Fundamentals
The Hidden Dimension
by Edward T. Hall
This is not exactly an architecture book, but it's a very interesting read about the invisible boundaries between people. It talks about the science behind how a person's use of space can affect their psychology and interactions with others, and how it can inform urban planning and architecture.
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Form, Space, and Order
by Francis Ching
New to architecture? Start here. A veteran architect looking for inspiration? Come back here. This is the best introduction to architectural concepts, with beautiful hand sketched illustrations and text.
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Understanding Architecture
by Leland M. Roth
This book covers the history, meaning, and function of Western architecture. Although it can be a little dry, (don’t say I didn’t warn you!) reading this book will give you a really good foundation for architecture and give you a good understanding of how and why architectural styles and phases came and went.
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101 Things I Learned in Architecture School
by Matthew Frederick
I actually got this book after I graduated from architecture school, but I still found it immensely valuable. This is a concise and straightforward book that explains everything from design to presentation techniques. It explains the rules of design in an objective, matter-of-fact way, and I have found it incredibly refreshing to see a book like this in a subjective, opinion-based world that is design. I would suggest reading this book before or during the studio. It could help you design and speak about your designs in a more intelligible way and get better feedback as a result.
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Architectural Graphics
by Francis Ching
The very first architecture book I ever bought, before I even knew what a plan, section, or elevation was! Great for building fundamental graphic skills.
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Manual of Section
by Paul Lewis, Marc Tsurumaki, and David J. Lewis
We're taught that plan is the generator of the design, but I always start thinking in sections as early as possible. This book illustrates the sections of well known buildings, sometimes revealing qualities about the buildings you hadn't seen before.
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Design Drawings
by Francis Ching
Even with all the digital tools available to us, we still hand sketch every day to communicate our ideas and I think sketching is still the most fundamental skill every designer should try to develop. This hand-sketched (of course), beautifully illustrated book is a classic guide that walks you through sketching at every step of the architectural process.
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