Reference Books

101 Things I Learned in Architecture School

Matthew Frederick

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

2008 Silver Award Winner, Architecture Category, Independent Publisher Book Awards. and Winning entry, General Trade Illustrated Category, in the 2008 New England Book Show sponsored by Bookbuilders of Boston.

This is a book that students of architecture will want to keep in the studio and in their backpacks. It is also a book they may want to keep out of view of their professors, for it expresses in clear and simple language things that tend to be murky and abstruse in the classroom. These 101 concise lessons in design, drawing, the creative process, and presentation—from the basics of "How to Draw a Line" to the complexities of color theory—provide a much-needed primer in architectural literacy, making concrete what too often is left nebulous or open-ended in the architecture curriculum. Each lesson utilizes a two-page format, with a brief explanation and an illustration that can range from diagrammatic to whimsical. The lesson on "How to Draw a Line" is illustrated by examples of good and bad lines; a lesson on the dangers of awkward floor level changes shows the television actor Dick Van Dyke in the midst of a pratfall; a discussion of the proportional differences between traditional and modern buildings features a drawing of a building split neatly in half between the two. Written by an architect and instructor who remembers well the fog of his own student days, 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School provides valuable guideposts for navigating the design studio and other classes in the architecture curriculum. Architecture graduates—from young designers to experienced practitioners—will turn to the book as well, for inspiration and a guide back to basics when solving a complex design problem.

Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture

Editors of Phaidon Press

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture is a comprehensive portrayal of the finest built architecture from around the world completed since the year 2000. Divided into six world regions, the Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture provides an important overview of global and local trends in architecture for a wide range of users. The geographical contexts for twenty-first century architectural production are explored in a global framework presented in accessible graphic formats. Each of the six world regions is introduced by an in-depth look at their unique urban and architectural issues. This statistical data has been researched and analyzed by a team of from the London School of Economics.

More than 1000 key buildings have been chosen through a rigorous selection process involving a panel of expert advisors and specialists from every region. Each building is fully illustrated with drawings and photographs, and each is described by a short essay. Further information includes key data such as construction cost, client name, area of the building, and geographical coordinates. Cross-referencing between projects helps the user to find other buildings by the same architect included in the book. In addition, a mass of useful information is provided, including details about the architects' practices, as well as extensive indices.

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Take a Closer Look at Images from The Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture
(Click on Images to Enlarge)

Hotel at Marqués de Riscal, 2007, Elciego, Spain, architect: Gehry Partners

White Temple, 2000, Nantan, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, architect: Tagashi Yamaguchi

CCTV and TVCC Centres, 2008,Beijing, China, architect: Office for Metropolitan Architecture

Orchid House, 2006, Medellín, Colombia, architect: Plan B Architects with JPRCR Architects

Holman House, 2005, Sydney, Australia, architect: Durbach Block Architects

Casa da Musica, 2005, Porto, Portugal, architect: Office for Metropolitan Architecture

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Keys to Drawing

Bert Dodson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 30 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A Good Beginners' Buide 4 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Over the last six month I have been buying a number of instructional book on drawing/sketching for reference. I have found this one to be one that I continue to go back to to review approaches to getting started. I would recommend it as a good guide for a beginner -- either to drawing or to starting with charcoal and graphite.

Leon

It's the best! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The book is well organized, and presents material in a conprehensive, easily understood manner. The illustrations are useful, and not intimidating. The subjects of the drawing exercises are interesting and varied. The author seems to work right along with the student in this book, and anticipates some of the problems that arise in drawing. The author's remarks are encouraging for individuals interested in drawing at any level of expertise. I appearance of the book prior to purchase, but it is more than I expected. The book's size is neither too large nor too heavy to use in a small space or to carry along.

Excellent Drawing Instruction 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

"Keys to Drawing" is my favorite drawing instructional book. I found it here on Amazon and checked it out of my local library to see it before I ordered it. I have a short attention span and lose interest if a book doesn't engage me pretty quickly. I was immediately engaged by the simple, clear instruction and effective, challenging projects. This book got me drawing within minutes. I re-checked it twice from my library and had to order a copy for myself!

I love the format of this book, with the emphasis on drawing and not just talking about drawing, like so many instructional books do. I also appreciate the many examples in the author's loose, easy style. This is one of the first books I've picked up that didn't intimidate me with detailed, advanced portraiture. The progression and pace of this book were very comfortable to me. I'm extremely pleased with the results I'm seeing in my drawing.

Frank Lloyd Wright The Houses

Alan Hess

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Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Architecture -> Architects, A-Z -> Wright, Frank Lloyd

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Frank Lloyd Wright is not only synonymous with architecture, his name is also synonymous with the American house in the twentieth century. In particular, his residential work has been the subject of continuing interest and controversy. Wright's Fallingwater (1935), the seminal masterpiece perched over a waterfall deep in the Pennsylvania highlands, is perhaps the best-known private house in the history of the world. In fact, Wright's houses-from his Prairie style Robie House (1906) in Chicago, to the Storer (1923) and Freeman (1923) houses in Los Angeles, and Taliesen West (1937) in the Arizona desert-are all touchstones of modern architecture. For the first time, all 289 extant houses are shown here in exquisite color photographs. Along with Weintraub's stunning photos and a selection of floor plans and archival images, the book includes text and essays by several leading Wright scholars. Frank Lloyd Wright: The Houses is an event of great importance and a major contribution to the literature on this titan of modern architecture.

