Customer Reviews

Illustrated Handbook of Vernacular Architecture

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First published in 1963, the "Illustrated Handbook of Vernacular Architecture" is now in its fourth printing. At the time, Brunskill was a pioneer in the study of English vernacular architecture. This book was a starting point for a number of scholars who have gone on to document England's rich historical architecture legacy.

I am a collector of field guides of American architecture. Most of these guides concentrate on distinguishing different architectural styles. As an American, what I found so intersting about this work is that Brunskill is not interested in distinguishing different styles but instead he takes more of a constructivist approach to the subject. His interest is in building construction details. Brunskill devotes whole sections to the evolution of doors, windows and tiles. What also seperates this book from the other guides that I own, is his interest in vernacular industrial buildings. This is a very interesting book and I would especially recommend it to people interested in American colonial architecture.