Noted architectural historian/photographer William Lebovich will present the Chevy Chase Historical Society’s Fall Lecture, "How to Look at Chevy Chase Architecture," at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 7, at the Chevy Chase Town Hall. The Town Hall is located in the Leland Community Center, 4301 Willow Lane.

Illustrating the lecture with his own prize-winning photography, Lebovich will avoid the typical labeling of houses as one style or another, focusing instead on how architecture reflects the society that built it, and how a building’s massing and detail tell that society’s story.

"Knowing architectural styles is a great shorthand way for talking about a building," says Lebovich, "but style descriptions seldom convey the complexity and subtlety of most houses. My lecture will attempt to provide more information than is expressed in the usual descriptive terms, ‘Colonial Revival’ or ‘Bungalow.’"

William Lebovich’s 33 years as an architectural historian has included work with the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places, Historic American Buildings Survey and Historic American Engineering Record. Since 1989 he has photographed new projects for architects and developers and documented properties of significance throughout the continental United States.

A resident of Martin’s Additions in Chevy Chase, Lebovich reviewed the new Swiss Ambassador’s residence for Architecture Week Magazine in January 2007 (www.architectureweek.com) and authored the 1993 book, "Design for Dignity: Accessible Environments for People with Disabilities." His architectural photographs are in the Library of Congress, the Brooklyn Museum and have been published in numerous newspapers, magazines and books.

Light refreshments will be served at the Fall Meeting, and DVDs of the Society’s documentary, "Chevy Chase, Maryland: A Streetcar to Home," will be available for sale. Questions may be directed to Marilyn Montgomery at 301/656-2295.