Book Description

Using a CSI format, it offers an extensive reference of all materials that pertain to site work. Covers topics such as wood, concrete, masonry and other fundamental construction materials or processes. Maintains the graphic excellence of Architectural Graphics Standards throughout. Each chapter concludes with a list of available and authoritative sources of information. ... Read more

Book Description

State-by-state listings and explanations of municipal landscape ordinances

In U.S. Landscape Ordinances, Buck Abbey furnishes landscape architects, planners, land-use attorneys, and students with a much-needed resource. This state-by-state presentation demystifies the complex planning laws and ordinances that determine landscape design parameters for more than 300 American cities. The author highlights sections of each ordinance that pertain to landscape architecture, boils the legalese down to plain English, explains the law's main purpose and regulatory function, and spells out the practical implications from a design perspective.

With the help of more than fifty diagrams and drawings that clarify complex spatial concepts, U.S. Landscape Ordinances reviews the entire spectrum of green laws currently on the books, including ordinances that cover:

• Parking lots and vehicular use areas
• Landscape buffers and screens
• Street tree plantings
• Open space design
• Irrigation
• Land clearing and building sites

The product of ten years of painstaking research and analysis, U.S. Landscape Ordinances is a unique and invaluable tool for professionals in landscape design and municipal planning. It also offers a deep reservoir of information for students, municipal legislators, community activists, and anyone interested in understanding or developing a community's landscape ordinances. ... Read more

Book Description

The First Go-Anywhere Database of Architectural Answers! Take one look at the thousands of checklists, details, codes, formulas, and techniques we've packed into this compact new building almanac and you'll never leave the office again without it. The first tool of its kind, The Architect's Portable Handbook, by John Patten Guthrie, AIA, is huge in coverage, small size (only 5" x 8"), and delivers page after page of easy-access reference data for everything from initial planning to final construction. Use it for fast answers on: bulding sites; concrete and masonry; metals and wood; thermal and moisture protection; doors, windows, and glass; finishes; specialties; equipment; interiors; assemblies conveying systems; mechanical and electrical systems. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Dont like book
book is very basic. for the home owner (or joke architect) to become familiar with the basic concepts of building. not for a contractor or engineer.

if you need something small
As a portable handbook and quick reference it contains some useful information if you need something to carry in your pocket, beyond that I feel if you have a graphics standards or building construction illustrated you are better off. The cost estimation is a bit simplistic but useful, but does not offset the lack of information. Plenty of areas are covered with only the most generalized and basic information. Reason for two stars: should be a 10 dollar notebook.

Guthrie continues to improve the perfect reference book
I have had the First Edition of this book since 1993, and have used that as a reference almost daily throughout my education and well into my professional practice. I decided to purchase this revised edition since the original book was becoming worn and flat out-of-date. This new version (a good 200 pages heavier than the first edition) includes new building code information (specifically IBC 2000), and provides revised cost estimate numbers. To this day, it is still the ONLY book worthy enough to reside on my desk.

This book is an excellent source for the student and professional alike. Basic concepts, construction methods, and principles for design considerations are organized and indexed for easy reference and all attempts have been made to make the content easy to understand. Rules-of-thumb and graphics are provided throughout the text as well as commonly used tables, charts, graphs, maps, etc. Guthrie has also managed to develop several clever little checklists, which assist in making sure all issues have been addressed.

The book is getting a little thick, and the distinctive oversized laminated cover has evolved into a standard size cover (it's not spiral bound - it's a paperback). The price is a little high, but I think the information found in this tidy little book is well worth it.

Great Gift For Clients
I have had my own professional engineering firm (building energy systems) for twenty-two years. This small-sized, well-bound (in soft plastic), and amply illustrated volume is my favorite gift to clients who are new to the building process. It allows them to get comfortable with common ideas and terminology used by design professionals on their projects.

The book also is a useful reference for site construction personnel, junior architectural design personnel, and engineers who need to know what the architects are talking about.

