A Visual Dictionary of Architecture by Francis D.K. Ching

A Visual Dictionary of Architecture Reviews

• 
  Forrest

  I am not an architect and now I don't need to be. I bought this book purely as a reference for my writing craft, and I am very glad I did so. This is the Gray's Anatomy of architecture, if you will, presented in an easy to digest visual manner. It takes some digging to find exactly what you want, because the book is organized so that taxonomic categories and theoretical ideas are interspersed in a way that doesn't always make sense, but, if it's architectural in any way, it's in there. An extremely useful resource when trying to figure out exactly what it is your heroine is dangling from beneath the tentacled monster shambling toward her over the roof.
• 
  Samuel

  Professor Francis D.K. Ching's A Visual Dictionary of Architecture is the most useful tool I have found yet for understanding the descriptive terminology used in the diverse field of architecture. It is general yet broad enough to be useful to students, architects, contractors, historians, preservationists, etc. who have an interest in and/or desire to know what to call the complex components of everyday (as well as many common typology) buildings. The blend of visual imagery with short descriptions makes this book an invaluable reference in writing about architecture. Not only are the illustrations gorgeous, but the explanations are succinct and comprehensible.
  
  The book is organized into 68 broad, basic architectural categories (such as door, flooring, hardware, heat, plumbing, structure, etc.) that then have full-page illustrations showing the diverse types of architectural details/terms along with hand-drafted drawings associated with the broader theme. This allows for quick, comparative presentations of related but differentiated details. Most users, however, will use the book as a back-to-front reference. For this purpose, the rear index allows for quick reference in finding terms you want defined or clarified. For example, perhaps you want to know if you should refer to a certain part of the building as a "stoop," a "porch," or a "portico"--looking up any of these words will refer you to a page number under the umbrella category "Building" that illustrates and describes the various differences among the three terms. I highly recommend this book if you plan to write about buildings, and/or if you appreciate beautiful architectural illustrations (as the latter suggests, it can double as a coffee table book).
• 
  Tine Fuentebella

  This is the only reference book i read cover to cover when i took the licensure exam and i passed! This book is highly informative in visual and in context.
• 
  Reyhan Ismail

  Biarkan gambar yang berbicara.
• 
  Leean Cabantog

  An educational book for my college course, very useful!
• 
  Mike

  This is the most fantastic and complete architectural reference I have ever encountered.
  
  No one knows all the little, pedantic architectural terms you need to study the built world. This book not only has all of them but is full of beautiful and informative illustrations. Everyone who studies architecture; students in: art history, architecture, historic preservation and engineering should have a copy of this book on hand.
  
  Check it out from a library, see how useful it is and then go buy it.
  
• 
  EJ Portento

  If you ever want to study architecture and just enjoy it, I'll highly recommend you this book. Really good! Although I already finished reading this, I'm sure that I'll read this over and over again.
  
  I think this is the first ever non fiction book that I have ever give a five star to. D.K. Ching deserved it, he helped a lot of us in our field to understand it better.
• 
  Ed Crutchley

  A priceless largish format book for anyone looking to improve their fluency in architectural terminology. The book is built around clearly drawn illustrations, which account for about two thirds of the space, related to subjects that range from arches to beams, bricks, roofs, trusses, foundations, etc. Explanations are precise and there is an index of all the terms used.
• 
  Elaine

  I have read this book during my review for the board exams and I found it very useful. Everything was categorized, illustrated and described for easy reference and understanding. So far, this is the best reference for students of architecture and design.
• 
  Maryam Shahriari

  نوشتن درباره کتاب‌هایی که با استرس برای کنکور خوندی کار آسونی نیست. خوندن‌هایی که بعضاً فقط به هدف در ذهن موندن تا کنکور بوده نه در ذهن موندن تا همیشه! :|‏
  
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  ولی مسلماً کتاب ضروری‌ای هست برای هر معماری که می‌خواد به کشف مطالب به روز دنیا (به زبانی بین‌المللی) تسلط داشته باشه.‏‏
  
  
  
  زمستان 90
• 
  Rebecca

  A visual exploration of architectural spaces, using structures around the world. Terrific book for students of all levels.
• 
  Dawn

  Very useful to have at hand.
• 
  DJ Yossarian

  An indispensable reference, and just flat out fun to leaf through at random.
• 
  Madhu murugesan

  A must have book for all architects.....it's simply a bible for architecture....nothing more to say
• 
  Ron J Roy

  Visual and concise, an excellent resource for humanity.
• 
  Kristi

  Excellent reference manual.
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  Rebecca

  Handy book when you're learning how to describe buildings.