Book Description

The construction of buildings is learnt through experience and the inheritance of a tradition in forming buildings over several thousand years. Successful construction learns from this experience which becomes embodied in principles of application. Though materials and techniques change, various elements have to perform the same function. 'Principles of Element Design' identifies all the relevant elements and then breaks these elements down into all their basic constituents, making it possible for students to fully understand the given theory and principles behind each part. As all building projects are subject to guidance through the Building Regulations and British Standards, this book gives an immediate reference back to relevant information to help practitioners and contractors identify key documents needed.

Yvonne Dean B.A. (Hons) B.A (Open) RIBA, an architect, energy consultant and materials technologist. She also has 15 years experience as a lecturer, travels widely and is a guest lecturer at many universities. She pioneered an access course for Women into Architecture and Building, which has been used as a template by others, and has been instrumental in helping to change the teaching of technology for architects and designers.

Peter Rich AA Dipl. (Hons) Architect, started his career with 14 years experience as a qualified architectural technician. He then joined the AA School of Architecture, working with Bill Allen and John Bickerdike after his graduation, later becoming a partner of Bickerdike Allen Rich and Partners. He also taught building construction at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, and architectural design at the Polytechnic of North London. He now acts as a Consultant.

* Unique in its approach to detail design
* Invaluable for both students and practising architects, builders and surveyors
* Completely updated in a convenient reference sheet format ... Read more

Book Description

Chart the dramatic developments in architecture in the late twentieth century with a special selection of critical writing and historical discourse drawn by Michael Spens from the issues of the Architectural Review between 1980 and 1995.


This period saw the magazine play a central role in the re-establishment of modernist theory and critique after the diffusion of the short-lived Post modernist period.History was made through the review articles of such famous authors as Sir John Summerson, P Reyner Banham, William Curtis, Kenneth Frampton, Jean Dethier, Stanford Anderson, Juhani Pallasmaa and Peter Cook. There are also major articles by Peter Davey, the instrumental Editor during this period of historic change, Peter Buchanan, Dan Cruickshank, Peter Blundell-Jones, Martin and others.

The influence of the Review had never been greater than under Davey's own editorship, and arguably the journal played a key formative role during this transition in maintaining and restoring the canon of modern architecture and the development of new ideas.Postmodernism, High-Tech design and New Modernism are all evaluated through theoretical articles and a series of key building critiques.Other topics include Regionalism, The Suburb and Pacific Rim.

Michael Spens, as Editor of the volume, provides a detailed introduction to the contents and describes the background to this achievement, and how it came about that the printed word could again become so influential at a time when criticism had become increasingly ephemeral through media pressures of a new dimension.For any detailed insight into the trends and influences affecting architecture during the past 15 years, this volume will provide academics, students, and practitioners who have weathered the storm with a compact and essential resource, fully illustrated with carefully selected referential photos and line drawings of the works described.

Twenty major building critiques and twelve theoretical texts provide a thorough review of architectural theory and design
Learn about the key issues in architecture at the end of the twentieth century
Gain a knowledge of the thoughts and beliefs of leading historians and academics which shaped the development of architecture today ... Read more

Book Description

This book tells the story of Goldfinger's career and his life in architecture which raises profound questions about the role of architecture in British society. ... Read more

Book Description

In 'Vers une Architecture', published in 1923, Le Corbusier equates the pure forms of the machine with the pure forms of the Parthenon to illustrate his view of architecture as a question of mass rather than facades, and that machines are highly architectural.First published in English in 1927, it is the most influential architectural manifesto of modern times. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Where it all began
Probably the most important book in Modern Architecture. Certainly the most villified over the years, especially since the death of Le Corbusier. In it he laid the ground work for Modern Architecture, extolling the virtues of an architecture that was the product of the machine age rather than a pastiche of historical styles.

Le Corbusier illustrated the principles which he felt should govern architecture, drawing from historical references such as the Parthenon, but stressing the need to come up with a new proportional system reflective of concrete construction. He had developed the Dom-ino system by this point and had designed a few villas along these lines. Included are wonderful sketches and models of his Citrohan House, which he hoped would be mass-produced like the automobile. He even approached the French car maker, Citroen, in this regard.

He explored low-scale housing solutions based on what he called the "Honeycomb" principle, porous housing blocks that allowed light and air to pass through the buildings for better ventilation and more airy courtyards. He forsaw many of the environmental concerns architecture now faces, despite the many attacks to the contrary.

Le Corbusier would reshape many of his ideas over time, but this book outlines his early view of architecture in the machine age, which led to the quote most often taken from this book, "a house is a machine for living." But, Le Corbusier saw it in much more human terms than his critics have.

Historically important, but not to be taken as gospel
First of all, the guy that wrote that corbu's architecture is anti-human is wrong about that point. But he's right about everything else. Le Corbusier's theories about urban planning and architecture have done terrible damage to the built environment since they were adopted by practitioners. However, if one doesn't learn about the errors of the past, one risks repeating them. It's a good book for philosophical debate, and a good book to learn about for history's sake, but don't take the theories to heart.

