Drawing & Modelling Books

Google SketchUp For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

Aidan Chopra

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Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Graphic Design -> General
Subjects -> Computers & Internet -> Graphic Design -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Barely useful 2 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The author tells you which tools to use, but not how to apply them. The book is more of an outline than a set of educational exercises or instructions. I'm finding Sketchup's help system significantly more useful.

Sketchup 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Sketchup is a lot of fun and this book provides the methods that are not immediately obvious and makes this application even more satisfying.

Editorial Review:

• Considerably easier to use than other 3D software, Google SketchUp has found a niche in architecture, landscaping, real estate development, furniture building, and other design professions
• The fun and friendly approach assumes no previous 3D modeling experience and explains the basic concepts involved in 3D modeling
• Shows readers how to build a 3D model, print it, share it, export it to another professional design package, export it to Google Earth, and create a 3D animated tour
• Helps readers harness the power of Google SketchUp so that they can populate Google Earth with 3D buildings, monuments, and other sculptures

Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the 2006 International Building Code (Building Codes Illustrated)

Francis D. K. Ching, Steven R., FAIA,PE Winkel

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Subjects -> Law -> General AAS

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

Editorial Review:

Get the easy-to-use, illustrated guide to the 2006 International Building Code®.

As the building industry moves toward a single set of construction codes that have no regional limitations, architects, builders, engineers, and interior designers need an interpretive guide to help them better understand how the code affects their practices. The seond edition of Building Codes Illustrated fills this need by interpreting the updated 2006 International Building Code® (IBC) in a visual format that designers both need and understand.

This unique marriage of bestselling author Francis D.K. Ching's illustrative talent and Steven Winkel's code expertise provides an accessible, time-saving companion guide to the latest code. The visual presentation of information extracts the core portions of the building code that are most relevant for professionals and hones building codes down to the essentials. Organized to correspond with related subject matter in the IBC, Building Codes Illustrated enables architects, engineers, and other design professionals to quickly find clarifying information on the nonstructural provision of the IBC. You'll gain a clear and complete understanding of those sections at a glance through enlightening computer-rendered illustrations and succinct yet thorough interpretations.

There's no excuse for not being up to code. Avoid costly mistakes with the invaluable help of Building Codes Illustrated, Second Edition.

Content from this book is available as an online continuing professional education course at http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-320255.html#int_building_code.  WileyCPE courses are available on demand, 24 hours a day, and are approved by the American Institute of Architects.

Graphic Design: The New Basics

Ellen Lupton, Phillips Jennifer Cole

Amazon Price: $23.10 List Price: $35.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Princeton Architectural Press Amazon Marketplace: 50 new & used starting at $19.24

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Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Design & Decorative Arts -> Graphic Design -> Typography
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Design & Decorative Arts -> Graphic Design -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

How do designers get ideas? Many spend their time searching for clever combinations of forms, fonts, and colors inside the design annuals and monographs of other designers’ work. For those looking to challenge the cut-and-paste mentality there are few resources that are both informative and inspirational. In Graphic Design: The New Basics, Ellen Lupton, best-selling author of such books as Thinking with Type and Design It Yourself, and design educator Jennifer Cole Phillips refocus design instruction on the study of the fundamentals of form and ideas in a critical, rigorous way, informed by contemporary media, theory, and software systems.

Through visual demonstrations and concise commentary, The New Basics shows students and professionals how to build interest and complexity around simple relationships between formal elements of two-dimensional design such as point, line, plane, scale, hierarchy, layers, and transparency. The New Basics explains the key concepts of visual language that inform any work of design—from a logo or letterhead to a complex Web site. It takes a fresh approach to design instruction by emphasizing visually intensive, form-based thinking in a manner that is in tune with the latest developments in contemporary media, theory, art, and technology. Colorful, compact, and clearly written, The New Basics is the new indispensable resource for anyone seeking a smart inspiring introduction to graphic design, and destined to become the standard reference work in design education.

www.gdbasics.com, the on-line companion to Graphic Design: The New Basics, includes a variety of student responses to the design problems featured in the book. Sample syllabi for a variety of course levels are included along with key technical information from each chapter.

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

Christopher Alexander

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Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Architecture -> Drawing & Modelling -> General AAS

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

surprisingly religious..... interesting, but not believable 3 out of 5 stars.
13 of 19 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.

