treatise, the book operates as a pictorial reference, pairing detailed descriptions with imagery to clarify the relationship between aesthetic choices and structural necessity.

The work is designed for readers interested in the tangible aspects of architecture, from historical precedents to modern applications. By emphasizing the interplay between form and function, Forty provides a coherent overview of how buildings stand and how their defining features have evolved over time. The accessible format makes it a useful companion for understanding the vocabulary of architecture through its most visible and essential parts.

Description adapted from Open Library ↗.