Top 15 Best Architecture Books You Should Read

Architect people are energetic and create fascinating buildings around the world. The main problem is that they do not often have the time to read. From the student to professional admit they have many architecture books unread on the shelves that are unfortunate. Building is complex yet fascinating subject to understand. We have the top 15 best architecture books you should read available here to make this subject easier for you.

Learn to grow with these books in becoming an architect fan and understand the basics of the field. Each book enriched with the knowledge to help you find your way around the construction world and become a fellow engineer.


Top 15 Best Architecture Books You Should Read

1. Mathew Frederick: 101 Things I Learned in Architecture

Mathew Frederick: 101 Things I Learned in Architecture- Architecture BooksThe 101 Things I Learned in Architecture by Mathew Frederick a must have architecture book for any student or professional to have. For the student, their professors may not agree with the language set up in the book as Mathew expresses his thoughts clear. He tends to make the subject dark and obscure.

In the book, you will find lessons in design, drawing, creative processing, and presentation. Learn the basics of drawing lines to more multifaceted theories. The hardcover 2016-page book has a two-page format included with illustrations. Illustrations are easy to follow in the book and Mathew explains with examples the bad and good of drawing lines.

The book is a valuable guidepost for all planning, making sure they return to reading the book with its inspirational foundation. Take this book with you in your backpack as it has a pocket size and full of advice.

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2. Geoff Manaugh: The BLDGBLOG Book

Geoff Manaugh: The BLDGBLOG Book- Architecture BooksNeed information on landscaping, architecture, and building in different environments, Geoff Manaugh architecture book the BLDGBLOG is necessary to read. The guides filled with ideas that lead you into the future of design. View stunning images with new content and see the vision through Geoff’s eyes.

The book has different parts from being a travelogue, manifesto to sci-fi novel. Compared to other architectural novels this book is completely different to what you are used to reading about in this type of book filled with many ideas and interesting to read. The paperback has interesting perspectives spread over 272-pages. From Urban, the sky, landscapes to sound.

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3. Aaron Betsky: Translation

Aaron Betsky: Translation- Architecture BooksTranslation is a paperback architect book with information spread over 256-pages about Fernando Romero. Fernando is an designer well known throughout Mexico. Read about his projects that include Fluid Bodies his private project and how to address certain situations when it comes to using high-tech resources.

Find illustrations of his famous work the Modern Wetdream project a renowned villa at the Pacific Ocean, the Inbursa back a prestigious avenue in Mexico City with laminated glass. The book addresses his contemporary outlook via the process of architectural translation.

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4. Center for Environmental Structure Studies: A Pattern Language

Center for Environmental Structure Studies: A Pattern Language- Architecture BooksWant to design a house you can with the Center for Environmental Structure Studies book A Pattern Language. Use the book with your neighbors to improve your neighborhood and town. The architecture books packed with information to design offices, public buildings, and workshops. Learn the process of designing through to construction with the book.

The book approaches a new prospect to building and planning and is the 3rd book of a complete series. With the A Pattern Language book, you get answers to all your design questions such as how high should a window threshold be, and how much space do you need in a neighborhood for parks. For relativistic environmental design, this book is a student’s bible.

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5. Le Corbusier: Towards a New Architecture

Le Corbusier: Towards a New Architecture- Architecture BooksA New Architecture by Le Corbusier is a book filled with a collection of essays on the concept of modern architecture. This manifesto is a guide for architects and others filled with architectural theory. The book is a bit critical and made up of seven essays. Read the essays as Le Corbusier dismisses the present-day trends of eclecticism and art deco, replacing them with architecture fundamentals, changing how humans relate to buildings.

The essays are spread over 312-pages and available in a paperback form. This book is a must for any architect as Le Corbusier bounces back and forth from being brilliant to stupid as he makes superb points by answering his own idiotic and outrageous questions.

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6. Phaidon Press Editors: 10 x 10 Architecture

Phaidon Press Editors: 10 x 10 Architecture- Architecture BooksThe 10 x 10 Architecture book by Phaidon Press Editors gives you a view of how building functions in the modern world today. They selected 100 international architects and critics with illustrations of objects, movements, themes, films and more that influenced the design environment over the years.

The book looks at what impact planning will have in the design of buildings in the upcoming future. With the plastic lenticular 3D designed cover, the book has 468-pages with up to 1,500 images. The information is set up alphabetically in an A-Z format. There are more than 200 buildings and projects featured in 10 x 10. The book is pleasing to the eye with perfect presentations.

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7. Design Intelligence: Almanac of Architect & Design 2009

Design Intelligence: Almanac of Architect & Design 2009- Architecture BooksThe Almanac of Architect & Design 2009 is the 10th edition by Design Intelligence. What is the tallest building and do you know which firms received winning architecture rewards? Find out in this book as it highlights 2009 design award benchmarks, sustainable innovation records, watershed events and much more. The book is a resource for all to enjoy while reading. You can buy the book in a paperback form with 590-pages.