Awesome reference book
This book truly is a great reference book for the design professional. As the author says it contains 20% of the information used 80% of the time from various sources. It has information ranging from building codes to design requirements, tips on quick perspective drawing, construction cost info., building materials selection, material sizes, plumbing, electrical and much more. If you don't want to spend buying too many reference books, this is a great one to buy. ... Read more

Book Description

Since the AIA Guide to New York City was first published in 1967, it has been recognized as the ultimate guide to the metropolis's buildings, in all five boroughs -- Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island -- from nineteenth-century brownstones and tenements to modern high-rise apartments and museums. The latest edition of this urban classic takes a fresh look at the architectural treasures that define New York -- from its most characteristic landmarks to its less famous local favorites.

To prepare this edition -- the first revision since 1987 -- Norval White has visited and revisited more than 5,000 buildings, making this by far the most complete guide of its kind. This generously illustrated handbook presents the structures of the New York City--from the magnificent to the obscure -- in over 3,000 new photographs, more than 130 new maps, and hundreds of revised and new entries. Beyond the skyscrapers and historical buildings, the guide also leads the way to the city's bridges, parks, and public monuments.

From the tip of the Empire State Building to the brownstones in Brooklyn, the AIA Guide to New York City reveals how the city's spirit, fortitude, and character are captured and expressed in its architecture. Thoughtful and humorous descriptions include fascinating bits of local information that bring the city's history to life, telling the stories behind the bricks and mortar. Together, the maps, photographs, and expert critiques invite you on a special grand tour of the city at your own pace.

This guide is a definitive record of New York's architectural heritage and provides a compact, authoritative directory for lovers of New York City all over the world. Its portability and encyclopedic quality make it an ideal traveling companion for any walker in the city. For the sightseer, the architect, or anyone on a casual stroll, the AIA Guide to New York City is the book to grab on your way out the door.

... Read more

Reviews (14)

A truly classic treasure trove of NYC info.
This book is amazing in its depth of analysis and thoroughness of its study of the vast amount of architectural treasures in all five boroughs. As a native New Yorker (born in The Bronx, raised in Queens, high school in Manhattan) I was pleasantly surprised to find so many buildings that I admired to have a history behind them. A lot of little tid-bits are included in the book, for example did you know the park benches in the Battery Park Promenade are from the 1939 NY World's Fair? I didn't! Did you know that the same Guastavino tile vaulting found outside the Oyster Bar in Grand Central can be found at the Municipal Building at Centre Street? And at the NY Telephone Building at 140 West Street?

A must-have for anyone who loves New York. A true walker's handbook that includes suggested walking tours all over the city. Find out the story behind that old building you walk by on your way home to your Flushing apartment! I also found it fascinating to compare this third edition with the earlier "revised" edition of 1978 to see how much had changed and been lost. The 3rd edition was almost twice the size by the way! I hope a 4th edition is in the works by now.

Definitive
If you live in New York or you are fascinated by its architecture, you really should buy The AIA Guide to NYC. It is a remarkable tome, including more than 5000 buildings and 3000 stamp album style photos of structures in all five boroughs, ranging from Brooklyn to far Queens and from Staten Island through Manhattan and up to the extreme Bronx. It will hit your coffee table with a serious thunk, and provide endless browsing enjoyment. If you're visiting New York on a quick trip or want a selective overview, I discovered a new book that makes a good companion volume: The Architecture Traveler, by Sydney LeBlanc, which covers 250 American buildings. The author is evidently a New Yorker. About 60 of the buildings are in and around the city. It presents fewer buildings but presents a full page story on each of them. I bought both books: the AIA guide for comprehensiveness, the more selective Architecture Traveler for it's intriguing stories and for the rest of America, which it also includes.

