Book Description

Using the analytical perspectives of architecture, comparative literature, and cultural studies, the essays in Memory and Architecture examine the role of memory in the creation of our built environment.

Part I, "Designing National Memories," examines the ways institutions and individuals construct national memory. Eric Sandweiss discusses American urban history museums; Mark Jarzombek addresses the reconstruction of Dresden, Germany; Fernando Lara contrasts Brazilian modern architecture to earlier European modernism; and Maria de Lourdes Luz and Ana Lucia Santos look at Brazilian history through the prism of the coffee plantation system.

Part II, "Literary Memory Spaces," focuses on the treatment of place in literature. Sabir Khan spotlights the experiences of two South Asian women who return to their homelands after several years abroad to discover changes in their native landscape. Barbara Mann explores the Old Cemetry in Tel Aviv, while Carel Bertram considers images of the Turkish house, and Eleni Bastéa examines the cities of Thessaloniki and Istanbul as reflected in literary novels.

Part III, "Personal Cartographies," comprises three personal essays: Catherine Hamel on Beirut, Christine Gorby on Belfast, and V. B. Price on Los Angeles and Albuquerque. "The Voices from the Studio" in Part IV considers the ways memory may apply to the teaching of architecture. Thomas Fisher writes about the state of architectural education, Rachel Hurst and Jane Lawrence describe their teaching methods. Sheona Thomson examines the relationship between the spaces of architecture and the spaces of literature asking, "Why couldn’t we be drawn more often into learning about architecture by studying how it has been painted by Giotto, or described by Virginia Woolf, or, for that matter, by being asked to reflect on our own recollections of place?" ... Read more

Book Description

Actions of Architecture begins with a critique of strategies that define the user as passive and predictable, such as contemplation and functionalism. ... Read more

Book Description

Are you intimidated by the structural test?Or are you a whiz in structures?Either way, this is the right course for you.Written in clear, understandable language by David Berg, P.E., and Robert Marks, P.E., this course requires a minimum amount of previous knowledge.Its eight lessons provide a concise review of structural theory and practice and reflect the latest exam trends.Among thetopics discussed are:
* Basic structural theory
* Computation methods
* Wood, steel, and reinforced concrete
* Beams and columns
* Foundations and walls
* Connections

The course is enhanced by many tables, sketches, diagrams, formulas, illustrative problems with computations, a glossary of structural terms, a bibliography, and an index.Each lesson is followed by a short quiz, and the course is concluded with a major simulated examination.Complete explanations of all quiz and examination answers are included.

This edition incorporates references to both the 1994 and 1997 editions of the Uniform Building Code. ... Read more

Book Description

Why the airbrush is an ideal tool for presenting architecture, and how to use it. The airbrush, considered a technically daunting instrument, renders mass, volume, light, color, and surface more accurately and elegantly than the customary presentation tools of architects and interior designers. But it offers rich effects worth using, even in the computer age. This book dispels common misconceptions and gives instructions for mastering the technique. 80 color illustrations, 80 line drawings. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

A new volume in our Classic Reprint Series

The first issue of the legendary architecture journal Pencil Points appeared in 1920 as "a journal for the drafting room." Born out of The Architectural Review, and merged with Progressive Architecture in 1943, Pencil Points became the leading voice in architectural and graphic design when modernism flourished, introducing key players from America and Europe. It also established the agenda in architectural theory: multivolume pieces by John Harbeson, Talbot Hamlin, Hugh Ferris, and others dealt with major issues that are still relevant today-architectural education and practice, small-house design and portable housing, city planning, and the influence (or not) of modernism. Items like George Nelson's series of reports from Europe in the early 1930s,

H. Van Buren Magonigle's diatribes against modernism, and a glossary of Ecole des Beaux-Arts terms sit side-by-side with the best architectural drawings and photographs of the 20th century.

Pencil Points Reader re-publishes the most important essays from the journal's 23 years, arranged chronologically, and offers an insider's introduction by John Dixon, the former executive editor of Progressive Architecture.

Pencil Points Reader is a prized collector's edition and an essential addition to any architectural library. ... Read more

Book Description

Architecture Design Notebook focuses on the process of design as pragmatic and non-theoretical. Dealing systematically with the core design curriculum, it clearly demonstrates the skills required for designing at undergraduate level.

Providing students with fundamental maxims of design, and a framework within which they can approach their work, this book supports undergraduates as they learn to produce solutions to design challenges.

This vital design companion underpins the cornerstone of an architectural undergraduates' studies - studio design projects. With over 100 sketches included, the book inspires student's design ideas.

