Architectural Guide: Australia

The Architectural Guide Australia presents over 200 projects in the vast island continent that is home to natural wonders, coastal settlements, and tropical climates up north. Each chapter, dedicated to one of the nation’s eight state capitals, presents buildings that represent the major moments in the country’s architectural history, from its colonial origins to the contemporary era. The book includes a short introduction to Australia’s most influential architects as well as essays by Harry Seidler, John Gollings, and David Bridgman. Seidler’s essay argues for the incorporation of sunlight and shadow, phenomena so distinctly characteristic of the country’s climate, into architectural design both from an aesthetic and practical standpoint. Gollings offers a historical sweep of Australian architecture before identifying the three major architectural strands of contemporary Australia. Bridgman explores the challenges of designing in the hot-humid tropics in particular, outlining the climatic considerations that