Keep it close
I have been a New Yorker all my life and thought I'd known it all. There were buildings/structures that I knew to be older than most and probably landmarks, but never got around to checking them out. Then I picked up the AIA Guide to New York City sometime in 2001. Ever since, I have kept it with me at all times: in my back pocket, my briefcase, my jacket... Sometimes I go to some of these places in advance, with the intent of looking at them after I'd read about them. Other times, when on my way to or from work or lunch, I will see a building, stop, and look to read about what it is. My hunches aren't always correct, of course: not all the buildings I think are landmarks are. But I always keep this Guide on hand to find out.

Written in a difficult English
I am going to be straightforward: the book is written in a slightly overblown language, which is not easy to understand for non-native English speakers. If you are a non-native English speaker, think twice before getting this book.

Ultimate of its Type
I absolutely devour the 4th edition, though I am familiar with all previous editons as well. As one of the Principal Editors of the "Guide to Cleveland Architecture," 2nd edition (readers: please seek out our great book), a lover of New York and this book type in general, and a professional librarian and architectural historian, I can certainly appreciate the gigantic amount of research that went into creating what is actually a massive volume like this. Therefore I forgive some details such as inconsistency of Index selection, some date inaccuracies (very, very little percentagewise) or actual typo's, or details such as some maps of which the lettering goes in too many directions. I do wish there were some way suburban areas could be included - for the "total picture." Perhaps a companion volume? But - wow - what that would involve!
The text has so very many splendid sentences, phrases, and attitudes I can really appreciate the strong subjectivity in this case. Our text was actually criticized by our main Cleveland newspaper architectural critic as not being sufficiently opinionated like the NYC book... I did counter-criticize that critic in the "Plain Dealer" in that there are reasons for more objectivity in an urban architectural guidebook but, I can surely appreciate the magnificent writing of this book. Of course I can't agree with some of it either but, so what? The point is this book gives architectural, urban design, etc. the major, major significance it deserves. They're sure a big part of my life! Bravo!
The book also takes on an even higher relevance after 9/11, as the entire fabric in that fair-sized area of Manhattan is covered.
Nothing anywhere near up to it (Chicaco's AIA guide is the closest I've seen) and there are times I can barely put the book down! Now if I could only get to New York more... ... Read more

Book Description

The principles of classical architecture applied to the design of interiors, both residential and public. A practicing architect shows how the elements that constitute the classical interior—wall and ceiling treatments, doors and windows, fireplaces, and stairs—can be composed into rooms satisfying both aesthetic and practical criteria. Historic and contemporary examples illustrate both generic and specific solutions for designers working in the classical tradition today. 75 color and 75 black-and-white photographs. ... Read more

Book Description

The primary focus of this text is to provide a bridge for students between the academic world and the real world. This bridge is built through an understanding of what is law, how law is created, how law affects almost every activity of human conduct, and how legal institutions operate. Intended mainly for architectural and engineering students, but increasingly for those in business schools and law schools, this text features a clear, concise, and jargon-free presentation. It probes beneath the surface of legal rules and uncovers why these rules developed as they did, outlines arguments for and against these rules, and examines how they work in practice. Updated with the most recent developments in the legal aspects of architectural, engineering, and the construction processes, this text is also a valuable reference for practitioners that has been cited in over twenty-five court decisions. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great for a Law Student
This is probably the most comprehensive construction law book I have ever read.It is an absolute must for a law student taking construction law.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAY too complicated
If you happen to be studying construction law IN LAW SCHOOL, then this is your book.

If, on the other hand, you are in the construction business and are looking for a practical book on construction law, keep looking. This is not your book. It is extremely difficult to read and Sweet writes in such a sophisticated manner that it borders on arrogance. It's not uncommon to find entire paragraphs that consist of one sentence. I found myself scratching my head and asking, "what in the hell did he just say?" Re-reading convoluted law text is not fun. ... Read more

Book Description

Excellent reproduction of rare catalog illustrates and describes 86 different types of houses and bungalows still in evidence across America. Over 300 photographs, illustrations and floor plans with full descriptions comprise an invaluable sourcebook for study, authentication or restoration of antique articles or architecture.
... Read more

Reviews (4)

Very interesting
If you are interested in homes that were built between 70 and 80 years ago, then you need this book. Imagine yourself as a young married person from the twenty's looking to build your first house -- the first place you might look is the Sears catalog. All you would need to do is buy the lot and lay the foundation. Sears sends everything else! The designs of these houses makes you wonder "why do people need such huge houses today?" This book is a must for anyone who loves old houses.

