The future of architecture since 1889. A worldwide history

Modernity and Continuity: The History of Architecture from the Late 19th to the Early 21st Century is the definitive history of this extraordinary period. Author Jean-Louis Cohen, one of the world's leading architectural historians, has written a wide-ranging and compelling account of the developments that have shaped the world we live in today.

Truly far-ranging - both conceptually and geographically - Modernity and Continuity: The History of Architecture from the Late 19th to the Early 21st Century is a rich, compelling history that will shape future thinking about this period for years to come and provide an ideal introduction to this vital period for students, architects and the public at large. Jean-Louis Cohen, one of today's most eminent architectural historians and critics, gives an authoritative and compelling account of the twentieth century, tracing an arc from industrialization through computerization, and linking architecture to developments in art, technology, urbanism and critical theory. In clear, jargon-free language, this roughly chronological history tells a lucid story while simultaneously clarifying the influences of events as diverse as world wars, art movements, and individual architects on the discipline. Encompassing both well-known masters and previously neglected but significant architects, this book also reflects Cohen's deep knowledge architecture across the globe, and in places such as Eritrea, Libya and China that have rarely been included in histories of this period. Areas including Eastern Europe, colonial Africa and South America are illuminated as in no other record of modern architecture. This comprehensive history is richly illustrated. The most important buildings are shown through photographs and drawings, alongside publications, portraits, paintings, diagrams, film stills, and exhibitions. This variety of visual material is particularly important to a history that aims to show the true diversity of architectural thought throughout this period, when a single drawing inspired by a comic book could be as influential as a skyscraper. Rather than presenting architecture as a series of novelties and ruptures, Cohen emphasizes the notion of continuity by examining the complex ties that link different movements, architects, and trends throughout the twentieth century and beyond. Students coming to this information for the first time will be treated to a text that is both articulate and comprehensive, and readers more familiar with the time period will find in its pages new buildings, connections and ideas.