Cyril M. Harris (1) (1917–2011)

Reading older literary descriptions often send me to the dictionary. When a building or a room is described, writers will use the proper term for a feature, such as an encarpus to describe something. What’s an encarpus? My dictionary says “an ornament on a frieze or capital consisting of festoons (as of fruit or flowers).” What’s a festoon? From the same source, it’s “a decorative chain or strip hanging between two points.” All well and good, but without seeing a picture, how show more do you know what you’re looking for? Well, in our age, Google is a place to go. But for a one stop resource nothing beats a specialized book on the subject. The Illustrated Dictionary of Historic Architecture was just what I was looking for. The editor, Cyril Harris, had collected thousands of old line drawings from historical books and chosen prime examples to illustrate the details described. It’s a fun book to just to leaf through, as you find something interesting on every page. It’s a great tool for architects, historians, artists, graphic designers and even English professors.

In my personal experience, I’ve already found it useful. A neighbor of mine, a contractor, was expanding a home. At the end of one particularly long day working on the project, he stopped over and we had a chat. He mentioned that he was having trouble with his new roof trusses as the house’s existing ones didn’t match up on each side. This was a particular problem as it was a gambrel roof. Before owing this book, I would have nodded along as if I knew what the heck that was and why it was a problem. But thanks to Cyril Harris, I now know that a gambrel roof is a roof with two pitches on each side, and with the attached illustration know that it’s the typical roof found on an American barn. So just from casually flipping through the book a few times, I’d already learned something that kept me from looking like a fool! show less

With its definitions and fabulous line drawings to illustrate, this book sits on my desk as my go-to reference for all architectural words and concepts.

n this volume, noted Columbia University Professor of Architecture Cyril M. Harris offers a unique tour through the entire history of architecture: an extraordinary compendium of clear, concise definitions for over 5,000 important terms. This thoroughly accurate and comprehensive gathering of architectural knowledge is complemented by an unprecedented collection of over 2,000 line drawings that richly illustrate significant aspects of architectural styles. Unusual cutaway views, close-ups of show more intricate details, and precisely rendered plans show many of the greatest architectural achievements of all time. From ancient ruins to twentieth-century Modernism, the Illustrated Dictionary of Historic Architecture covers the full spectrum of architecture's rise and development. Subject areas include the following periods: Ancient, Islamic, Greek and Hellenistic, Mesoamerican, Roman, Romanesque, Early Christian, Gothic, Renaissance, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, and Modern. This volume is an important research tool that places particular emphasis on clarity and accuracy. For the architect, artist, historian, student, teacher, or architecture enthusiast, this valuable guide offers indispensable information and lucid illustrations covering the whole of architecture. show less

Useful for getting up to speed on plumbing and fire protection. I used it to prepare for the Architectural Engineering Principals and Practices (AEPE) exam, and heavily referenced it during the exam.