Art & Architecture Collection > Researching an Architectural Structure

Research Strategies

There are five approaches that may be followed when researching a specific building:

Building Name | Architect's Name | Building Type | Building Style| Geography

Research Through the Name of the Building

Famous named structures may be found directly under their own names in CATNYP (i.e., Flatiron Building). You can try both a subject search and a keyword search, to see which produces the best results.

Listings by building name may also be found in Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects (see Index of Works in volume 4) and Encyclopedia of World Art.

 Research Through the Architect

This is often the best general approach. If you do not know the name of the architect, and if the building is in New York City, use the AIA Guide to New York City to determine it. There are comparable guides for other major American cities.

If the structure is a well-known, named building (i.e., Taj Mahal) use the index section in Volume 4 of the Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects to determine the architect.

Research Through the Type of Building

If there is not an entire book on your building, there may be a chapter or section in a broader subject category. Try to find a subject heading that is specific to your building project. Remember that subject headings may vary for the online catalog and for the Dictionary Catalog. Subject headings for the online catalog, CATNYP, should be checked in the volumes of the Library of Congress Subject Headings. For subject headings in the retrospective catalog, consult the Librarian. Subject headings in this guide are for CATNYP. Some examples are:

• Architecture, Domestic, Italy
• Architecture, Domestic, Designs and Plans
• Palaces, Austria, Vienna
• Cathedrals
• Skyscrapers
• Office Buildings
• Suburban Homes
• Apartment Houses
• Bungalows

Research Through the Period or Style

To broaden your search still further, approach it through the style or period of architecture. For example:

• Architecture, Baroque, France
• Architecture, Renaissance, Italy
• Architecture, Germany, 18th century
• Architecture, Oriental

Research through Geography

The broadest approach would be to search through the country. However, if your structure is obscure this may be difficult and you may only find a limited amount of information on your building. Please note that as your search gets broader and broader, the amount of information that you find on a specific structure will probably be small.

• Architecture, Spain
• Architecture, New York State, New York