This is a comprehensive survey of the history of glasshouses. The book traces the evolution of glass enclosures from the mid 16th-century, through the technical advances in the early 19th century, the advent of mass production and specialist component systems, the fashioning of modular constructions such as the Crystal Palace became possible. It charts the work of innovators such as Joseph Paxton and J.C Loudon and examines their influence on the pioneers of twentieth-century design such as Paul Scheerbart and Bruno Taut. 239 pp., , Vg in d/w. [50107]