English for architects
lessons and short practice activities for busy professionals
Building Stories
Short, true stories about remarkable buildings with short English lessons.
Select a level or practice area below
Elisha Otis and the Safety Catch: How the Elevator Learned to Carry People
Suggested level: B1, B2
Before 1854, elevators carried crates, not people. Elisha Otis's small safety catch changed that, and buildings began to grow. A short story in English, with words and a grammar pattern.
architecture-english-lessons, Building Stories, Record Breakers
Nakagin Capsule Tower: Four Bolts and 30 Centimeters
Suggested level: B1, B2
The Nakagin Capsule Tower was part of the 'Metabolism' movement, where buildings change and evolve over time. This tower was designed to change room modules every 25 years, but it never happened.
architecture-english-lessons, Building Obituaries, Building Stories