Good for research, history lessons or Sims lovers
Includes detailed floor plans, original advertising, prices & financing info and very 1920s style descriptions from the cataolgue. Sitting down with the book is like sitting down with the actual catalogue. There's no extraneous commentary, aside from a publisher's note.

I especially recommend it to fellow early 20th century history buffs. Sim-lovers like me might appreciate the excellent conscise plans to follow (bubble machine room not included).

It makes me wish *I* could order one of these "Honor Built Houses." There's even an order form. One fun thing to take note of is how many floor plans do *not* include a bathroom. Although they do offer outhouses ;)

A good companion book to "Houses by Mail"
You won't find any houses in this book that are not already included in "Houses by Mail", but this Dover reprint of an original 1926 Sears Catalogue of Houses is an interesting read.

It gives more complete information about the old houses and their blueprints, and also has a detailed listing of hardware, with excellent photos, which goes a long way in helping identify Sears Homes.

It's a big book - about 8 x 11, and the information is much easier to read than the half-sized "Houses by Mail."

I'm a freelance writer and I've written several articles on Sears Homes and have used these two books as reference works. There is a lot of good information that will aid you in identifying Sears Homes.

But remember - it is just a reprint of an old catalogue. There is no contemporary information about these houses in this book. However, I highly recommend "Sears, Roebuck Catalog of Houses, 1926" for anyone interested in learning more about these fascinating old houses.

An interesting study of early 20th century architecture.
For the architect, artist or historian, this unabridged reprint of the actual 1926 Catalog of Houses from Sears and Roebuck is a very absorbing read. The student of architecture will note the simplicity of the home in 1926. The absence of a "family room", and a limited number of small bedrooms in most designs, will cause one to imagine that families must have spent considerable time together in the common areas of the home. There seemed to be no need for a separate room, where other activites could be carried on, while mother and father talked with their guests in the living room. There are also fewer rooms designated for specific tasks, such as an office, den, laundry room or even bathrooms in some cases. For the artist or illustrator, it provides an excellent source of information dealing with home sizes and historically correct drawings. When dealing with the illustration of period homes, this is an excellent choice for reference material. Included with each home is a full floor plan, from which one can deterimine if the size is appropriate for the family who will live in it, and a beautiful rendering of the exterior. Historians will appreciate the detailed quality of this reprinted catalog. There are many details which reflect the lifestyle in the early 20th century including lighting, heating and even the kitchen sink! You can now drive down the streets of the old part of town, knowing what was originally included in these homes of yesteryear - and maybe find one that was ordered from this very catalog. An excellent read, this reprint makes it fun to become immersed in the earlier part of this century. Becoming aware of the things that were important to families at that time, one can be more in touch with how our parents and grandparents might have lived. ... Read more

Book Description

Between a nomad's tent and the Sears Tower lies a revolution in technology, materials, and structures. Here is a clear and enthusiastic introduction to building methods from ancient times to the present day. B/W line drawings. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Why do buildings keep standing up?
This book was recommended to me by my architecture professor and it is well worth reading. Without going into too much physics the author explains clearly the importance of forces like wind on structures like bridges, skyscrapers, domes etc. To illustrate these infuences there are chapters on some of the architectural wonders of the world: Eiffel Tower, Pyramids, Brooklyn Bridge and Aya Sofia to name but a few.

There are no photographs in this book but crudely drawn pictures, which actually makes the reader understand the concepts better.