This updated edition includes new sections on green architecture, urban space typology, and the virtual building.

A. Peter Fawcett is an architect and critic who combines teaching with sporadic practice; he is currently Professor Emeritus of Architecture at the University of Nottingham and visiting Professor at the University of Lincoln. In recent years his work has been placed in architectural competitions and has been hung at the Royal Academy and Royal Ulster Academy.

* Covers information from the core design curriculum in one comprehensive guide.
* Over 100 sketches provide ideal inspiration for studio design projects.
* Designed for student-centered learning, the new edition includes "green" design and an introduction to urban design techniques. ... Read more

Book Description

A history of modernism in the teaching of architecture, landscape architecture, and city planning at Harvard. This book tells how modernism evolved in the most celebrated design school in America. Tracing developments at Harvard, whose Graduate School of Design was home from 1937 to 1952 of Bauhaus founder Walter Gropius, it shows that America had initiated its own modern agenda before the arrival of the European modernist ideology. 20 color and 250 black-and-white illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A New Perspective on Modernism
Modernism in architecture is so closely identified with a handful of hero figures (like Walter Gropius and Mies van der Rohe) that we often forget that the real story behind its development is a complex and contentious one. In this wonderful and much-needed book, Anthony Alofsin deftly illustrates that the arrival of European architects in the U.S. in the 1930s cast a shadow over emerging progressive trends in American architectural design and education. At Harvard in particular, this led to an amnesia that convinced students and professors alike that it was Gropius who brought modern ideas to the Graduate School of Design when he began teaching there in 1937. "The Struggle for Modernism" shows clearly, though, that the kernels of these modern ideas were present in the Harvard design programs from their beginnings in 1900. It was not from the Bauhaus that Harvard developed its interdisciplinary approach to design that insisted on collaboration amongst architects, landscape architects, and city planners. Instead, it was Americans like Herbert Langford Warren, Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., George Harold Edgell, and, most importantly, Joseph Hudnut who over decades created the influential and rigorous design programs. This is a fascinating and most welcome book that sheds much new light on a subject that many have incorrectly assumed was already well-understood. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A comic-style history of architecture full of humour
What a pleasure to read this book; it is witty and now and then mordant.
It explains the changing styles of buildings on the basis of the societies, their technical abilities, and their power structure, as well as the self-importance of rulers and architects.
All pages are approximately half text and half comic drawings, often with a touch of sarcasm.
Enjoy it!

Capital!
If, like me, you've ever wandered around thinking, ah yes, interesting column, from the ionoricesque ahem period, yes, indeed - but wished you actually KNEW what period or style you were looking at - this is absolutely the book for you. A wealth of information, both historical and structural, about architecture and architects. I found this book easy to read, informative and entertaining, thanks to a host of tiny cartoons which slip you information without you quite noticing it, like hiding cauliflower in macaroni and cheese.

A very worthwhile book. ... Read more

Book Description

"Professor Wittkower's....studies of humanist architecture are masterpieces of scholarship."-Sir Kenneth Clark, Architectural Review.

A fourth edition of the forty-year-old classic.

Focusing on the principal architects of that time-from Alberti to Palladio-this bestselling classic explains the true significance of certain architectural forms, bringing to light the connections between the architecture and culture of the period. With publication scheduled to coincide with that of Architectonics of Humanism, this important reference is superbly reproduced in a new, large square format.

The late RUDOLF WITTKOWER was a college professor and eminent scholar residing in London, England. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

More than just Architecture!
Already recognized since 1949 as "a masterpiece in scholarship" in its field by several eminent architects, the 173 page tome: ARCHITECTURAL PRINCIPLES IN THE AGE OF HUMANISM, 4th ed. (1971) by Rudolf Wittkower; had, incidentally, also provided an in-depth explanation on proportion and ratio as they differed in usage between architectural procedure and Boethian mathematics.
Of special importance is part four 'The Problem of Harmonic Proportion in Architecture' (p. 101) where the author made the salient point that "Although the Pythagoreo-Platonic concept of the numerical ratios of the musical scale never disappeared from mediaeval [sic], theological, philosophical, and aesthetic thought, there was no over-riding need to apply them to art and architecture" (p. 159).

Rudolf Wittkower unknowingly provided in part four the distinction between an elite Quadrivium education containing Boethian "mathematical arts" while "the 'liberal arts' of painting, sculpture, and architecture were regarded as manual occupations" (p. 117). The author explained "That the high Renaissance architects shunned theory" and "that they were practitioners rather than thinkers" (p. 30).And further "Italian architects strove for an easily perceptible ratio between length, height, and depth" (p. 74).So then according to this author, all of the Renaissance architects conception of architecture was based on a "commensurability of ratios" (p. 108).

