Description

By (author) Rogers Chris

Short /annotation

How to Read London reveals through the built environment how London’s domestic, civic and commercial landscape has evolved and adapted from imperial capital to global city.

Over 2,000 years of settlement give London its unique architectural heritage. Unlike Haussmann’s Paris, neither monarch nor politician imposed their will; private ownership and enterprise shaped the city and defined its parts. Elegant West End squares and crescents hallmark the Classical townscape that emerged between 1600 and 1830, but medieval, Tudor and Victorian enclaves identified by occupation, class or guild make their own design statement, notably in the City and East End. From its renewal after the Great Fire of 1666 as a centre of commerce, culture, finance and as a railway hub, the seat of power and law, How to Read London reveals through the built environment how London’s domestic, civic and commercial landscape has evolved and adapted from imperial capital to global city.

Review quote
“A superbly illustrated crash course on metropolitan architecture.”

Review quote
“The perfect companion for anyone who walks the capital, or anyone interested in London’s architectural history.”

Review quote
“How to Read London comes in handy. It”s divided into seven time periods, with nifty diagrams, clear explanations of what you”re seeing and details of dates, architects and engineers.”

Biographical note

Chris Rogers writes on architecture and visual culture, informed by twenty years of investigation, research and conversations with practitioners. He creates and leads architectural tours, often working closely with architects, and is the author of The Power of Process: The Architecture of Michael Pearson (2010) and How to Read Paris (2016).

Feature
A picture-led resource for architects, historians, and tourists

Feature
An accessible visual guide to the architectural features and significance of some of the capital’s most notable buildings

Feature
Creates a vocabulary of building types and styles, then applies these to a discursive study of London’s domestic, civic, commercial, and industrial highlights