Biggest Oops of Architecture Ever
I should probably come clean and say I'm not a big fan of Corbu right off. Something about a man who has the pomposity to change his name, and publish a magazine pushing his own ideas, then quote from the same magazine in his own book just irks me a little bit.

But I thought I'd give him a chance, after all, my professors seem to think this Corb guy is important in the history of Architecture. That is- he completely destroyed what many previous writers have defined as architecture. This indeed establishes his importance.

All architectural students should read this book- its very quick and easy. Corb didn't use very complicated language- though he shows some traces of being the father of today's ArchiSpeak gobbledegook when he uses a word like "modalities."

Corb idolizes the Parthenon (rightly so), but twists his love for it to fit his ideas of what 'architecture' is. He has a deep fasciniation with 'pure' forms, and believes that the use of pure forms and geometries will arrive at beauty. In a nice paragraph, he dismisses Gothic architecture as "not very beautiful" because it uses muddled complex forms that don't fit his dictated palette. So in order to consider the Parthenon (which uses subtle complex forms to achieve its beauty) beautiful, he likes to call the columns 'cylinders,' turning a sculpted, crafted element with entasis into one of his 'pure' forms. In actuality, the Parthenon is strongly rooted in artistic sculpural expression and cultural tradition, not an attempt to achieve 'pure' forms as Corb would like to see.

Its little contradictions that abound as well- He praises the Acropolis's use of interesting site planning and progression to create angled views rather then flat on views, and then on the next page he cries for ordered, rigid compositions in his cities.

And then there's the whole fascination with the Engineer and Industrial-designed objects. Unfortunately grain silos, WW1 bombers, and automobiles are nothing like buildings. Attempting to make a house a 'machine for living.' Bleah. Who wants to live in a machine? A machine has no soul, humans can't define themselves in a machine. Corb has crazy notions like you should hide all your paintings in the closet and take them out one at a time rather then clutter up your modernist, pure, architecturally designed walls with them. How dare an inhabitant of a house try to express themselves in a way that detracts from how the architect is trying to express himself! It all slips out on page 142: "... a chair is in no way a work of art; a chair has no soul; it is a machine for sitting in." So by simple reasoning, Corb's machines for living in have no art, and no soul. He recognizes this lack of soul with his little mantra:

"We must create the mass production spirit.
The spirit of constructing mass-production houses
The spirit of living in mass production houses
The spirit of conceiving mass production houses."

Since there was no love for modernism when he was writing, Corb recognized that he must create it. And the whole boook is an attempt to do so. There is a danger to trying to create something the ramifications of which you don't fully understand. Jane Jacobs does a nice critique of Corb's "City for six million" in The Death and Life of Great American Cities- his city planning was dangerously influential, and his architectural ideas have had an impact of similar magnitude on the Western world's built environment. (much for the worse, IMHO :)

If anything, this book is pure propoganda for modernism. He upright tells you that cities of today (well, cities of then) do not work, that people hate their old houses, and that his architecture and city planning will solve everything. It also fits the propoganda mold by being incessantly repetitive. He must think his average reader has a brain the size of a pea- passages are repeated SEVERAL times, when there is no logic, try repetition to hammer your ideas into other people's heads.

All said and done though, every student of architecture should nab this book and have a read through it. Le Corbusier, along with Mies Van Der Rohe, Adolf Loos, and Walter Gropius were the big guys of Modernism, but Corbusier was definitely the man that had the biggest impact. The text is nice and big, and there are lots of illustrations, so it goes quickly.

A seminal work
This book is inspirational for those who believe in modern architecture. The ideas are still as potent as ever. This book reflects the optimism of those early 20th century architects who worshipped new technology, who had a fervent desire to do every "modern" using industrial materials, who denounced old materials like stone and wood, who preached the benefits of a social architecture for the masses. For almost a century, this book has also influenced every great architects in the 20th century.

Having said all that, this book needs to be read with the reminder that not everything it preaches is "correct" and the many manifestations of modern architecture is darn right "de-humanizing" and "souless". This book is best contrasted by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and many contemporary architects who emphasize the importance of a sense of "living" space in architecture.

best book on the bauhaus
who is this crazy person who gave this book one star?? i had to read this book for an architecture class and i have to say, after the class was over, i sold all the books back except for this one. the whole concept of 'eyes which do not see' is so smart. it definitely takes some understanding of the whole bauhaus movement and architectural snobbery to get it. people who are fans of classical architecture and think that louis xvi furniture and victorian glassware is "beautiful" probably won't like this book, but people who see the intelligence and beauty underlying modernism and industry will most definitely appreciate this book. le corbusier is a total genius and one worth studying. ... Read more

Book Description

This book combines theoretical enquiry with practical implementation offering a unique perspective on the use of computers related to architectural form and design. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent presentation of a historical curiousity.
..., this book is not intended to be a current architectural resource.