Rudolf Wittkower indicated "that the [Renaissance] architect is by no means free to apply to a building a system of ratios of his own choosing, that the ratios have to comply with conceptions of a higher order and that a building should mirror the proportions of the human body" (p. 101).In developing the centrally planned church, Renaissance architects faced the dilemma of the pragmatics of church construction combined with the belief in divinity and the acceptance of Roman Catholic dogma.

The Church was to provide the "easily perceptible ratio" with the simple logic that "As man is the image of God and the proportions of his body are produced by divine will, so the proportions in architecture have to embrace and express the cosmic order" (p. 101).That cosmic order and harmony are contained in certain numbers Plato explained in his TIMAEUS.

Assigned to the architects, a Quadrivium trained Roman Catholic friar and musical theorist, Franchino Gaffurio (1451-1522) "in a truly Platonic spirit he regarded this principle of harmony as the basis of macrocosm and microcosm, body and soul, painting, architecture, and medicine" (p. 124).It was under this famous Renaissance musical theorist in 1525 that "the old belief in the mysterious efficacy of certain numbers and ratios was given new impetus" (p. 102)."It was Pythagoras who discovered that tones can be measured in space.What he found was that musical consonances were determined by the ratios of small whole numbers.If two strings are made to vibrate under the same conditions, one being half the length of the other, the pitch of the shorter string will be one octave (diapason) above that of the larger one" (p. 102)."Thus the consonances, on which the Greek musical system was based - octave, fifth, and fourth - can be expressed by the progression 1:2:3:4.One can understand that this staggering discovery made people believe that they had seized upon the mysterious harmony which pervades the universe" (p. 103).

"The musical consonances are determined by the mean proportionals; for that the three means constitute all the intervals of the musical scale had been shown in the TIMAEUS.Classical writers on musical theory discussed this point at great length.An exhaustive exposition is to be found in Boethius' DE MUSICA, first printed in Venice in 1491-92, and of very great importance for the doctrine of numbers throughout the Middle Ages and during the Renaissance" (p. 111).

Yet Boethius's DE MUSICA was de-emphasized by Renaissance architects in recognition that the "harmony of the universe which Plato had described in the TIMAEUS on the basis of Pythagora's discovery of the ratios of musical consonances" prompted the "application of Pythagoreo-Platonic system of harmonic ratios directly to architecture" (p. 125).As it turned out (not surprisingly) "Gafurio [sic] was regarded by his contemporaries as a critic in architectural matters" (p. 125).

The author of ARCHITECTURAL PRINCIPLES IN THE AGE OF HUMANISM provided the evidence that although the Quadrivium of the mathematical arts of music, astronomy, geometry, and Boethian proportion and ratio, was known to the Renaissance high architects, they preferred the 'harmonic proportion'; 'proportion of excess'; and the 'proportio proportionum'; derived directly from Plato's TIMAEUS and Pythagoras's three means (arithmetic, geometric, and the harmonic) over Boethius's DE MUSICA, though it was a substantial part of friar Gaffurio's ecclesiastical education.This resulted in "proportionally integrated 'spatial mathematics', which we have recognized as a distinguishing feature of humanist Renaissance architecture" (p. 26).

In comparison, for the practical application of Boethian proportion and ratios, please read: THE PHILOSOPHER'S GAME (2001) by Dr. Ann E. Moyer, where the rules of Boethian proportion found in rithmomachia, had been clearly defined, though inadvertently, by Rudolf Wittkower. ... Read more

Book Description

Intended as either the main text or a supplement for the Introduction to Architecture course at the senior or first year graduate level. The book consists of a set of reading of "classics" in different subject areas normally covered in a introductory course. The complete collection of readings represents a comprehensive introduction to the field of architecture. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