If you like buildings and architecture in general this book is instrumental in the understandings of why buildings stand up.

why they stand
an excellent laymen's book on the foundations of buildings and bridges

clear and understandable
This is a book that sums-up alot of material about loads, properties of building materials, beams and columns, and translates it into the strength of modern structures. I found the book fascinating and it answered many questions, among them why the height vs base of the pyramids automatically contain the value of PI. This book discussed the anchoring of todays skyscrapers and large structures. This is a book that explains where the forces and loads are projected and how they are contained and countered without getting into the mathematical aspect of it. This author did an excellent job in conveying
the logic behind structural engineering. Well done.

Parts you slog through, parts you gobble
Salvadori clearly explains, with the invaluable aid of lots of little pictures, how and why buildings stand up. There are chapters on cathedrals, the Eiffel Tower, the Hagia Sophia, bridges, domes, and so forth. The chapter on wind is particularly fascinating--I found out a lot of things I'd had no idea of. Other chapters, like "Form-Resistant Structures," were pretty deadly dull. Overall, though, the book was well worth reading. It's not always entertaining, but it's always informative, and sometimes tremendously interesting.

I loved it.
The author's love for the art, science, and engineering of building shines through on every page. If you haven't already you, will soon become fascinated by all that is involved in architeture in this wonderfully written book. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Books about pared-down minimalist décor--most of them featuring the much-ridiculed all-white-box room with one lonely straight-backed chair in the center--are plentiful. Few people can actually live in those rooms, though, and for those who prefer a little color in their lives, there's Jane Cumberbatch's Pure Style Living.

The first third of the book is dedicated to the "sources" of the author's style: the vibrant yellow-orange of a cut melon, the texture and deep rust of freshly dug red potatoes, the orderly rows of a plowed field, the satisfying sturdiness of a heavy, purely functional piece of furniture. Next is a somewhat ephemerally organized section called "Live," in which Cumberbatch's ideas of the simple life are fleshed out with huge photographs of simple and practical kitchen gardens, bedrooms, autumn picnic spreads, slipcovered sofas, and distraction-free home office spaces. There are a few easy projects, like making a table runner or a bulletin board, planting bulbs, canning marmalade, or whipping up a raspberry fool (the author is British and so are the recipes). A breezy bit about al fresco dining is particularly inspiring. The final third of the book, "Directory," is, essentially, a well-designed version of that literary masterpiece known as the IKEA summer catalog, lacking only the prices. It's a guilty pleasure, perhaps, to leaf through the pages and pages of essential items--good sherry in the pantry, vintage watering can in the garden, cork flooring in the workroom--but a pleasure nonetheless. --Liana Fredley ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Down-to-Earth Living Style
"What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?"
~W.H. Davies

Jane Cumberbatch has a vision for a simpler existence that is more balanced and natural. She enjoys making her home more sensual, while also encouraging a practical environment in which you can really live. She is the mother of three children who thinks of her home as the heart of her daily life. To her, it is a place where she can connect with her real self.

The ideas in this book are affordable and there are a few moments of pure inspiration.

The contents include:

Recipes
Sources
Living
Nature
Scents
Texture
Eating
Architecture
Function
Order
Fabrics
Color
Work
Gardening
Playing
Washing
Sleeping
Flooring
Painting

This book is more about living simply than creating complicated projects. This is a book about how to make a home more stylish, sensual and peaceful.

There are useful ideas like how you can grow your own produce, recycle items you would normally throw away or how to use fewer chemicals and maybe even make your own compost heap.

I found the text inspirational and thought provoking in many ways. It is creative and evokes a feeling of crisp ideas, nostalgic memories from childhood and an awakening to the senses. Pictures of hanging clothes on a clothesline or sweeping a porch barefoot almost make you long for simpler times.