It is a presentation, for research purposes, of two books that at one time served as the 'conceptual' blueprint of house building in the cities of America.

The introduction is clear and to the point, and the layout of the books well-handled.

I recommed this book to anyone interested in the history of architecture in America; I cannot recommed it as a practical builder's guide.

Not as expected
This book has a 20 page introduction on Asher and then about then about 20 pages of picutures and drawings.The rest of the pages are copies of two books written in ancient english that is very hard to understand even foran engineer.The drawings included are mostly cross sections of moldings,pillars and some truss diagrams (the truss section was interesting).Itthe kind of book you would thumb thru and say that is sorta interesting andthen never pick it up again.I am returning it. ... Read more

Book Description

This book addresses issues of space, historicity, architecture and textuality by focusing on Singapore's singular position in the region and as a global city. ... Read more

Book Description

How did colonial influences change the urban form of the Arab capitals? The author here poses - and answers - many questions on globalisation and the Middle East. ... Read more

Book Description

Informative, yet concise, this reputable volume helps readers become adept at reading both residential and commercial construction architectural plans. It offers thorough coverage on everything from projections to modular coordination, light framing to window details, and timber construction to trusses, and provides actual photographs of the buildings under construction. Individually shrink-wrapped exercises provide a neat and readily accessible means of applying material in the book. KEY TOPCIS: Topics covered include architectural plans, symbols and dimensions, reading residential floor plans, plot plans and roof framing plans, elevations and sections, reading commercial plans, fire protection, trusses and more.For construction professionals, owners and others interested in reading residential and commercial construction plans. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very interesting.Good investment.
Very detail and helpful for a student like myself new to the world of architecture. ... Read more

Book Description

The architect's interest in continuing education has increased as a result of the national trend of state initiatives requiring continuing education for architect registration

Architect's Essentials of Professional Development assists registered architects and architecture firms in designing their own professional development programme in the context of professional practice

l Information on this subject is in high demand

l Covers strategic planning, programme design and assessment while taking into consideration the culture of different design firms

l Assessment worksheets and questionnaires allow readers to personalise their books while discovering and implementing their own professional development goals and strategies

l Practical, applied, concise, affordable and user-friendly ... Read more

Book Description

Peter Blundell Jones details the inadequacy of the first histories of the Modern Movement by revealing the existence of suppressed alternative traditions within the movement and shows their great diversity through the use of case studies. Each case is analysed in detail then used as a springboard to explore different theoretical approaches.

Case studies are shown to be the most effective way to explore this diversity and to get closer to the buildings discussed. Blundell Jones uses the Weissenhof as a general comparative study that is followed by single examples by chosen architects, each taking a particular set of themes.

* Reappraise the modern movement with this informative, scholarly and insightful text
* Learn a new approach to the debates surrounding modern architecture and theory
* Case studies illustrate the theory in a clear and accessible style ... Read more

Book Description

This is our latest exam handbook, which contains 175 comprehensive questions covering all the multiple-choice divisions of the exam.

One of the proven techniques for passing the multiple-choice divisions of the exam is to practice answering questions similar to actual exam questions.The questions in this book are arranged by exam division and are presented in the style of the actual exam.A detailed explanation of each answer is provided in a separate section of the book.

This handbook also contains an extensive glossary and other useful information, and candidates will find it invaluable in their exam preparation. ... Read more

Book Description

The author concentrates on fundamental texts in the study of architectural history with special reference to eighteenth and nineteenth century Britain.The texts under discussion address key themes or methods in the construction of architectural histories.Alongside this, philosophical or theoretical writings that address the abstract issues surrounding the main texts are presented as a kind of exegesis on the chosen texts.This, together with an introduction and discursive essays which preface each of the sections, present a trans-disciplinary discourse around the discipline of architectural history. ... Read more

Book Description

At last, a course that will show you step-by-step how to pass the computerized graphic tests!

Drawing on 35 years of exam preparation experience, Lester Wertheimer, FAIA, has created this valuable home study course specifically to help candidates prepare for two of the graphic exam divisions: Building Planningand Building Technology.This course will show you:
* How to prepare for the tests
* How to take the tests
* The best test-taking strategies
* Graphic solutions that work

The three graphic vignette types from the Building Planning Test and the six vignette types from the Building Technology Test are described in detail, and simulated vignettes are presented as examples.Each vignette is accompanied by a suggested graphic solution and a complete explanation and analysis of the design principles involved.Detailed illustrations are included, as well as a bibliography and index.This course will remove the mystery and guide you to a successful performance on the graphic tests. ... Read more

Book Description

Prepare for the difficult structural tests with the most comprehensive Mock Exams available!Candidates may enroll in both Structural & Lateral Forces Exam Set for a special combined fee of $42.00. ... Read more