Classical Architecture: A Complete Handbook

Coinciding with the widespread revival of classicism, this is a guide to classical architecture, covering elementary rules and offering practical information on the subject. The format is intended to evoke an 18th-century pattern book but with a contemporary style of drawing and writing, treating the subject authoritatively but also with wit and humour. The book will cover the general historical background to classical architecture, its application to a wide range of building types and the practical and symbolic significance of the "orders" (doric, ionic, etc.). The common features of classical buildings will be treated as pure design and as practical building problems. Further details, such as doors, porticos, fireplaces and ornamental additions like obelisks and decorative mouldings will be illustrated in a series of examples. A final section will analyze the composition of classical facades and complete buildings.