Wonders of the World

A worldwide tour of the most exceptional structures ever built. Over the millennia, man has built structures that have not only stood the test of time but that have inspired the design and construction of ever more ambitious buildings. Presented in a substantial format that does justice to its content, this impressive volume pays tribute to the manmade wonders of the world¿the iconic monuments which are testimony to our ongoing fascination with the creative process that goes into the design and building of these remarkable structures. Organized chronologically, Wonders of the World starts with the pyramids at Giza which were built in 2560 BC and ends with the Experience Music Project in Seattle, a museum of rock and roll memorabilia and technology-intensive multimedia displays designed by Frank Gehry and built in 2000. Among the countless other buildings featured in this book are The Parthenon in Athens, Angkor Thom in Siem Reap, Cambodia, The Taj Mahal in India, The Capitol of the United States in Washington, DC, The Opera House of Sydney, and The Sagrada Família, in Barcelona. Hundreds of photographs document these remarkable achievements through images that depict each monument in its setting as well as close-ups that demonstrate the exceptional details and features of each. Accompanying the photographs are meticulously plotted graphics that elaborate on the layout of each monument, providing a context for the authoritative text that describes the history and highlights of each structure, chronicling the efforts of the world¿s most accomplished designers and architects.… (more)