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.

About the Author

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).

Reviews
"A superbly illustrated crash course on metropolitan architecture." * This England *
"The perfect companion for anyone who walks the capital, or anyone interested in London's architectural history." * The London Society *
"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." * Daily Telegraph *



Book Information
ISBN 9781782404521
Author Chris Rogers
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Ivy Press
Publisher Quarto Publishing PLC