AIA Guide to the Architecture of Washington, D.C.

Our capital's architectural pomposity, and its desperate desire to emulate the great planned European seats of power, are on full display here.Written in standard AIA format, the authors are sensitive to, and critical of, the overbearing classicism of the city. But for all its self absorption, unrestrained classicism is really what makes the city interesting and distinct. People come here to see big, monumental, classical structures. This book presents them all to the reader.The book is organized into tours by geographical area. The entries are framed by brief descriptions that offer surprisingly insightful critical commentary. There is a small black & white photograph for each entry, which shows you what the building looks like from the street.There are 400 sites included, all of which lie within the District. As one would expect, many of the sites are historic or neo-classical buildings concentrated in the so-called "tourist" areas of the city, but important landmarks away from the Mall, or outside NW, are also included. There are more than a few modern sites too. The catalog is surprisingly comprehensive, though it is really about public buildings. Gardens and parks are thinly represented, as are the historic houses of Georgetown.Now in its fifth edition, this book is a well-refined guide for readers with an intense interest in the subject. I would recommend to architectural historians and serious cultural tourists.

This book may seem like too much of a good thing but it is not. It actually lends itself to picking up and purusing. There is an highly readable brief history of the architecture of DC in the front. Then the book is organized into realistic neighborhood sections. Unless you live in DC, visit often or plan to make architecture the focus of your visit it may not be the book to carry in your bag. My only wish would be for a few illustrations of some of the key features of different architectural styles like what you see in the Michelin Green Guides. Even without that however it is a very interesting and informative book and one I will make great use of as a new resident of the city and one who expects A LOT of house guests.

If you want in depth information about historical buildings in Washington DC, this book by the American Institute of Architects is your perfect choice. However, this is NOT a tourist guide. If you want a book to visit DC, you have to look elsewhere. But if you are interested in history and architecture of the American Capital you will find in this book the most accurate source of information.

This is a thorough guide to architecture, both old and new, in the nation's capital. In addition to the usual tourist sights, it covers a number of residential areas, especially those in the Northwest quadrant. In addition to a photo and text summarizig the historical and design features of each structure, there are maps and summaire for each area. Howver, because it doesn't list the visiting hours and sights of public buildings, it is less useful for the average tourist.

Excellent book for those who want to explore D.C. on foot. Even for those familiar with D.C., the discoveries are amazing. But, to enable one to make one's own judgment about the affect of D.C.'s edifices, best to carry as a companion the similar book of D.C. architecture edited by APA folks, i.e., planners!!