Book Description

This course, written by Charles R. Heuer, FAIA, discusses the architect's services in translating design concepts, building materials, and systems into construction documents.

Among the subjects covered are:
* Working drawings and specifications
* Consultants' documents
* Bidding and cost estimates
* General and special conditions of the construction contract
* Advice to the owner

Diagrams and examples serve to illustrate the material of this course.A review quiz is included at the end of each lesson, and at the conclusion of the course is a major simulated exam.Complete explanations of all quiz and examanswers are included. ... Read more

Book Description

“Sustainable Architecture” is a term that groups together a number of approaches to architecture that choose materials and techniques that can be maintained for the long-term without exhausting non-renewable resources.

Mainstreaming Sustainable Architecture illustrates a systems approach to design and construction in which the various components—such as passive solar techniques, earth air conditioning, vapor-permeable ceilings, and cellulose insulation—operate synergistically to achieve environmental goals. This case study of Casa de Paja (House of Straw) demonstrates that many elements of sustainable architecture can be incorporated without sacrificing sophisticated design and without added expense.

While no technical background is needed to understand the principles behind sustainable design, architects and engineers will find enough detail in the drawings and appendices to adapt these techniques to their own construction. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

waging the war on irresponsible design
First rate compilation of well-known and not so well-known methods of incorporating sustainable architectural components into your design. This is the official book for the designers and builders of The Benchley Project in Central Texas (a sustainable living community which promotes resource conservation and exploitation). Green designers now have a "handbook" that covers a broad spectrum of environmentally driven design issues. ... Read more

Book Description

This book provides the first study of approaches to appraising and conserving mainstream architecture of the twentieth century - commercial buildings, industrial buildings and housing. Architects, surveyors and conservationists are now appreciating the extent of this challenge. Sufficient research and practical progress has now been undertaken in this field to provide useful material for a text which will be both timely and of broad appeal. ... Read more

Book Description

Spon's Architects and Builders Price Book 1999 provides comprehensive coverage of construction costs from small scale alterations and repairs to the largest residential or commercial developments for the European market. ... Read more

Book Description

This landmark publication examines the need for establishing a universal framework for assessing the sustainability of a place that can be used for any place, in any part of the world.

Using two case studies of two towns (San Gimignano, Italy and Ludlow, England) as a backdrop, the book examines their distinctive features and develops a framework for assessing their energy and environmental capabilities in light of their social, economic, political and cultural prerequisites. Discussion includes such key aspects of sustainability as geological formation, climate, external dependencies, communication and infrastructure, historical heritage, community and permanence of population.

• Includes the author's own annotated drawings that complement the text.
• Examines the background and current state of sustainability and provides practical examples of assessments of specific localities
• Based on the author's own research

Book Description

Virtual reality technology is transforming not only the processes of architecture, but the kinds of spaces being designed and creating a new role for the virtual architect. This book explores the use of virtual reality in architecture. It shows how virtual reality fits alongside the traditional methods of representing three-dimensional structures, such as models and drawings. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Lightweight.
Her theoretical suppositions are vastly underdeveloped. This book is primarily: 1)Straightforward documentation of outdated VR examples. 2)Practical approach to constructing models with regard to polygon counts and load times. 3)A chance for Bertol to publish plenty of her own tacky renderings. Too much the other side of Marcos Novak's trans-diarrhea... ... Read more

Book Description

Die beiden Frankfurter Ingenieure Klaus Bollinger und Manfred Grohmann sind in der Tragwerksplanung tätig, verstehen sich aber keineswegs als Statiker, sondern vielmehr als kreative Entwurfspartner der Architekten. Sie realisierten zahlreiche Arbeiten im Rahmen von Wohngebäuden, Büro-, Geschäfts-, Ausstellungs- und Veranstaltungsbauten, Brücken und Hochhäusern, u.a. zusammen mit Frank O. Gehry, Hans Hollein, Toyo Ito, KSP, Kazuyo Sejima und Claude Vasconi. In den sechs Essays des ersten Teils wird die spezifische Form der Zusammenarbeit zwischen Bollinger + Grohmann und besonders engen Partnern dargestellt. Ein zweiter Teil dokumentiert 25 ausgewählte Arbeiten, wobei die Konstruktion im Mittelpunkt steht. ... Read more

Book Description

As both a practising architect and a researcher, Berge introduces us authoritatively to issues such as using raw materials from renewable sources, and the possibilities of designing and manufacturing reusable building materials. The alternatives to modern building materials are outlined and discussed from an ecological perspective.



In a time when environmental labelling is becoming increasingly popular and the producers of building materials are urged to be more environmentally aware, it is obviously important that we are acquainted with these alternatives.

Important issues discussed in this book include:

Can raw materials from non-renewable sources be replaced with raw materials from widely available or non-depletable sources?
Can environmentally friendly chemicals replace environmentally damaging ones?
Can the make-up of building materials be altered so that individual components can be re-used?

