Time Well Spent: An American Architect in Europe, 1893

Explore Europe through the eyes of a young architect on the brink of greatness.

In the spring of 1893, Henry Hornbostel--soon to become one of the most influential architects of the early twentieth century--set off on his first European adventure. Armed with a notebook and a sketchbook, he traveled through Spain, Italy, and France, capturing his observations with wit and a keen architect's eye. Time Well Spent presents these remarkable documents in a new, reproduced edition, providing readers with an intimate look at the creative process of a Beaux-Arts architect in training.

Hornbostel's journal is more than just a travelogue--it reveals the evolving vision of an American abroad at a time when US architecture was redefining itself on the world stage. With contextual essays by Francesca Torello, this edition highlights the significance of travel in architectural education, tracing how first-hand encounters with European landscapes and structures shaped Hornbostel's approach to design. A must-read for architects, historians, and lovers of grand ideas, Time Well Spent sheds light on the moments where inspiration takes root and transforms into art.