20 Educational Architecture Books Anyone Can Enjoy

You don’t have to be an architectural expert to appreciate a building that has been impeccably designed and built. From the medieval cathedrals of Europe to the engineering feat that is Burj Khalifa in Dubai, there are architectural gems aplenty to ogle no matter where you are in the world. For those who want to learn more about these gems, whether you’re an architecture student just learning the ropes of your trade or simply a casual admirer of all things architecture, there are plenty of books out there perfect for introducing the practices and theories of architecture in a way that isn’t too technical for the layman to understand. Here, we’ve chosen 20 such books that will let you appreciate the ideas, artists and processes behind the great architectural work of the world, whether you know a little or a lot about architecture.

1. A History of the Future by Donna Goodman: Architects have long been imagining what the buildings of the future will look like, sometimes with concepts that seem strange to us today. In this book, Goodman examines both its impact in the 20th century, as technology and design merge, and how the first Renaissance city planners imagined a better, more perfect city.
2. 10 x 10 (Architecture) by Editors of Phaidon Press: Collecting 100 different architects, this book features some of the most iconic minds working in architecture today, with insightful essays accompanied by breathtaking photos.
3. BLDGBLOG Book by Geoff Manaugh: This book companion to the popular blog will let you read essays on the future of architecture and the built environment, which even the casual reader can understand and enjoy.
4. The Poetics of Space by Gaston Bachelard: Have you ever really thought about how the space of your home, office and city impacts your life? This book will ask you to do just that, offering up a philosophical take on the humans’ relationship with the spaces we occupy.
5. Vitruvius: The Ten Books Of Architecture by Vitruvius: There aren’t many works to survive from antiquity, and even fewer on architecture. In fact, there’s just this one, which may arguably be the most important works on architecture in the Western world. As such, it’s a must read from any armchair architect.
6. Analyzing Architecture by Simon Unwin: Created with the beginning architecture student in mind, this book is a clear and accessible entry point into understanding the world of architecture, with illustrations and photos helping to shed light on some of the more complex ideas presented.
7. Experiencing Architecture by Steen Eiler Rasmussen: Simple, concrete examples will help even the most novice of architecture students understand what Rasmussen is trying to convey in this text. Covering different time periods and different continents, it’s a great read for anyone wanting to learn more about buildings like St. Peter’s in Rome or the work of greats like Frank Lloyd Wright.
8. The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs: We live in cities, travel through them, dream about escaping to them or from them, but we don’t often think about how they came to be as they are today. In this book, readers will follow Jacobs as she demonstrates the failings of urban planning in the 20th century, examining every aspect of city life from diversity (or lack thereof) to the development of urban neighborhoods.
9. The International Style by Henry Russell Hitchcock and Philip Johnson: While the Modernist architecture that Hitchcock and Johnson were so keen to promote in this book is long since passe, it is an easy read for those looking to better understand the functionalist tendencies of architects of the mid-century.
10. Architecture without Architects by Bernard Rudofsky: We celebrate the architects who design and build our greatest structures, but what about those unknown or forgotten by history? What about structures not built by one person, but a community? In this book, readers will take a different look at architectural history, examining the complexities of what has often been dismissed as "primitive" architecture.
11. Sustainable Design by Daniel E. Williams: Green building is all the rage these days, as architects and building owners alike seek out structures that create less of an environmental impact and that save on energy and operational costs. While designed more for architects, this book is nonetheless a great place to start learning about the technologies and design elements that can help make a building more sustainable.
12. Why Buildings Fall Down by Matthys Levy, Mario Salvadori and Kevin Woest: The Tower of Pisa is one of the most iconic buildings in the world largely because it is a bit…. tilty. This book examines what causes buildings like the Pisa Campanile to fall down, sometimes with tragic consequences. If you’re looking for a counterpart to this read, also check out the book Why Buildings Stand Up by the same authors.
13. The Architecture of Happiness by Alain de Botton: If you’ve ever lived or worked in a poorly designed building, you know just how much of an impact architecture can have on your daily happiness or mood. In this book, de Botton challenges architects to construct buildings that are not only functional, but allow users to connect with their true selves and attain greater happiness.
14. Learning from Las Vegas by Robert Venturi, Steven Izenour and Denise Scott Brown: While controversial in 1972, this book has perhaps not aged well in terms of being revolutionary in its thought — and perhaps that’s for the better. In it, the authors call for an architectural style that’s less grand and more responsive to the needs of the common person, with a special emphasis on the impact of symbols in the urban environment.
15. Delirious New York: A Retroactive Manifesto for Manhattan by Rem Koolhas: Rem Koolhas has been behind some of the most iconic modern buildings in the world, and here he describes in detail his love for the city of New York, chronicling how the urban environment interacts with and shapes the lives of its citizens.
16. Brunelleschi’s Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King: A stunning feat of Renaissance architecture, the Duomo atop Florence’s great cathedral was a great accomplishment of not only a man, but of architecture as a whole. King shares the long journey of Brunelleschi to bring his ideas to fruition in this easily accessible book.
17. How Buildings Learn: What Happens After They’re Built by Stewart Brand: As much as we like to think they are, buildings are not static objects. They change, erode, evolve, and even adapt over time. This process isn’t always graceful, however, and Brand shares how different types of buildings take on this adaptation process in different ways in this engaging read.
18. From Bauhaus to Our House by Tom Wolfe: A sharp-tongued satire of America’s architectural world, this book is a great read for anyone looking to better understand the sometimes illogical and inaccessible world of the intellectual art and architecture elite.
19. The Geography of Nowhere: The Rise and Decline of America’s Man-Made Landscape by James Howard Kunstler: Cars are a blessing and a curse for American life that has led to both the creation and the destruction of our urban infrastructure. In this text, Kunstler describes how to build a better city, comparing the functional thriving cities with those that are in great decline.
20. Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction by David Macaulay: If you’ve ever wanted to learn how those massive cathedrals were built without the aid of modern engineering or technology, this may be one of the best books to learn more about it. Filled with not only descriptions of cathedrals building, but detailed illustrations, you’ll be prepped and ready to impress your friends and family with your knowledge the next time you tour Europe.

Taken From Accredited Online Colleges