Invitation to Architecture

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This book discusses what differentiates 'architecture' from 'building', focusing on a whole range of architectural works. It explores the role of the Roman concepts of 'durability', 'utility', and 'beauty', the heart of what architecture strives for. In this engaging, original work, Max Jacobson and Shelley Brock present a compelling case for the importance of architecture in our day-to-day lives. The book explores what differentiates 'architecture' from 'building', focusing not only on the 'great' buildings of the world but also on the whole range of architectural works from indigenous structures to contemporary buildings. The core of the book is an exploration of the role of 'durability', 'utility', and 'beauty' in architecture. These three concepts (originally coined by Vitruvius during the Roman empire as Firmitas, Utilitas, and Venustas) remain at the heart of what architecture strives for.