In Detail: Solar Architecture

Birkhäuser Basel 2003 | ISBN: 3764307471 | PDF | 176 Pages | 55MB

In the very near future energy-efficient building will be the rule rather than the exception. Insulating glazing, multi-functional facades and organic solar cells are examples of important new developments in the field of solar thermal technology, photo-voltaics, heating and ventilation technology which are suitable for a wide range of uses from large-scale urban-planning projects to individual single family houses, and can make significant contributions to the conservation of natural resources in sustainable building. Carefully selected articles provide information on planning methods and techniques which will enable the user to assess and apply appropriate measures. The essays are complemented by a selection of built examples which demonstrate innovative solutions and the importance of an integrated planning process in realized projects, complete with full plans and large scale details.

Elizabeth Burton, Lynne Mitchell “Inclusive Urban Design: Streets For Life”

Architectural Press | 224 pages | 2006-04-03 | ISBN:0750664584 | PDF | 8.3MB

This is the first book to address the design needs of older people in the outdoor environment. It provides information on design principles essential to built environment professionals who want to provide for all users of urban space and who wish to achieve sustainability in their designs.
Part one examines the changing experiences of people in the outdoor environment as they age and discusses existing outdoor environments and the aspects and features that help or hinder older people from using and enjoying them. Part two presents the six design principles for streets for life and their many individual components. Using photographs and line drawings, a range of design features are presented at all scales of the outdoor environment from street layouts and building form to signs and detail. Part three expands on the concept of streets for life as the ultimate goal of inclusive urban design. These are outdoor environments that people are able to confidently understand, navigate and use, regardless of age or circumstance, and represent truly sustainable inclusive communities.

* Presents the groundbreaking idea of streets for life’ - making outdoor environments useable and accessible to people of all ages
* Valuable to professionals and researchers from a number of disciplines including urban designers, planners, architects, landscape architects and gerontologists
* Illustrations, maps and key points help smooth the move from theory to practice

Clara Greed ”Inclusive Urban Design: Public Toilets, First Edition”

Architectural Press | 256 pages | 2003-01-12 | ISBN:075065385X | PDF | 12.2MB

This is a unique text providing both design guidance and policy direction for the provision and design of public toilets covering city-wide, district-level and site-specific principles. It highlights the role of urban design in reversing the trend of inadequate toilet provision, and sets out guidelines for design which meets both user need and provider requirements.


Greed presents the fundamental principle that toilets should not be dealt with in isolation from mainstream urban policy, but that they should be seen as a serious core component in both strategic urban policy and local area design. She argues toilets are valuable townscape features in their own right as manifestation civic pride and good urban design - essential architectural components which add to the quality and viability of an area.

Although a range of design guidance on toilets exists there is still considerable dissatisfaction with the end product in terms of building design, levels of provision, location, safety, layout, DDA requirements and accessibility. By outlining user demands and provider constraints, Greed shows that it is essential for architects to have an informed understanding and practical knowledge of toilet issues when working with public and private sector providers.

Examples of toilet architecture from other countries, and policies from different cultural settings, are included for comparative purposes to invigorate UK perspectives.

* Brings user needs and provider considerations to the attention of urban designers and architects
* International examples of toilet architecture and policies facilitate refreshing comparisons
* The first book to deal with toilets as an integral part of urban design

Derek Phillips, “Lighting Modern Buildings”

Architectural Press | 248 pages | 2000-08-07 | 0750640820 | PDF | 16.5MB

This is an important book, written by one of the top lighting designers in the country. Written at the end of a career as an architect and lighting designer, the book draws on the experience gained while living through a period of intense lighting development, from 1956 up to the millenium. It bridges the gap between the present day architect and lighting engineer, from the viewpoint of the ‘independent lighting designer’.

‘Lighting Modern Buildings’ documents the part played by the independent lighting designer, leading to a greater understanding by architects and lighting engineers of the importance of lighting in architectural design.

The book starts with an exploration of the basic human needs of vision and the perception of our exterior world…the intellectual and the physical…since this is what lighting is all about. To do this, it is necessary to trace the development of daylight from earliest times up to the present day; the starting point for any lighting design is the ‘natural’ source.

Whilst an essential understanding of the role of daylight is the beginning, a knowledge of the various forms and properties of artificial light is essential; not only at night but during the day. In early buildings, there was one form of light - daylight - during the day and another - artificial - at night. No attempt was made to integrate the two. The situation today is different; there are many reasons for this, not least in the possibilities of modern structure. The book therefore has extensive coverage of day and night lighting and how it is designed to provide optimum solutions in building design.

A major portion of Derek Phillips’ book is devoted to ‘design’. Sufficient technical detail is provided in the book to permit an understanding of the design principles of each scheme. Schemes illustrated vary from small domestic buildings, churches and workplace, to those devoted to leisure and sport. At the end of each section a series of conclusions are drawn leading to a philosophy of lighting design.

* Learn how to design optimum lighting solutions
* Understand how to bridge the gap between architects and lighting engineers
* Discover how to integrate natural and artificial light sources

Ursula Eicker “Solar Technologies for Buildings”

Wiley | 2005-04-15 | ISBN: 047148637X | 336 pages | PDF | 5,7 Mb

A complete overview of solar technologies relevant to the built environment, including solar thermal energy for heating and cooling, passive solar energy for daylighting and heating supply, and photovoltaics for electricity production
Provides practical examples and calculations to enable component and system simulation e.g. Calculation of U-values, I-V curve parameters and radiance distribution modelling
Discusses the new trends in thermal energy use, including the architectural integration of collector systems, integrated ventilation photovoltaics facades and solar powered absorption cooling systems
Coverage of cutting-edge applications such as active and passive cooling techniques and results from ongoing research projects

Ernest R. Norling “Perspective Made Easy”

Dover Publications | 1999-01-19 | ISBN: 0486404730 | 224 pages | PDF | 13,9 Mb

Perspective is easy; yet, surprisingly few artists know the simple rules that make it so. Now they can remedy that situation with this step-by-step book, the first devoted entirely to clarifying the laws of perspective. Using over 250 simple line drawings, the author leads the reader through every important concept. 256 illustrations.

Carles Broto , Compact Houses

Structure Publishing | ISBN: 849626310X | 2005 | PDF | 209 pages | 48 Mb

This exhaustively documented sourcebook will be invaluable to professionals and students of architecture, interior design, interior de-corating, and furniture design. Information is provided on every aspect of the design process from the ground up—floor plans, materials, and specifications—on furniture and fixtures. The 30-plus illustrated case studies are of homes that are streamlined on the inside and out, and include full-color photographs, floor plans, and sketches. Also revealed are dozens of never-before-seen solutions in storage and an array of ingenious design solutions for furniture and fixtures that serve a variety of purposes.