Design Like You Give a Damn: Architectural Responses to Humanitarian Crises

Architecture for Humanity

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Subjects -> History -> General AAS
Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Architecture -> Building Types & Styles -> General
Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Architecture -> Building Types & Styles -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The greatest humanitarian challenge we face today is that of providing shelter. Currently one in seven people lives in a slum or refugee camp, and more than 3,000,000,000 people--nearly half the world's population--do not have access to clean water or adequate sanitation. The physical design of our homes, neighborhoods and communities shapes every aspect of our lives. Yet too often architects are desperately needed in the places where they can least be afforded.Edited by Architecture for Humanity and now on its third printing, Design Like You Give a Damn is a compendium of innovative projects from around the world that demonstrate the power of design to improve lives. The first book to bring the best of humanitarian architecture and design to the printed page, Design Like You Give a Damn offers a history of the movement toward socially conscious design, and showcases more than 80 contemporary solutions to such urgent needs as basic shelter, healthcare, education and access to clean water, energy and sanitation.Design Like You Give a Damn is an indispensable resource for designers and humanitarian organizations charged with rebuilding after disaster and engaged in the search for sustainable development. It is also a call to action to anyone committed to building a better world. (20061116)

AutoCAD 2009 & AutoCAD LT 2009 Bible (Bible (Wiley))

Ellen Finkelstein

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Editorial Review:

Even Autodesk developers keep this book on hand!

Eight previous editions of fans ranging from novices to Autodesk insiders can't be wrong. This bestselling, comprehensive guide is your best, one-stop, go-to guide for everything you'll need to master AutoCAD. Whether you're an AutoCAD veteran exploring what's new or a novice seeking to start with the basics and progress to advanced programming, every feature is covered. Start drawing today with the one book you need to succeed with AutoCAD 2009.

• Start drawing right away with the Quick Start project
• Draw, view, and edit in 2D, then add text and dimensions
• Reference other drawings and link data to objects
• Build, view, and present complex 3D drawings
• Customize commands, create shortcuts, and use scripts and macros
• Program AutoCAD using AutoLISP and VBA

What's on the DVD?

• Trial versions of AutoCAD 2009 and AutoCAD LT 2009
• Over 300 before-and-after drawings from working AutoCAD professionals
• A selection of helpful add-on programs
• The entire book in searchable PDF

System Requirements: Please see the DVD appendix for details and system requirements.

Paul F. Aubin's Mastering Revit Architecture 2009

Paul F. Aubin

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Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Architecture -> Architects, A-Z -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

MUST HAVE 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Aubin's latest edition engages Revit users successfully, whether they are firt-time newbies, intermediate users, or experts looking to refine their best practices.

The book is helpful for those attempting to get HOW and WHY to do things, not just WHAT to do as tutorials or software courses tend to focus on. This is especially critical for somewhat more "advanced" topics, like creating and managing parametric families. Furthermore, Aubin does well to back up concepts and best practices with practical how-to examples provided on CD which accompanies the text.

There is still room for improvement in the text, and Aubin should consider expanding future editions to introduce case studies or examples of how a particular person/role in industry might use the tools differently. For example, although Worksharing overviewed in an appendix, it deserves more full attention where the complexities surrounding Worksharing issues could be made more relevant in hypothetical, narrative examples from industry. "The project architect will be concerned with X, while contrary to that the construction manager should watch out for the following..."

That said, the book is a MUST HAVE for anybody serious about learning and applying Revit Architecture 2009 in their practice. I highly recommend this book, and will be referring to it frequently as I teach my colleagues to embrace BIM tools in my practice.

Editorial Review:

Master the software that industry professionals use to create compelling architecture! Experienced-based practical advice is at the core of this concise reference guide by veteran author Paul F. Aubin, who makes learning Autodesk Revit® Architecture 2009 easier than ever. Designed to shorten the learning curve, this book focuses squarely on the rationale and practicality of the Revit® Architecture process through a series of hands-on lessons that promote a clear sense of the value of the software and an understanding of each tool's potential. In completing their building design projects successfully, readers will develop a first hand knowledge of what it takes to build design development models and create a complete set of construction documents for architectural production.

Materials for Design

Victoria Ballard Bell, Patrick Rand

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Subjects -> Professional & Technical -> Architecture -> Materials

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A great resource for technical info AND design inspiration 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I absolutely agree with the two previous reviews-- it is a seamless combination of technical info and aesthetics. The book was recommended in my Masters of Architecture program by the Construction-I professor and since then it has been circulating widely in the design studios. It is a great resource for material detailing AND design inspiration. Wa-hoo-wa, Victoria Bell, great job.

Editorial Review:

As architecture programs throughout the country break out of the classroom and adopt the holistic methods of design/build programs, the need for a textbook that bridges the gap between construction materials and design sensibility is sorely needed. Materials for Design is that book.

Students must be taught how a choice of material affects the form and look of a structure; they must also learn how inspired design can inject any material with true personality and zeal. Broken into five sections glass, wood, metals, plastics, and concrete Materials for Design makes a thorough study of each material's properties, followed by a series of 10 12 case studies of that material put to imaginative use by today's brightest architects from around the world.

There is no other textbook on the market that tackles material details so thoroughly while presenting lush, inspired color photographs, plan drawings, and detailed architectural diagrams.