The pictures pour themselves over the pages with sheer beauty. This is a book you will want to sit and read while comfortably snuggling on your couch (which you wish looked like the pink one on page 190 where a child is peacefully sleeping) with a down comforter and a cup of tea. The pictures are interspersed with text in the first section. This is a combination of visual and intellectual appeal which I found to be almost unique in its form.

There are cute ideas like a bowl of soup decorated with a heart crouton and herbs which I really thought was delightfully fun. The pictures of making a raspberry fool look absolutely sinfully delicious. You just want to put a spoonful of raspberries in your mouth or enjoy the process of folding berries into cream.

Then there are ideas for scenting your bedlinen with fragrances or protecting your clothes with natural cedarwood blocks. There is a visual directory of ideas. The last section compliments the first as it gives you ideas on the materials needed to achieve the natural atmosphere described in the first section.

There are ideas for building a fire on a damp blustery day or how to bring nature into your home to increase tactile sensations.

While the ideas in "play" are not necessarily that original, you may have forgotten how as a child you carved out potato art to make potato prints. There is a cute way to decorate a tree with heart shaped pastry.

To find the recipes you have to turn to page 393 where you can find "mini" recipes for Chestnut soup, roast chicken with lemon and herb butter, chicken stock, sautéed carrots, mince pies, chocolate truffles, orange and almond cake and heart-shaped biscuits.

After reading this book I had this almost ecstatic feeling of just peaceful oneness with the earth and home. My thought it is due to the combination of visual and intellectual appeal.

A treat for the senses! Highly recommended for new home makers or for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in dreams, thoughts and creative ideas for a few hours. Another idea would be to read this book out in the sun with the breeze blowing through your hair.

A free-flowing book of inspirational ideas. It is brilliant in its simplicity!

Great photos, silly text
This looked very tasty and the photos are indeed quite lovely. Unfortunately, there is not an original idea in this entire book. The author sets herself up as the next Martha Stewart but she just hasn't got it. Take this excerpt on serving raspberry fool "Spoon it into small wine glasses or secondhand 1930s ice cream glasses." Yuck! They HAVE to be secondhand, and 1930s, not '40s. The whole tone of the book is ignorant and twee.

Pure Style revival in a bigger format
Jane's "Pure Style" and "Pure Style Outdoors" are some of my favorites books.

They are part of my special selection of books because they are wonderful books. Beyond the beautiful pictures we find great ideas and a really innovative approuch for home decoration.

For years I've considered Pure Style my best acquisition, because of the way it mixes home design with life style and also by the way Jane invites us to pay more attention to how we live and to the beauty of simple things.

Pure Style Living is just like it's older brothers, but bigger and heavier, and gives a sense of deja vu.

I adore Jane's work, and I'm sure she can make a better job. But PS Living is just a big clone of her first book! It's worth, but there's nothing new!

A Definite Must Have!
I've been a fan of Jane's since Pure Style and was eagerly awaiting by Amazon delivery of her new Pure Style Living. I was not disappointed. While this may be marketed as a home design text, it is really a philosophy of contemporary living combining gracious style with a remembrance of all those things that make you feel warm, cozy and comfortable. Her approach to living is fresh and her ideas can easily be incorporated into your everyday life - they are simple and affordable and a welcome change to a contemporary world full of just "too much stuff." I'd definitely love to have lunch with Jane! ... Read more

Book Description

The San Francisco Home Book is the most complete, hands-on sourcebook to building, remodeling, decorating, furnishing and landscaping a luxury home in the San Francisco Bay and Silicon Valley area.

