A reference for anyone interested in houses. Following the format of "The Art Book", it presents houses and dwellings from all periods and all corners of the globe. The houses selected represent a broad variety of styles, structures and aesthetics. From Hadrian"s Villa to Palladio"s Villa Rotonda to Le Corbusier"s Villa Savoye and the contemporary houses of Richard Rogers or Frank Gehry, it features a range of architect-designed houses as well as traditional types of dwelling. There are 500 houses altogether, each classified by architect, designer, patron or cultural tribe and people, in A to Z format. There is a full-page reproduction of each house and a text that describes the building, placing it and its designer in its historical context. The volume also includes an easy-to-use glossary of technical terms and movements, and a directory of houses open to the public.