Mastering Revit Architecture 2009 (Mastering)

Tatjana Dzambazova, Greg Demchak, Eddy Krygiel

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Mastering Revit very helpful 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Mastering Revit Architecture 2009 (Mastering)
While anything as complex as Revit can't possibly be covered in one book, I found this book to be very helpful in my own development with the software. If you don't have a real live 'Revit Master' right at your elbow when you have questions, this is the next best thing.

Another Great Revit Book 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I used this book to teach my Revit class. I am very pleased by using this book. The book explores beyond the "picks & clicks" of the software. It really digs into how you can use the software beyond the orthagonal-type buildings. The client showcase within the middle of the book is great because it really shows what is possible within Revit Architecture. Keep up the good work.

Editorial Review:

Move beyond the basics of Revit and BIM and redefine your designs with this new edition of Mastering Revit Architecture. With updated coverage of Revit Architecture 2009 features, this comprehensive guide will help you discover best practices and tips that will make your projects smoother and their implementation easier. You’ll learn how applying key Revit and BIM priniciples to your designs will increase your productivity and improve your workflow plus develop a more thorough understanding of topics like design options and features, advanced modeling, and presentation techniques with the clear explanations and practical examples found in this book.

Designing Design

Kenya Hara

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Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Design & Decorative Arts -> General
Subjects -> Arts & Photography -> Design & Decorative Arts -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The Philosophy of Design 5 out of 5 stars.
14 of 14 people found this review helpful.

DESIGNING DESIGN is quite possibly the most beautiful book on design ever published. Not only is the content illuminating and intelligent, allowing the world to gain an appreciation for one of the truly unique voices in the design field - that voice being the Japanese master Kenya Hara - but also in keeping with the subject, the book itself is a paramount of elegance, simplicity and superb creative force. This is a white book, a volume of information and illustration that embraces the purity of white as the matrix upon which everything blossoms and emerges.

In an introductory essay by John Maeda the author states `Kenya Hara is a complex man. He views the world through his many lenses of seeing, tasting, smelling, erasing, evaporating, and all the forms of construction and deconstruction.' And after those appropriate words this pristine book opens into the genius that is Kenya Hara. `Verbalizing design is another act of design....To understand something is not to be able to define it or describe it. Instead, taking something that we think we already know and making it unknown thrills us afresh with its reality and deepens our understanding of it.' What follows on the pages are images of page design, paper, bowls of white cabbage leaves, signs, images of Swatch watches that come down through projected air onto any surface presented, unique signage for public spaces, soft ice cream shapes, furniture, spaces, lamps, posters - any object that requires rendering is treated and discussed in concept and philosophy by a man of great wisdom as well as endless creativity. The illustrations accompanying the text are clean and as well placed on the page as any creation by Hara. This is a seemingly endless array of fascinating subjects.

For the non-designer reader, the reader fortunate enough to open this book without the prejudice of traditional design information, this text contains powerful philosophical concepts. `The human brain likes anything that entails a great deal of information. Its extensive capacity waits eagerly to perceive the world by completely exhausting its great receptive powers. That potential power, though, remains today in a state of extreme constriction and is a source of the information stress we're all under.' Hara approaches this conundrum by dividing his book into sections that approach answers to these problems: RE-DESIGN, HAPTIC (Awakening the Senses), SENSEWARE, WHITE, MUJI (Nothing, yet Everything), VIEWING THE WORLD FROM THE TIP OF ASIA, EXFORMATION (Rivers, Resorts), and finally WHAT IS DESIGN? This book is meant to be absorbed slowly, portion by portion, and then to be read again once the reader understands Hara's contributions - quiet yet majestic though they be. The text reads very well (thanks to the superb translation efforts by Maggie Kinser Hohle and Yukiko Naito) and while the information is complex, the writing style is comfortably conversational.

This is an important book on many levels and should be required reading for all students of design, practitioners of design, and for everyone whose eyes are influenced by astute observation. Brilliant! Grady Harp, December 07

Editorial Review:

Representing a new generation of designers in Japan, Kenya Hara (born 1958) pays tribute to his mentors, using long overlooked Japanese icons and images in much of his work. In “Designing Design”, he impresses upon the reader the importance of “emptiness” in both the visual and philosophical traditions of Japan, and its application to design, made visible by means of numerous examples from his own work: Hara for instance designed the opening and closing ceremony programs for the Nagano Winter Olympic Games 1998. In 2001, he enrolled as a board member for the Japanese label MUJI and has considerably moulded the identity of this successful corporation as communication and design advisor ever since. Kenya Hara, alongside Naoto Fukasawa one of the leading design personalities in Japan, has also called attention to himself with exhibitions such as “Re-Design: The Daily Products of the 21st Century” of 2000.