The Laws of Simplicity (Simplicity: Design, Technology, Business, Life)

John Maeda

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 43 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Received an Honorable Mention in the Communication and Cultural Studies category of the 2005 Professional/Scholarly Publishing Annual Awards Competition presented by the Association of American Publishers, Inc.

Finally, we are learning that simplicity equals sanity. We're rebelling against technology that's too complicated, DVD players with too many menus, and software accompanied by 75-megabyte "read me" manuals. The iPod's clean gadgetry has made simplicity hip. But sometimes we find ourselves caught up in the simplicity paradox: we want something that's simple and easy to use, but also does all the complex things we might ever want it to do. In The Laws of Simplicity, John Maeda offers ten laws for balancing simplicity and complexity in business, technology, and design—guidelines for needing less and actually getting more.

Maeda—a professor in MIT's Media Lab and a world-renowned graphic designer—explores the question of how we can redefine the notion of "improved" so that it doesn't always mean something more, something added on.

Maeda's first law of simplicity is "Reduce." It's not necessarily beneficial to add technology features just because we can. And the features that we do have must be organized (Law 2) in a sensible hierarchy so users aren't distracted by features and functions they don't need. But simplicity is not less just for the sake of less. Skip ahead to Law 9: "Failure: Accept the fact that some things can never be made simple." Maeda's concise guide to simplicity in the digital age shows us how this idea can be a cornerstone of organizations and their products—how it can drive both business and technology. We can learn to simplify without sacrificing comfort and meaning, and we can achieve the balance described in Law 10. This law, which Maeda calls "The One," tells us: "Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious, and adding the meaningful."

Water Storage: Tanks, Cisterns, Aquifers, and Ponds for Domestic Supply, Fire and Emergency Use--Includes How to Make Ferrocement Water Tanks

Art Ludwig

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 14 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Read the book, Build the tank 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 11 people found this review helpful.

I Built a 10,000 Gal tank straight out of this book for US$ 1,500.
It looks good & it doesn't leak.
What more can you ask for ?

very excellent detailed book 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 9 people found this review helpful.

This book is well written and complete. I feel that after reading this book I can safely capture rainwater and I know all the details to think about when designing our system, specific reasons to place pipes etc in specific places ... an excellent detailed referrence book and enjoyable read; I read the entire book and enjoyed it. If you are seriously considering to have a rainwater catchment system this is a must read.

Water Storage: Tanks, Cisterns, Aquifers, and Ponds for Domestic Supply, Fire and Emergency Use--Includes How to Make Ferrocemen 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This book can help you for how to planning the different water systems in rural and urban areas, the best is how to make ferrocement water tanks.

Editorial Review:

A do-it-yourself guide to designing, building, and maintaining water tanks, cisterns and ponds, and sustainably managing groundwater storage. It will help you with your independent water system, fire protection, and disaster preparedness, at low cost and using principles of ecological design. Includes building instructions for several styles of ferro cement water tanks.

Photovoltaics: Design and Installation Manual

Solar Energy International

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Total reviews: 28 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Producing electricity from the sun using photovoltaic (PV) systems has become a major industry worldwide. But designing, installing and maintaining such systems requires knowledge and training, and there have been few easily accessible, comprehensive guides to the subject.

Now, with Photovoltaics: Design and Installation Manual, a world-class solar energy training and education provider-Solar Energy International (SEI)-has made available the critical information to successfully design, install and maintain PV systems. The book contains an overview of photovoltaic electricity and a detailed description of PV system components, including PV modules, batteries, controllers and inverters. It also includes chapters on sizing photovoltaic systems, analyzing sites and installing PV systems, as well as detailed appendices on PV system maintenance, troubleshooting and solar insolation data for over 300 sites around the world. Used worldwide as the textbook in SEI's PV Design & Installation workshops, topics covered include:

The basics of solar electricity
PV applications and system components
Solar site analysis and mounting
Stand-alone and PV/generator hybrid system sizing
Utility-interactive PV systems
Component specification, system costs and economics
Case studies and safety issues

Photovoltaics guarantees that those wanting to learn the skills of tapping the sun's energy can do so with confidence.

Solar Energy International (SEI) has the nonprofit mission to respond to the need for renewable energy education. Based in Carbondale, Colorado, and active around the world, SEI is a link between people and renewable energy resources, providing information, education and training to people who want to shape a sustainable future. SEI is recognized by the National Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) as dedicated independent provider of PV training programs that may be used toward attaining PV certification. Also, SEI is recognized as an Accredited Institution to offer PV training by the Institute for Sustainable Power (ISP).