What is a Classic?
After the Third Annual Architect-Researcher's Conference in 1966, many well-known Architects felt compelled to write manifestos to explain their design philosophy. The relative stagnation of architectural theory in the previous 2000 years was quickly inundated by a torrent of competing ideologies. The Masters were challenged. Architectural theory exploded.
Professors today have the task of presenting this critical mass of conflicting theory. Some devote an entire term to one attractive proposition. Others develop courses with an historical perspective. Still others write anthologies. Jay M. Stein and Kent F. Spreckelmeyer have sifted through the rubble to salvage thirty-six ideas capable of standing on their own. These enduring essays have been assembled in Classic Readings in Architecture. What distinguishes a classic? Stein and Spreckelmeyer used a four-step process to select their texts. They started with architecture experts listed in the 1994 ACSA Guide to Architecture Schools. They reviewed syllabi from introductory courses. Award-winning essays were given preference. Finally, they read and read and read. Unfortunately, some of the highly influential, but more controversial texts were eliminated. For example Robert Venturi's gentle manifesto Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture did not make the final edition. This collection targets the first-year introductory seminar and, as such, has a different purpose from other recently published anthologies. Stein and Spreckelmeyer present a variety of ideas. They permit the selections to speak for themselves. Their introductory remarks, often biographical, served to orient the reader rather than to convert. Differences in tone and style separate one author from another. There are no smooth transitions. Like a beautiful jewel, various facets of the profession are re-examined under the harsh light of time. Architecture as Artifact hits the high spots from ancient Greece to modern Mexico. The full spectrum of interdisciplinary collusion is displayed from Calculus to Archeology. Classics are classics because they are unforgettable. Weeks after the term has finished, the students will refer to that essay by so and so. It will be the spark that ignites the discussion. The ensuing debate will shape future theory, which will in turn become classics.

An ideal introduction to the realm of architecture thought.
As a textbook for graduate-level students just entering a graduate program in Architecture, I have found no better collection readings to introduce the realm of architectural thought. The book addresses the the idea of premise; that is to say, the nature of a position taken as the basis for making architecture beyond the fundamental assemblage of a spatial program and the technological means of building. A second strength of the book is in it's introduction of Architecture as a process rather than as a product. In this aspect, find this book to be an effective companion with Peter Rowe's *Design Thinking*, M.I.T. Press, the book dedicating a section of essays addressing the issue of Design Process. The relationship between the nature of a project and the methods employed in its design is made quite clear. Lastly, is the section dedicated to the Context of Architecture, which does so both within and beyond the bounds of physical context, addressing forthrightly the social context of Architecture at both micro and macro scales. ... Read more

Book Description

This computerized study program is designed to help candidates prepare for the six multiple-choice divisions of the Architect Registration Examination.This software comprises an extensive collection of architectural terms and phrases that frequently appear on the actual exam.

Powerflash contains over 1800 architectural terms arranged in a flash card format.The terms related to each division may be viewed one at a time, and the corresponding definitions may be displayed with a single click of a button.One may alsoreview this material in the opposite manner, viewing the definitions one at a time and then displaying the corresponding terms.Those who wish to view every term related to all six exam divisions may go directly to the index, where all the terms are arrangedalphabetically, along with an indication of the exam division to which each term applies.The program is designed so that each time a specific exam division is selected, the terms will be displayed in a different random arrangement.As on the actual exam, all computer operations are performed using a mouse.

Candidates will find PowerFlash to be a unique and effective method to prepare for the multiple-choice divisions of the ARE. ... Read more

Book Description

A history of Architecture with respect to influences; covers Pagan, Christian, Intellectual and modern periods. ... Read more

Book Description

Designing Better Buildings presents the latest thinking on what design quality is and how to achieve it. ... Read more

Book Description

There's a large and growing market for universal design in housing, but little information available to professionals on how to achieve it. In this first-of-its-kind implementation guide, you'll learn how to incorporate all the elements of universal design and barrier-free access into everything from a single-family home to a retirement communityNeasily, attractively, and at modest or no additional cost. Learn how to seamlessly integrate ramps, hands-free controls, special bathroom and kitchen features, visual- and hearing-impairment aids, remote-control devices and more into your plans. Contains color photos, eye-catching icons, checklists, and a directory of suppliers of accessible products. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Photo OP matched with good information.
Forty of the 120 pages are Checklist and Graphic Guidelines. It is nice to have them in one place; they are detailed, incorporating issues such as the environment. Accept for grab bars, etc. there is not much that I would consider of "modest or no additional cost," as the book jacket purports. Focus is on open floor designs, but also has tighter schemes. Great photos are matched with good information, that I haven't found elsewhere. ... Read more

Book Description

Prepare for the difficult structural tests with the most comprehensive Mock Exams available!

Each Mock Exam contains multiple-choice questions in the style of the actual exam and covers every aspect likely to be tested. The questions are contained in a booklet and the answers in a separate booklet. Each answer is fully explained, so that candidates will understand why that answer is correct.

This Mock Exam in preparation for the Lateral Forces Test consists of 70 questions in a 22-page booklet, with detailed answers in a separate 17-page booklet. ... Read more