Architecture is one of the most important aspects of our lives. We can see the marvels of architecture around us in our daily lives. The ancient Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China or the Burj Khalifa in Dubai all these are the wonders of architecture.

Best Books of Architecture

If you are looking to find the best books of architecture then you have come to the right place. We have compiled a list of some of the best books of architecture based on their content, ratings, length of the book and available edition. So let’s start off with our list.

1. Made for Living

Made for Living: Collected Interiors for All Sorts of Styles is number one best book of architecture in our list. The book is written by Amber Lewis. Amber Lewis is an interior designer by profession and founder of Lewis Interiors. Made for Living is a national bestseller book. The book explains the power of color. It uniquely elaborates about the details in interior designing. Made for living streamlines the art of styling, structural spaces and flows.

Made for Living: Collected Interiors for All Sorts of Styles consist of 4 Chapters. This book was published in 2020 by Crown Publishing Group and Clarkson Potter Publishers. The length of the book is 288 Pages. As of today the book is available in two formats only.

Length: 288 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle eBook, Hardcover

Latest Version: Illustrated Edition

Rating: 4.8 out of 5


2. Homebody

Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave is in our list the second-best book of architecture. The author of the book is Joanna Gaines. Joanna Gaines is a lead designer and co-founder of Magnolia. This book is a New York Times Bestseller. The book guides you in identifying your design styles. It will help you in designing the entryways, living-rooms, kitchens, dining room, bedroom and much more.

Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave has 12 Chapters. The book was published in 2018 by Harper Design Publishers. The length of the book is 352 Pages. The book is available in two formats.

Length: 352 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle eBook, Hardcover

Latest Version: Illustrated Edition

Rating: 4.8 out of 5


3. Elements of Style

Elements of Style: Designing a Home & a Life is an illustrated book of architecture written by Erin Gates. Erin Gates is an interior designer and blogger. Her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal. This book Element of Style is a New York Times Bestseller book. The book will help you in designing your home interior. This book will help you in designing and decorating your home entrance, living room, kitchen, dining room, bathroom and everything else in your home.

Elements of Style: Designing a Home & a Life has 11 Chapters. The book was published by Simon & Schuster back in 2014. The length of the book is 336 Pages. The book is available in two formats.

Length: 336 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle eBook, Hardcover

Latest Version: Illustrated Edition

Rating: 4.8 out of 5


4. The Finer Things

The Finer Things: Timeless Furniture, Textiles, and Details another best book of architecture in our list authored by Christiane Lemieux. Christiane Lemieux is founder of Lemieux Et Cie company. The Finer Things is a guide on understanding the fundamental elements of house interior designing and decor. 

The Finer Things: Timeless Furniture, Textiles, and Details has 5 Chapters. The book was published by Crown Publishing Group in 2016. The length of the book is 416 Pages. The book is available in one format.

Length: 416 Pages

Available Formats: Hardcover

Latest Version: Illustrated Edition

Rating: 4.8 out of 5


5. Structures

Structures: Or Why Things Don’t Fall Down is one the best textbook of architecture written by James Edward Gordon. James Edward Gordon is founder of Material Science and Biomechanics. This book is among the books which inspired Elon Musk. This book covers basic forces that hold the ordinary and essential structures of the world with encyclopedic references.

Structures: Or Why Things Don’t Fall consist of 16 Chapters. The book was originally published in 1978 by Penguin Adult but later revised edition was published in 1991 by Da Capo Press. The length of the book 421 Pages. The book is available in different formats. 

Length: 421 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle eBook, Hardcover, Paperback

Latest Version: Revised 1st Edition

Rating: 4.7 out of 5


6. A Pattern Language

A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction is written by six authors i.e., Christopher Alexander, Sara Ishikawa, Murray Silverstein, Max Jacobson, Ingrid Fiksdahl-King and Shlomo Angel. Christopher Alexander is an influential architect and design theorist. He is a professor at University of California. You can use this book to design and build any physical structure.

A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction consist of mainly 3 Chapters. The book was originally published by Oxford University Press in 1977. The length of the book 1171 Pages. The book is available in different formats.

Length: 1171 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle eBook, Hardcover

Latest Version: 1st Edition

Rating: 4.7 out of 5


7. Building Codes Illustrated

Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the 2018 International Building Code is authored by Francis D. K. Ching and Steven R. Winkel. Francis D. K. Ching is a Hawaiian architect and designer. He was a professor at the University of Washington. Francis D. K. Ching has written many bestseller books. This book will help you in designing and building architectures step-by-step.

Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding consists of ­­20 Chapters. The book was published in 2018 by John Wiley & Sons Publishers. The length of the book is 480 Pages. This book is a great textbook for students and teachers alike.

Length: 480 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle eBook, Hardcover

Latest Version: 7th Edition

Rating: 4.7 out of 5


8. The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice

The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice has been produced by American Institute of Architects since 1920. It presents the guidance for latest trends in the field of architecture. This book emphasises that an architect must have to be proficient in a variety of business practices.

The Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice has 17 Chapters.  The book was published in 2013 by John Wiley & Sons Publishers. The length of the book is 1184 Pages. This book is available in two formats.

Length: 1184 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle eBook, Hardcover

Latest Version: 15th Edition

Rating: 4.7 out of 5


9. Fundamentals of Building Construction

Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods is written by Edward Allen and Joseph Iano. Edward Allen was architecture professor at MIT and Joseph Iano is a design and technology professor, respectively. Fundamentals of Building Construction is considered the number one reference book on building construction.

Fundamentals of Building Construction has 24 Chapters in total. The book was originally published in 1985. Today you can get the 7th edition of the book which was published in 2019 by John Wiley & Sons Publishers. The length of the book is 944 Pages. The latest version of the book is available in two formats only.

Length: 944 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle eBook, Hardcover

Latest Version: 7th Edition

Rating: 4.7 out of 5


10. The 99% Invisible City

The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design is a mix of pictures and text. The book is written by Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt. Roman Mars and Kurt Kohlstedt are hosts of 99 % Invisible Podcast which is about design and architecture. The book is New York Times, Washington Post, Usa Today, and Publishers Weekly Bestseller.

The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design 6 Chapters. The book was published in 2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers. The length of the book is 400 Pages. The latest version of the book is available in two formats only.

Length: 400 Pages

Available Formats: Kindle eBook, Audiobook, Hardcover

Latest Version: Illustrated Edition

Rating: 4.8 out of 5

These are some of the best books of architecture based on OUR research. You may like them or not. We will leave it to you. What do you think about these books? Let us know in the comments.