Whether interested in remodeling a kitchen or building a multi-million dollar dream home, the book can give readers the information they want to get the quality services and products they need. The Home Book compiles the most comprehensive list of design professionals who rank among the top ten in their respective fields. Let the Home Book do your homework for you! You'll find in these pages:

• More than 700 listings of professionals, specializing in 40 different trades. • Instructional information for choosing and working with architects, contractors, landscapers and interior designers. • More than 1,000 color photographs inspiring innovative interior and exterior modeling ideas. • A compilation of the area's top enhancement service providers organized by trade with easy-to-read listings. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Having to pay for advertising is unacceptable
This book was a total waste of time. Rather than being a comprehensive source for design resources, it is merely a one glorified ad after another for builders and dealers that chose to pay to be included. It has absolutely no depth in terms of the kitchen/bath, contractors, flooring etc. If you are thinking that this book would compare to similar design resources - like the All New York - Source Guide, you will be very disappointed. Every source listed in this book is in every issue of California Homes so save yourself [some money] and buy the [] magazine. ... Read more

Book Description

An essential reference for building professionals, owners, and managers, and individuals planning to purchase or renovate a building. An experienced investigator explains here why buildings should be inspected, what to look for, how to do it, when to hire a professional, and how to understand what architects and engineers are talking about once a survey has been carried out. The scope includes ordinary wood-frame houses and small commercial structures as well as larger buildings. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the only publication that presents a modern interpretation of the Classical Orders. The new edition of this successful title now includes the proportions in both metric and imperial measurements to make the orders more accessible and to provide a valuable reference for designers.

The inclusion of both 100-part and 96-part systems of proportion is underpinned by an essay on James Gibbs - one of the 18th century authors of standardized proportioning systems - and his influence in America. Along with additional plates, this book gives a
clear introduction to those not familiar with the classical genre and is an easy to follow guide which assists architects, interior designers and conservators with the quality of their design.

1. The only detailed contemporary guide to the classical orders available
2. Presents the proportioning system in both metric and imperial for ease of understanding
3. An easily accessible introduction to the subject ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The book title says it all...
An excellent source of information - in richly illustrated detail - of the Greek and Roman orders of architecture, including not just the columns, plinth and pediments, but complete building facades, plans and how theporportions of the order relate to these elements as well.In addition,the author includes examples by famous architects or of famous buildingsshowing how the order was interpreted in the past. The only omission - anintentional one, I am sure -is that orders of other cultures were notincluded.

GET IT BACK IN PRINT!!!
Whatever your view as an Architect, Classical Architecture is still around, and being built. With fewer Architects being knowledgeable of the orders of architecture, this book provides the essential information needed to provide an understanding of Classical Architecture. This book is not just a plate by plate description of built or unbuilt classical architecture, but a raw, down to the bone instruction manual of how to construct in minutest detail the five orders. WHEN it is back in print, this book will be an essential purchase for Architects and Offices alike. With very few Architects now having an understanding of Classical Architecture, you could be at an advantage. I would also suggest that when you get a copy, to actually draw the orders...its well worth it.

IFLYA ... Read more

Book Description

A practical, up-to-date introduction on truss analysis, application and design. Describes the influence of trusses on design development as well as the means for design and detailing of truss construction utilizing contemporary building technologies. Illustrations include both historical and recent uses of trusses. ... Read more

Book Description

If you're contemplating a new pool project, and if you want it to outshine all others, this is the book for you. Here is a virtual, vicarious tour of nearly 300 spectacular swim-able waterscapes by the world's top pool builders, members of the elite Master Pool Guild. Samples of their work range from sweet little oases and brief lap pools to luxurious environments complete with waterfalls, fountains, spas, and tiki bars. Explore an endless range of shapes to complement your landscape and architecture. Experience different textures and color schemes in stone and concrete skirting, as well as plant and rock border ideas for completing your backyard environment. This is an inspiring portfolio of ideas for anyone who builds or designs pools, and an essential guide for those planning a new pool project that goes beyond the ordinary. ... Read more

Book Description

A critical part of a designer's job consists of preparing contracts and managing relationships with clients and vendors. This book examines the key elements in a small design practice, including letters of agreement, contracts, and proposals for both residential and commercial projects. It discusses setting fees, establishing project budgets, and managing finances and also explores the relationships between designers, clients, and contractors. It helps interior designers develop the skills necessary for success in the business world. ... Read more

Book Description

How to master the complexities of effective writing in design practice. Written and oral communication play a vital role in advancing design professionals' careers, yet few design schools offer training. Kliment spells out the various end-products of writing that professionals need, including marketing and promotion materials; reports and project communication with clients, staff, consultants, and public agencies; and writing for publication in print and electronic formats, as well as oral presentations. He presents the principles of clear writing, illustrated by realistic examples and exercises drawn from the world of design practice.

