What Adults Don't Know About Architecture

Inspiring Young Minds to Build a More Beautiful World

Children are rarely taught much about architecture, but there are in fact few subjects more important, because the quality of the architecture around us has such an impact on our mood and well-being.

In modern times, we have built a world that is far too often ugly or charmless— and we have done so because only a very few people feel they have the right to comment on what gets built around them. This is a chance for the next generation to develop the tools to talk about architecture with confidence and passion. It tells us about what a satisfying building is, what makes a street enticing (or not), why some cities are appealing while others repel us — and how we might build in a way that will delight and inspire us.

This engaging guide is designed to help children, and their favourite adults, to understand how buildings work and how we might create a better looking world.

Selected Chapters Include:

• An Introduction to Architecture
  • You're an Architect!
  • Why Is Architecture Important?
  • How Buildings Are like People
  • Why Are so Many Places Ugly?
• How to Build a Beautiful City
  • Make Your City Interesting
  • Become a Team Manager
  • Make the Things the Right Size
  • Use Nice Materials
• Conclusion
  • Why Are Houses so Expensive?
  • Architecture and Democracy

Resources for Parents and Teachers from The School of Life

Hardback book | 185 pages | 222 x 155 mm | Colour illustrations | Ideal for Ages 9+