REACHING FOR THE SKY: ARCHITECTURE FROM THE TOWER OF BABEL TO HOLLYWOOD BABYLON Instant Architecture surveys the striking history of building and design from the ziggurats of Mesopotamia to the tip of New York's Empire State Building. Lively, informative, and vastly entertaining, this colorful chronicle explains how (and when) key architectural trends first arose, explores the major styles and movements in construction, and showcases the most famous designs and engineering marvels of all time. What do Greek temples and Thomas Jefferson's home have in common? What are the technical wonders behind the Roman aqueducts and the Brooklyn and Golden Gate bridges? Why is Notre Dame one of the world's most famous structures--beyond its notorious resident? Instant Architecture leaves no stone unturned: --Learn whether nature or tourism caused the campanile at Pisa to lean at that crazy angle. --Discover which castle in Bavaria served as the model for Disneyland's famous icon. --Find out how Vitruvius became the original spin doctor of design. --Get the dirt on the constructive elements of Decontructivism. --Determine why the Sony Building's roofline in Manhattan looks like a Chippendale highboy. Instant Architecture is crammed with special features including listings of the pivotal projects of each time period, a glossary of architectural terms, pithy descriptions of building techniques, and a host of architectural drawings and photographs. INSTANT ARCHITECTURE It's in a class by itself. THE SKY: ARCHITECTURE FROM THE TOWER OF BABEL TO HOLLYWOOD BABYLON Instant Architecture surveys the striking history of building and design from the ziggurats of Mesopotamia to the tip of New York's Empire State Building. Lively, informative, and vastly entertaining, this colorful chronicle explains how (and when) key architectural trends first arose, explores the major styles and movements in construction, and showcases the most famous designs and engineering marvels of all time. What do Greek temples and Thomas Jefferson's home have in common? What are the technical wonders behind the Roman aqueducts and the Brooklyn and Golden Gate bridges? Why is Notre Dame one of the world's most famous structures--beyond its notorious resident? Instant Architecture leaves no stone unturned: --Learn whether nature or tourism caused the campanile at Pisa to lean at that crazy angle. --Discover which castle in Bavaria served as the model for Disneyland's famous icon. --Find out how V