This is the first comprehensive study of North American buildings that integrates architectural styles with furniture, design, and social and cultural history from the 17th century to the present. Gowans' main theme is the relationship of buildings to cultural ideas, values, and social function. Styles covered are Utilitarian, Colonial, Classical Revival, Gothic Revival, Picturesque, Academic, Modern, Popular/Commercial, and Postmodern. He explains each style's social function, what it did in and for the society of its time, how it was applied to various historic architectural types and what substyles it engendered. The 564 photographs and drawings, from many different sources, illustrate the material. The appendix categorizes the styles and substyles, types and subtypes of North American architecture.
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