Description

Book Synopsis
A new, larger format edition of Rice''s Architectural Primer.This beautifully illustrated book covers the grammar and vocabulary of British buildings, explaining the evolution of styles from Norman castles to Norman Foster. Its aim is to enable the reader to recognise, understand and date any British building. As Matthew Rice says, Once you can speak any language, conversation can begin, but without it communications can only be brief and brutish. The same is the case with Architecture: an inability to describe the component parts of a building leaves one tongue-tied and unable to begin to discuss what is or is not exciting, dull or peculiar about it.'' With this book in your hand, buildings will break down beguilingly into their component parts, ready for inspection and discussion. There will be no more references to ''that curly bit on top of the thing with the square protrusions''. Fluent in the world of volutes, hood moulds, lobed architraves and bucrania, you wil

Trade Review
A rather handsome tome looking at the grammar and vocabulary of British buildings * Cotswold Life *
Nearly a decade on from the original book, the layman's interest in architecture is growing * Daily Telegraph *

Rices Language of Buildings

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    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Tue 16 Jun 2026.

    A Hardback by Matthew Rice

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      Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
      Publication Date: 06/09/2018
      ISBN13: 9781408893784, 978-1408893784
      ISBN10: 1408893789

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      A new, larger format edition of Rice''s Architectural Primer.This beautifully illustrated book covers the grammar and vocabulary of British buildings, explaining the evolution of styles from Norman castles to Norman Foster. Its aim is to enable the reader to recognise, understand and date any British building. As Matthew Rice says, Once you can speak any language, conversation can begin, but without it communications can only be brief and brutish. The same is the case with Architecture: an inability to describe the component parts of a building leaves one tongue-tied and unable to begin to discuss what is or is not exciting, dull or peculiar about it.'' With this book in your hand, buildings will break down beguilingly into their component parts, ready for inspection and discussion. There will be no more references to ''that curly bit on top of the thing with the square protrusions''. Fluent in the world of volutes, hood moulds, lobed architraves and bucrania, you wil

      Trade Review
      A rather handsome tome looking at the grammar and vocabulary of British buildings * Cotswold Life *
      Nearly a decade on from the original book, the layman's interest in architecture is growing * Daily Telegraph *

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