The Language of Buildings covers the grammar and vocabulary of British buildings, explaining the evolution of styles from Norman castles to Norman Foster. Its aim is to enable the reader to recognise, understand and date any British building.

Each chapter begins with an introduction to the period so as to give context to the drawings that follow. As my work centers around old buildings and traditional architecture, this book was a pleasure for me to read. Every section provides just enough information about the architectural design that was typical of a particular period from Medieval to Modern Day. As Matthew Rice says, "Once you can speak any language, conversation can begin, but without it communications can only be brief and brutish. The same is the case with an inability to describe the component parts of a building leaves one tongue-tied and unable to begin to discuss what is or is not exciting, dull or peculiar about it." The Language of Buildings will explain the language of architecture. With it in your hand, buildings will break down beguilingly into their component parts, ready for inspection and discussion. There will be no more references to that curly bit on top of the thing with the square protrusions. Ungainly and inept descriptions will be a thing of the past and, fluent in the world of volutes, hood moulds, lobed architraves and bucrania, you will be able to leave a cathedral or country house with as much to talk about as a film or play.

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The same is the case with Architecture: an inability to describe the component parts of a building leaves one tongue-tied and unable to begin to discuss what is or is not exciting, dull or peculiar about it.' With this book in your hand, buildings will break down beguilingly into their component parts, ready for inspection and discussion. I have very mixed feelings about this book. Originally published as Rice's Architectural Primer, the move to Rice's Language of Buildings seems appropriate as that is such a key feature of the pleasure to be got from it. Who cannot love learning of vermiculated rustication? I've long enjoyed Matthew Rice's illustrative and design style and the drawings here are appealing.

There will be no more references to 'that curly bit on top of the thing with the square protrusions'. As Matthew Rice says, 'Once you can speak any language, conversation can begin, but without it communications can only be brief and brutish. The Language of Buildings covers the grammar and vocabulary of British buildings, explaining the evolution of styles from Norman castles to Norman Foster. Its aim is to enable the reader to recognize, understand and date any British building. This beautifully illustrated book covers the grammar and vocabulary of British buildings, explaining the evolution of styles from Norman castles to Norman Foster. Its aim is to enable the reader to recognise, understand and date any British building. As the author states: “You can leave a cathedral with as much to talk about as after seeing a film. This book gives you the vocabulary to do so.”Quite often, books on this subject can be quite expansive, with paragraphs of information, which is fine if you are writing a dissertation but can be a bit of bore if you are just looking for a light read. The creators of Rice’s Language of Buildings are clearly aware that as humans, we find it easier to digest small chunks of writing, peppered with images. Did I mention how beautiful the pictures are?!…