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8. Donna Goodman: A History of the Future

Donna Goodman: A History of the Future- Architecture BooksA History of the Future by Donna Goodman makes for one of the best architect books to read. The book explores what the impact of modern technology has on design & planning. Donna begins the book with Renaissance concepts and concludes it with emerging projects found in a sustainable design. Furthermore, it includes projects related to different fields of industrial design, photography, and films.

The book is suitable for everyone and not only dictated to engineers. The hardcover books packed with 250-pages and an essential guide for historians from different fields of life. The illustrations nice and well researched. You can learn all about the collision that planning has in the industrial revolution right through to media.

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9. Mike Davis: Ecology of Fear

Mike Davis: Ecology of Fear- Architecture BooksThe Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster paperback book by Mike Davis is a fantasy life book. The book depicts on disasters of Los Angeles past. The inspiring book may concentrate on Los Angeles but there are many lessons to learn what impact these disasters has on our natural ecosystem when it comes to development. If you live in the city that has gone through many developmental changes over the years it is a must read.

The book is not dull and written in an energetic style with interesting and frightening facts. There are 496-pages in this paperback book with truth spread over all the pages an island placed close to a hostile sea. Many readers will see this book as a historical version of Los Angeles itself.

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10. Lee W. Waldrep: Becoming an Architect

Lee W. Waldrep: Becoming an Architect- Architecture BooksDo you want to find out what you need to do to become an architect? Lee W. Waldrep answers all your questions in this 320-page paperback book Becoming an Architect. For an up-to-date guide on architecture requirements, all the answers lie in this book to make a successful career of it. Read insights from leaders in architect as it covers everything from the education to registration needs. You can find valuable resources on organizations, accredited architecture programs, and websites to visit.

The hands-on book enables you to understand and apply for architect education, the exam, and experience. Read some of the in-depth reviews and profiles of different architects and the alternative paths you can pursue when studying architecture.

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11. Robert Venturi: Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture

Robert Venturi: Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture- Architecture BooksThe Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture by Robert Venturi is a hardcover book. The writing of the books influenced by the historical documentation influenced in the 1960’s and how architecture evolved over thousands of years. Venturi shows you that there is no straight line when you approach architecture but an ambiguous path to follow. One can learn many lessons in the book and is just as valuable today as the 1st time it appeared in 1966.

Venturi has inspired many architects around the world – he may have been a gray architect but started a postmodern movement in the architect world. The book has some outstanding imagery available in the glossy pages.

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12. Robert Venturi & Denise Scott Brown: Learning from Las Vegas

Robert Venturi & Denise Scott Brown: Learning from Las Vegas- Architecture BooksIn the book, Learning from Las Vegas Robert Venturi & Denise Scott Brown makes architects, more aware of the values of common people and they need to become more receptive when creating new designs. The revised book is available in paperback format with 193-pages. The architecture book has some interesting gems within the pages and can even inspire you to write a great final essay and makes for a good read. You can also buy the book in a hardcover form as well.

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13. Aldo Rossi: The Architecture of the City

Aldo Rossi: The Architecture of the City- Architecture BooksAnother reprinted edition is The Architecture of the City by Aldo Rossi. He is the leader of the architectural movement in Italy. The book is a masterpiece of both architectural and urban theory. According to him, the craft of architecture needs restoring to its former glory and is one of the best architecture books you should read.

The original book originated more than 17 years ago when student movements in Italy were high. The paperback book has 208-pages and displays that architecture grows from the past and traditions of the human culture. Furthermore, it explains the uniting of building typology & urban morphology. You will gain a basic understanding of the thought behind city structure changes taking place over time.

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14. Colin Rowe & Fred Koetter: Collage City

Colin Rowe & Fred Koetter: Collage City- Architecture BooksThe reprinted edition Collage City by Colin Rowe & Fred Koetter gives a critical review of current theories when it comes to urban planning, design, and role of structural planning. Many found the book brilliant to read and witty as well. Be intrigued and enlightened with this thesis about modern architecture.

The book is in paperback format with 192-pages. Read about the difficulty and potentials of art in urban design as Colin critics the Modern Projects and comes highly recommended for graduate-level theorists and urban design students.

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15. Rem Koolhass: Delirious New York

Rem Koolhass: Delirious New York- Architecture BooksDelirious New York is a manifesto for Manhattan and written by Rem Koolhass. You can buy the book in Kindle and Paperback format. Read about the social history of New York as he depicts the metropolis as a place with a diverse population and the changes that took place in architecture over the years.

He puts a new perspective and light on Manhattan as the books filled with fascinating facts and photographs. The paperback version consists of 320 pages and is a study of Coney Island seen as the laboratory of Manhattan as it deals with development taking place over years. This theoretical approach is built around architectural history and planning.

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If you want to learn more about architecture or just enjoy reading about how this intriguing subject came into existence, you can find all your answers in our top 15 best architecture books you should read. The books filled with stories of old to modern designs in the 20th century. Find out how you can study in the field and what you need to become a great architect of the modern age today.

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