The Visual Dictionary of American Domestic Architecture

Have you ever wondered how a tipi is constructed, how double-hung windows work, or how a Colonial mason laid up a brick wall? An indispensable resource for students, design professionals, and anyone who would simply like to know more about the buildings around them, The Visual Dictionary of American Domestic Architecture has all the answers. Here at last is a reference book that not only explores the many styles of American housing, much as a field guide might, but also identifies the materials, structural underpinnings, and innumerable elements - from arches to crockets to firebacks to gargoyles - that make a building what it is. Designed for easy use, the dictionary presents its subject visually, through the universal language of pictures. More than 500 detailed illustrations were created specifically for this authoritative volume, and all are clearly labeled for quick reference. The book is arranged chronologically, and each chapter offers a comprehensive look at a particular type, period, or style of domestic architecture. Rather than a single representative illustration, you will find several exterior views showing regional and stylistic variations, including high-style townho