Building Construction Illustrated

Francis D. K. Ching

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Total reviews: 68 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The classic visual guide to the basics of building construction, now with the most current information

For nearly three decades, Building Construction Illustrated has offered an outstanding introduction to the principles of building construction. This new edition of the revered classic remains as relevant as ever-providing the latest information in Francis D.K. Ching's signature style. Its rich and comprehensive approach clearly presents all of the basic concepts underlying building construction and equips readers with useful guidelines for approaching virtually any new materials or techniques they may encounter.

Laying out the material and structural choices available, it provides a full under-standing of how these choices affect a building's form and dimensions. Complete with more than 1,000 illustrations, the book moves through each of the key stages of the design process, from site selection to building components, mechanical systems, and finishes.
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Illustrated throughout with clear and accurate drawings that present the state of the art in construction processes and materials
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Updated and revised to include the latest knowledge on sustainability, incorporation of building systems, and use of new materials
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Archetypal drawings offer clear inspiration for designers and drafters
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Reflects the most current building codes and CSI Master Format numbering scheme

With its comprehensive and lucid presentation of everything from foundations and floor systems to finish work, Building Construction Illustrated, Fourth Edition equips students and professionals in all areas of architecture and construction with useful guidelines for approaching virtually any new materials or techniques they may encounter in building planning, design, and construction.

A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series)

Christopher Alexander

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 78 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

surprisingly religious..... interesting, but not believable 3 out of 5 stars.
14 of 20 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book after reading the glowing reviews on amazon. It was also an inspiration for Will Wright to make SimCity and the SIMS..... so I had high expectations.

I was shocked to find how opinionated and philosophical the book is. I expected the book to look at the history of cities, towns, etc. and describe patterns that already exist (much like the GoF's software design patterns book talks about patterns that people actually use). Instead the book presents a series of ideals about how the world should be structured.

If these ideals came from concerns I could identify with, I would take it more seriously. But instead they attack "problems" which I do not perceive to exist. For example, on p. 43 "The homogeneous and undifferentiated character of modern cities kills all variety of life styles and arrest the growth of individual character." This statement is contrary to my experience. I have met many great characters from cities, and seen profound cultural differentiation emerge from cities (e.g. jazz, abstract painting, hippie culture, punk, you name it). But the authors proceed as if cities killing character is axiomatic. I agree that there is a rural character that is not present in cities. But citydwellers have another type of character which is equally valid.

I have only made it through the first 100 pages. In these pages are so many naive ideas about mixing cityspace and vacant space. I live in Los Angeles so I know about sprawl & I also know a lot about cars -- while they are aiming for less sprawl then LA, they also neglect traffic congestion. They claim that making small roads in places make people reluctant to drive there.... the experience worldwide (worst in Malaysia, I hear) is that people use whatever roads are present, and if the roads are small, they then just end up sitting in traffic. The author's are naive in their structuring of space, nowhere do they cite any hard evidence of how these structures function.

I might make it the rest of the way through.... at least it's an easy read, with so many repetitions in how the models work you can kinda skim through it. I like the spirit of the book, it is reminiscent of P.M.'s bolo'bolo.... but where bolo'bolo comes from a purely emotional position, these authors take themselves seriously and believe what they are saying is objectively true. I give the book 3 stars because it is nice to see someone work through the ideas of bolo'bolo (which was actually written ~6yrs after alexander's book). I would give 5 stars to a book that did so by looking more at actual data of how spaces are utilized, and presented designs that didn't have obvious flaws in them.

Editorial Review:

The second of three books published by the Center for Environmental Structure to provide a "working alternative to our present ideas about architecture, building, and planning," A Pattern Language offers a practical language for building and planning based on natural considerations. The reader is given an overview of some 250 patterns that are the units of this language, each consisting of a design problem, discussion, illustration, and solution. By understanding recurrent design problems in our environment, readers can identify extant patterns in their own design projects and use these patterns to create a language of their own. Extraordinarily thorough, coherent, and accessible, this book has become a bible for homebuilders, contractors, and developers who care about creating healthy, high-level design.

Decorating Master Class

Ellie Cullman, Tracey Winn Pruzan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Get this book - You CAN Do This 5 out of 5 stars.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.

I decided to weigh in on this book because 1) I feel so strongly about it and 2) Because of the disparity of opinion regarding whether this book can be used by amateurs, or is simply for professionals only.

I am a homeowner, with a limited budget, in the midst of a new home construction. I saw this book recommended in an issue of architectural digest as really forthcoming about the how-tos of decorating, not just pictures to drool over. I bought the book immediately and I love it. I can't tell you how valuable this book has been. I learned SO much.

I read it through cover to cover, then reviewed every picture again to assess the details, the use of symmetry, asymmetry, patterns, textures, trims, recurring themes and color schemes. It was incredibly informative, useful and inspiring. It completely prepared me to choose the surfaces in my home. It was useful for planning design details, such as how high the mantel should be and the appropriate distance between furniture pieces and how to achieve layers of light.

I have even purchased some of the resource material listed to further educate myself about antique rugs and furniture.

This book is for everybody. It's gorgeous and incredibly helpful.