When you think of “reference architecture” you probably think of buildings that you can buy for $150 or less, but a new book has just made this term a little bit more palatable.
The New York Times published a new collection of reference architecture literature that includes books by architects such as Richard Meier and Daniel Mabry, architects who have built many iconic buildings.
But the best reference books are ones that give you a sense of what to expect from the building itself, rather than the details.
That means you’ll be able to easily look at a classic design, or even a design from a hundred years ago, and see what makes it so special.
The books have a mix of contemporary architecture, like modernist design by Frank Gehry, as well as classic buildings like the Grand Hyatt Hotel by Alexander McQueen.
And the authors are happy to include references to architectural history, including works by James Burnham and Frank Lloyd Wright.
Some of the best books are listed below, but you can also pick up a copy of this new collection here.
