Best Architecture Books of 2025

The Building Construction Illustrated is a comprehensive guide that has been the go-to resource for students and professionals for over four decades. The sixth edition is updated with the latest materials, methods, and systems, including smart facade types and systems, mass timber materials, and more. The book features new illustrations and updated information on sustainability and green building, insulation materials, and fire-rated wall and floor assemblies. It is an excellent resource for students in architecture, civil and structural engineering, and construction management. The book's signature illustrative style and detailed content make it a must-have for anyone in the construction industry.

A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction is a book that challenges the traditional approach to architecture, building, and planning. The authors propose that people should design their own houses, streets, and communities, and provide a language of patterns to guide the process. The book includes more than 250 patterns, each offering a solution to a specific design problem. This book is an excellent resource for those interested in architectural criticism and design. The Center for Environmental Structure Series, comprised of this book and two others, presents a radical approach to architecture that could transform the profession.

The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice, now in its fifteenth edition, is the go-to guide for architects seeking guidance on business, legal, and technical trends in their field. The latest edition features updated material on emerging topics like BIM, project delivery methods, and evidence-based design, as well as business management topics like finance and human resources. The book also includes access to samples of all AIA Contract Documents. With its comprehensive coverage of contemporary practices and trends, The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice is an essential reference for architects seeking to navigate today's marketplace with insight and confidence.

Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the 2021 International Building Code is a must-have handbook for anyone in the architecture, interior design, construction, or engineering fields. The book is beautifully illustrated and written in an easy-to-understand manner, making it a valuable visual resource for emerging professionals. The authors provide brand new chapters on plumbing fixture counts, elevators, special construction, and existing buildings while updating the remainder of the material to align with recent changes to the IBC. Overall, this book is an essential tool for staying informed on the latest updates to the International Building Code.

The Seventh Edition of Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods by Edward Allen and Joseph Iano is a must-have reference for architecture, engineering, and construction technology professionals and students. This edition has been updated with the latest advancements in the industry, including new illustrations, photographs, and discussions of sustainability standards, environmental impacts of materials, and mass timber construction. The book covers all major construction systems, making it a comprehensive guide for anyone in the field. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for those seeking a working knowledge of building construction.

The "Architect's Bible" since 1932, Architectural Graphic Standards is an essential resource for architects, designers, and building contractors. This 12th edition has been updated to reflect the latest codes and standards, featuring over 300 new drawings, tables, and designs, and 25% new content. The book covers everything from design and documentation to building elements and materials, including sustainable design incorporated throughout. The extensive appendices provide useful data such as classic architectural elements and mathematical data. The book's shorter, more accessible texts and graphics-heavy format make it an easy-to-navigate guide for professionals in the field.

The PPI ARE 5.0 Exam Review All Six Divisions, 2nd Edition is a comprehensive manual that covers all six NCARB ARE 5.0 division exams. This book offers over 200 new pages of content and thoroughly reviewed and updated exam objectives to prepare readers to pass all six divisions. With hundreds of tables and figures, exam taking strategies, and over 150 example questions, this book is an excellent resource for anyone preparing to take the ARE 5.0 exam. The pages are tabbed in six different colors, making it easy to lookup a particular exam division. Overall, this book is an indispensable tool for architecture students and professionals.

The 2015 International Residential Code for One- and Two-Family Dwellings is a comprehensive resource for homebuilding that combines building, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy, and electrical provisions. This updated code includes information on common walls, basement remodeling, ramps, and carbon monoxide alarms. The book establishes minimum regulations using prescriptive provisions and foundational principles that facilitate the use of new materials and building designs. It provides detailed insight into the construction of one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses up to three stories high. This book is an excellent resource for anyone involved in home design and construction.

The Timeless Way of Building by Christopher Alexander presents a new theory of architecture that describes an ancient process in modern terms. Alexander argues that the current theory of architecture is bankrupt and proposes a way of building that has been used for thousands of years. This book is an excellent resource for design students and anyone interested in architectural theory and design. The author's expertise as a builder, craftsman, general contractor, architect, painter, and teacher is evident throughout the book. Overall, The Timeless Way of Building is a unique and insightful read that challenges the current approach to architecture.

The PPI NCIDQ Interior Design Reference Manual is a comprehensive review guide for all three sections of the NCIDQ exams, including IDFX, IDPX, and PRAC. The book covers all content areas and provides updated materials for the IBC 2018 changes included in the exam. With over 200 figures, study guidelines, exam tips, and tables, this book is a must-have for interior design students and professionals looking to pass their exams the first time. The author, David Kent Ballast, is a licensed architect and NCIDQ certificate holder with years of experience teaching and writing on design topics. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for those pursuing an interior design career.