Rice's Language of Buildings

Description

The Language of Buildings covers the grammar and vocabulary of British buildings, explaining the evolution of styles from Norman castles to Norman Foster. Its aim is to enable the reader to recognise, understand and date any British building. As Matthew Rice says, 'Once you can speak any language, conversation can begin, but without it communications can only be brief and brutish. The same is the case with Architecture: an inability to describe the component parts of a building leaves one tongue-tied and unable to begin to discuss what is or is not exciting, dull or peculiar about it.' The Language of Buildings will explain the language of architecture. With it in your hand, bag or car, buildings will break down beguilingly into their component parts, ready for inspection and discussion. There will be no more references to that curly bit on top of the thing with the square protrusions. Ungainly and inept descriptions will be a thing of the past and, fluent in the world of volutes, hood moulds, lobed architraves and bucrania, you will be able to leave a cathedral or country house with as much to talk about as a film or play. The Language of Buildings starts with an explanation of the basic 'Grammar' of buildings: elevation, plan, roof, gable and eave. This will enable the reader to better make use of what is to follow. It will also cover the Orders of Architecture - Doric, Tuscan, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite - so that the vital basics of Classicism are covered. Following this is the 'Vocabulary'. This will be a chronological reference section covering, period by period, the windows, doors and doorcases, columns, chimneys, arches, balustrades and pediments that make up the built environment.

Matthew Rice is a writer and illustrator who thought he knew lots about British architecture until he started to write and illustrate this book. His message to readers is, if you want to understand a building, sit in front of it and draw it. You might also have seen his work in Country Life, on his own calendar or on much of his wife Emma Bridgewater's pottery. He lives in Oxford and Norfolk.

A rather handsome tome looking at the grammar and vocabulary of British buildings * Cotswold Life * Nearly a decade on from the original book, the layman's interest in architecture is growing * Daily Telegraph *