Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World

Vernacular - or traditional - architecture encompasses most of the buildings of the world. This encyclopedia is the first to show the remarkable diversity of the buildings constructed and lived in by the people of over a thousand cultures. The first of the three volumes focuses on the theories, principles and philosophy that underpin traditional architecture. Volumes 2 and 3 consider these principles within specific cultural and societal contexts. As building traditions vary widely within some countries and extend across the political boundaries of others, the encyclopedia considers vernacular architecture within its cultural rather than its national contexts. Richly illustrated with photographs, line drawings and maps, the work is also supported by a glossary, a lexicon, and the largest bibliography on the subject ever published. This work will be an inspiration and resource for architects, anthropologists, folklorists and geographers, and important for all who help shape housing and conservation policies.

• The first encyclopedia ever compiled on this subject
• Over 750 contributors from more than 80 countries
• More than 1,700 photographs, 1,000 line drawings including plans, diagrams, and computer-generated projections; 80 regional maps; c. 2,500 pages
• Comparative Lexicon of 500 terms used in the study of vernacular architecture with translations into French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic
• Glossary of over 1,200 specialist architectural or anthropological terms
• Largest bibliography to have been published on the subject, with over 9,000 references
• An essential reference work for architects, anthropologists, geographers, folklorists, planners, historians, conservationists and all those who work in, or are concerned with, the built environment
• Published in three volumes