A clear interpretation of complicated Life Cycle Analysis issues and vital guidance are given to specifiers confronted with a plethora of manufacturers' environmental claims.

* Gain a comprehensive understanding of ecology in building
* Learn about alternative building materials and how to use them
* Vital technological information allows you to pu the ideas of sustainability into practice ... Read more

Book Description

Provides novice architects and students with a complete understanding of wood as a construction material. Practicing architects, who want to reinforce or supplement their knowledge of wood's unique properties, will also find it an invaluable reference. Topics covered include wood deterioration, wood construction, tree-related properties; diversity, variability and chemical composition of wood; strength, elasticity and acoustical properties of wood; thermal properties and fire performance of structural wood; bark and charcoal as fuel; and durability and preservation of wood. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Why Cob?
Okay, so if you're like me, you've been looking at alternate ways to own ahome and have probably stumbled upon this little book, probably becauseyou've heard somewhere else about building with earth and maybe evenspecifically cob.This quest probably generated all kinds of questions foryou, such as what is cob and why do they call it that?If you have askedthose questions, then you want this book.This book primarily concerns coband clay structures in the British Isles which makes it also a very handylittle book for students of that regions architectural styles.It wouldalso seem ideal for anyone taking a walking tour of the more rural parts ofEnglnad Scotland and Wales as it readily shows the different styles ofearth building prominent in those regions as well as goes into detail abouttechnique and history.The author takes a cursory close look at somerestorations and examines some buildings that have been left in disrepairsince they were vacated.It is here that I found the greatest value in thebook as someone currently ingterested in working with the material.Hereis several hundred years of historical evidence as to what this material isreally capable of.This is not some guy telling you about the durabilityof this construction system.This is what has happened to cob homes overyears of use.Overall it is great confidence booster and testimonial tothe material itself, proving just how beautiful and durable it is. ... Read more

Book Description

This book for architects, interior designers, building managers, students, conference organisers looks at first principles to provide the user with the 'tools' to make their own decisions rather than a 'cookbook' approach.It is intended that designs and product information can be taken straight from the manual and inserted into ongoing projects.


For the first time the book considers the needs of people with visual, hearing and mental disabilities, who make up the majority of disabled people in the population, alongside those of people with physical mobility disabilities. Practical low cost solutions to retro-fitting existing buildings are discussed, as well as the methods used to assess the suitability of an existing building, and assembling a project to improve access for disabled people. Specific products and designs are illustrated and discussed - with full working technical drawings, and full specification details. These will reduce considerably the research time needed to produce a cost-effective solution that will improve access for disabled people. A perspective of the standards and legislation dealing with access issues in the UK is compared with those in other countries, and the standards mentioned are compared with the realities of practical implementation carried out in 4 years of design in this area.

*Detailed design specifications
*Case studies and worked examples
*Includes manufacturers and product details and costs. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Lloyd Kahn has managed to pull together a stunning catalog of the phenomenon of human shelter through history, across cultures and climates from around the world. Yurts and huts and tree houses and cathedrals of stone. This is an eye-opener for anyone considering building their own home, or anyone just interested in human inventiveness and creativity. With over 1000 photos and drawings of cave houses, communal huts, wooden shacks, tents, domes, towers and holes in the ground, you'll be amazed at all the different ways people have tried to keep the rain off their heads and the wolves outside! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

THE Book.
This is THE Book to own if you have any interest in building construction, architecture, and lifestyle. The pictures are many, and great, and the reading is also just as interesting. I bought some as gifts, and for each of my carpenter friends.

Informative and Interesting
I believe this book was out of print for a while so it is nice to have itback.Architecture students or anyone with an interest in architecturewould appreciate this book. It is a good look at how humans have satisfiedone of our basic needs. It is an exhaustive collection of human habitats,written in a clever and unprentious way (unlike most architecture books!).If you like this book, you may also enjoy books by Witold Rybczynski suchas Home, and Looking Around. ... Read more

Book Description

Public appreciation of the benefits and values of our architectural heritage has advanced considerably over the past decades.The part played by old buildings in the historical identity of a region, town or nation is increasingly recognised and appreciated, while their effective preservation requires looking beyond borders and continents to benefit from experience gained by others.

Featuring state-of-the-art research and recent case studies, this book contains papers presented at the Seventh International Conference on Structural Studies, Repairs and Maintenance of Historical Buildings.The pre-eminent conference series on this topic, the STREMAH meetings provide an ideal forum for architects, curators, engineers, art historians, surveyors and archaeologists to exchange opinions and experiences, present the most up-to-date scientific and practical findings, and discuss problems and solutions.

Over 65 papers from specialists working throughout the world are included and these cover:Structural Issues;Seismic Behaviour and Vibrations;Material Problems;Maintenance;Prevention of Structural Damage;Stabilisation and Reinforcement;Experimental Techniques;Monitoring and Testing;Simulation and Modelling;Deterioration, Protection and Evaluation of Materials;and Historical and Architectural Aspects. ... Read more