The Grand Tour

travelling the world with an architect's eye

Plot

HARRY SEIDLER'S PHOTO JOURNAL OF WORLD ARCHITECTURE ARCHITECT HARRY SEIDLER HAS SPENT MORE THAN 50 YEARS TRAVELING THE GLOBE, EXTENSIVELY PHOTOGRAPHING THE PEAK ACHIEVEMENTS IN ARCHITECTURE FROM 3000 B.C. TO THE PRESENT DAY. THANKS TO SOUND ADVICE GIVEN TO HIM EARLY ON BY HIS PHOTOGRAPHER BROTHER, MARCELL (""ONLY USE LEICA CAMERAS AND KODACHROME FILM, WHICH IS ARCHIVAL""), SEIDLER'S HOBBY QUICKLY DEVELOPED INTO A PASSION AND, FINALLY, AN IMPRESSIVE ARCHIVE OF WORLD ARCHITECTURE. INCLUDING, OF COURSE, MANY OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES, SEIDLER'S PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE HISTORY AND STYLE--COUNTRY BY COUNTRY--OF ARCHITECTURE IN EUROPE, THE MIDDLE EAST, ASIA, AND THE AMERICAS. DIVIDED INTO CHAPTERS BY COUNTRY, EACH WITH A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OUTLINING ITS ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY, GRAND TOUR OFFERS ARMCHAIR TRAVELERS, STUDENTS, ARCHITECTURE BUFFS, AND HISTORIANS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BROWSE THE BUILDINGS OF THE WORLD THROUGH ONE MAN'S PHOTOGRAPHS--THE FRUITS OF A PASSIONATE, HALF-CENTURY ENDEAVOR.