Behind Facades Book

In Behind Facades the reader is treated to an exclusive view of five of the world's architectural treasures, each a different building type - a cathedral, a palace, a theater, a castle, and a residence. At the turn of a page, magnificent facades open to reveal stunningly splendid interiors. Meticulously detailed panoramic illustrations present, at a glance, the defining architectural features of each of these remarkable structures: St. Peter's Cathedral, Rome; Buckingham Palace, London; the Paris Opera (now Opera Garnier), Paris; King Ludwig's Castle (Neuschwanstein), Bavaria; and Monticello, Virginia. In addition to the foldout double gatefolds, Behind Facades includes a wealth of full-color photographs and specially commissioned cross-sections, drawings, and floor plans - more than 100 in all. Complementing this visual feast is authoritative text illuminating the history of each building, with revealing anecdotes about the people and events involved in their creation.

Through a combination of visual elements--photographs, drawings, cutaways, floor plans, expansive double gatefolds, and lively text--each of the five buildings profiled in this book is rendered in what adds up to a unique personal portrait. Featured are St. Peter's in Rome, Ludwig's Castle in Bavaria, Buckingham Palace, the Paris Opera, and Monticello.