This book is about the materials and methods of building construction. Through it, different ways of building are described: different structural systems, different ways of building enclosures, and different interior finishes. Each of them has characteristics that distinguish it from substitutes.
Sometimes the material is chosen mainly for visual quality, like choosing1 type of granite over another, choosing a particular color of paint or specifying a special pattern on the tile. Visual distinctions can extend beyond surface quality. Designers may prefer the large appearance of masonry-bearing wall buildings to that of slimmer exposed steel frames in1project, yet choose steel for another.
The choice may be made for functional reasons, like the choice of highly durable and water-resistant polished concrete instead of carpet or wood to the restaurant kitchen floor. Or, for example, you can choose anon-combustible construction system for purely technical reasons, so as to achieve the right level of fire safety of the building.
Description
First published a quarter of a century ago, the foundations of architectural Construction: Materials and methods, now in the 6th edition, has revolutionized construction education. It has been instrumental in making previously unpopular areas of research not just tasty, but vibrant and well liked.
It takes a body of knowledge that was once characterized as ambivalent to design excellence, and it is widely acknowledged that it is central to the design of good buildings, replacing dry, unattractive books with well-designed, readable volumes that students evaluate and keep as reference works. It was the first book in its field, passed equally in its coverage, and profusely and effectively explained throughout. This removes the burden of explaining all of the subject matter, thereby freeing up class time for discussion, case studies, field trips, and other affluence.
Gaining useful knowledge of building materials and methods is important and necessary for students of architecture, engineering, or construction, but it can be a daunting task. The field is huge, diverse and complex, and it changes at such a rate that it seems impossible to master it.
This book is an outstanding academic text in this field because of its logical organization, excellent illustrations, clear writing, fun page layout, and unique philosophy.
It is integrative and presents a single story that interweaves issues of architectural science, materials science, legal constraints, and architectural craft so that the reader does not have to refer to separate parts of the book to make a connection between these issues. Building technology is presented not as a component, but as a whole working system.