Wonders of the World
Edited by Francesco Boccia

Hardcover, 176pp
Publisher: Barnes & Noble
Pub. Date: November 2007
ISBN-13: 9781435100206

B&N online price: $19.98
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SYNOPSIS
The majestic pyramids and temples of Egypt, great monuments of the Greek and Roman worlds, gems of European medieval and Renaissance architecture and extraordinary works designed by acclaimed contemporary masters are just a few of the works showcased in this exploration of the history of architectural creativity.

The book embarks on a long and complex journey that uses words and images, commentaries and photographs, as fundamental tools to help readers grasp the essence and grandeur of these masterpieces. As detailed, careful and evocative as any account may be, no simple description of the structures, surfaces, materials and colors of these architectural works can convey their full complexity.

By the same token, photographs alone — without explanatory texts or a brief overview of the vision behind these works — cannot do them justice. Words and images are essential and inseparable elements in bringing to life a work of architecture and, on a more general level, in the difficult art of creating communication. The unity and relationship of these forms of conveying thought and visible reality have the ability to inspire us — and that is the intention of this book.

Following a chronological order, this book goes from the Pyramids of Giza to the Parthenon in Athens, from the Chinese Wall to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, and from the Opera House in Sydney to the Hotel Burj-Al-Arab in Dubai.

(In a new format in which this volume is published, from White Star Publishers, pictures are accompanied by a graphic and modern layout, which works as an ideal frame for the historical texts written by well-known experts in art and architecture.)

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Francesco Boccia (Milan, 1967) contributes to numerous trade periodicals and works as a freelance architect. His publications include Masterpieces of Modern Architecture (2006) and La ricostruzione virtuale del Teatro alla Scala (1996).