How to Read a Building is a practical introduction to observing and appreciating architecture. It is a guide for reading the historical and architectural signs inherent in any building. Very practical due to its convenient pocket size, but rigorous enough to offer you the right answers, this work: -Explores the essential characteristics for the dating of each period, from Greek Antiquity to the present. -Gives expert advice on how to identify any building and place it in the corresponding historical context. -Provides an accessible visual guide to architectural styles and structural elements, using detailed illustrations and clear, simple text.