A Field Guide to American Architecture

Most field guides to American Architecture concentrate on domestic architecture. This book is truly a guide to the full range American Architecture. The Author includes wonderful examples of industrial and commercial architecture as well as examples of bridges and other engineering structures. It is the diversity of structures that makes this book valuable. Almost all of the illustrations in this books come from the Historical American Building Survey (HABS) sponsored by the United States Government. If you like this style of two dimensional illustration, you can search the HABS web site at the Library of Congress web site. This book is best for people who already know a little something about identifying American buildings. I would recommend Lester Walker's book for beginners. Other field guides do a better job of describing the features that make a particular building an example of a certain architectural style. However, for the sheer scope of buildings shown, this is the best field guide that I have found. Highly recommended.

This book is a wonderful resource for 3D animators in particular. "If you do a lot of animation that requires scenery (and doesn't it all?) this book is a must have." -Taming The Wave, June 1996