Anyone seeking to understand the basic principles underlying architectural design will find this classic source book an invaluable addition to the bookshelf. Haneman's 1,800 captioned, clear line drawings on 70 large-size plates comprise an inexhaustible storehouse of suggestion and inspiration for architects, designs, preservationists and others.

Presented here are hundreds of details covering scores of architectural elements, including aisles, approaches, balconies, columns, doorways, dormers, fireplaces, mantels, plazas, ramps, roofs, stairs, wells, windows, and much more.

The work offers more than 50 details of chimneys alone, ranging from those at the side of a building to a less than usual variant terminating in an octagonal campanile.

All designs emphasize general architectural concepts and are applicable to a broad range of styles. They are systematically arranged and grouped — a cross-referenced table of contents doubles as an index. All information is thus readily accessible and easily located. Bibliography. Captions.