Special features:
* Principles of writing for impact
* Tips for students
* The spoken presentation
* Going online
* Layout and style dos and don'ts
* Writing for an international market ... Read more

Reviews (2)

For Architects
This is a nice book, but written primarily for architectal students. Not too useful for architectural engineers.

Inspiring for students and professionals
This is a much needed and appreciated book on clear and consice communication for students writing on their design projects, design statements for themselves about their portfolios, cover letters for employment purposes, not to mention all the aspects of proposals, business communication, applications, brochures, etc. As an educator in the design arts for over 25 years, I am especially happy to have this resource to share with design students and also find much useful information included for myself. Thanks for a great addition to my design library! ... Read more

Book Description

Architecture Exam Review, Volume II: Nonstructural Topics provides a thorough review of the ARE nonstructural exam topics, including the exam's most challenging divisions: Site Planning and Building Design. More than 80 sample questions are provided, with solutions, along with a valuable checklist of items that should be considered in every design solution. The book also covers test-taking strategy, and is enhanced by illustrations, figures, and tables, along with a detailed index. The fifth edition has been updated to reflect changes in the exam-the adoption of a computerized format and use of the 2000 versions of the International Building Code and the International Plumbing Code. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

In the process of studying...
I am currently studying for the exam and I've been using this book as a basis.The individual chapters are fairly short and each one has a short quiz at the end to test your newly gained knowledge.This is helpful because it makes asborbing the information much more manageable - much better than trying to read Architectural Graphic Standards from cover to cover.

Beware: some sections are somewhat spotty so count on having to use other resources as well.

Great Guide
I found this guide to be extremely valuable. It covers a broad range of topics in the appropriate detail. Of course, it doesn't have all the answers to the ARE, but those tests are meant to have many "unanswerable" questions. But this guide will give you a strong base from which to work. It also has valuable information and rules of thumb that apply to practicing architects. I leaned most heavily on this resouce in order to take my exams.

Excellent Jumping Point
I found that this book was very helpful in preperation for the ARE.Although the book did not cover all the topics on the actual exam, it proved invaluable on the areas of study that were tested.The chapterswere highly organized and easy to follow while the content was neither toobroad to be ambiguous, nor too precise to be cumbersome.The only gripe Ihad with the book was that some information (minor in detail) wascontradictory to current trade manuals and other study material.Otherthan that, I highly recommend this book as an aid to studying for the exam- and it makes an excellent reference book for your library.

An excellent study aid
If you can overlook the poor proofreading it is of great help. The actual AREis easier than the quizes in the book.Good Luck! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Everything you ever wanted to know about architecture & more
This book is jam-packed with information, presented in a fascinating, readable manner. The introductory chapter explains the elements of architecture which helps the reader appreciate the extraordinary buildings humans have created through the ages. The chronological progression of the rest of the book's chapters highlights major trends and developments in building styles and materials, demystifying the origins of many of today's structures. The book is just as easy to read straight through, as it zooms along through the history of architecture "from the Stone Age to the Space Age," as it is to locate a topic of particular interest and to start there. The glossary and extensive index make it easy to quickly learn about any one subject, building, or architect, and the numerous sidebars and timelines help the reader understand the context in which a building was created.
The beautiful pictures and interesting stories bring you right to the doorstep of humanity's greatest achievements. I highly recommend this book for anyone who has ever wondered why a building is considered special, and think it would be a terrific present as well. Enjoy! ... Read more