B. Kotzen “Environmental Noise Barriers: A Guide to their Visual and Acousitic Design”

Spon Press | 1999-05-12 | ISBN: 0419231803 | 165 pages | PDF | 6,6 MB

Environmental Noise Barriersgive practical solutions to the increase in enviromental legislation and environmental concerns and issues regarding noise and intrusion and the effects of development on the environment. This book looks at all the issues surrounding environmental noise barriers, including acoustic, architectural, engineering, landscape, ecologic effects and that provide a palette of ideas and possibilities for resolutions.

Ralph L.Knowles, Ritual House: Drawing on Nature’s Rhythms for Architecture and Urban Design

Island Press (2006) | ISBN 1597260509 | 224 pages | PDF | 5.08 MB

Celebrated architect Ralph Knowles, Distinguished Emeritus at USC’s School of Architecture, has carefully crafted a book for architects, designers, planners—anyone who yearns to reconnect to the natural world through the built environment.
He shows us how to re-examine a shadow, a wall, a window, a landscape, as they respond to the natural cycles of heat, light, wind, and rain. Analyzing methods of sheltering that range from a Berber tent to a Spanish courtyard to the cityscape of contemporary Los Angeles, Ritual House shows us the future: by coining the concept of solar access zoning, he introduces a radical yet increasingly viable solution for tomorrow’s mega-cities.

S. Macmillan “Designing Better Buildings”

Routledge | 2003-12-16 | ISBN: 0415315263 | 176 pages | PDF | 15,7 MB

Design is widely recognised as the key to improving the quality of the built environment. This well-illustrated book comprises 15 chapters written by leading practitioners, clients, academics and other experts, and presents the latest thinking on what design quality is and how to achieve it. For design practitioners and their clients alike, the book provides evidence to justify greater focus on, and investment in, design. It summarises the benefits that arise from good design - such as, civic pride in the urban environment, the stimulation of urban regeneration, corporate identity, occupant productivity and health in offices, improved learning outcomes in schools, better patient recovery rates in hospitals, as well as reduced environmental impact. And it illustrates these benefits through case study examples.
Eight chapters focus on case studies of exemplary buildings in particular sectors - offices, schools, housing, and hospitals - and explain why and how they came to be designed, and the design qualities they exhibit. Jon Rouse
of CABE offers ten case studies where organisations have deliberately invested in their buildings to demonstrate their belief in good design, as well as to raise their profile and improve staff recruitment and retention. Richard Feilden of Feilden Clegg Bradley presents some exemplary schools and identifies the key factors they share. Terry Wyatt of Hoare Lea & Partners describes the design of three office buildings where concerns for staff comfort, productivity and well-being were used to decide where and what to build. Dickon Robinson of the Peabody Trust uses three affordable-housing projects to show how a bespoke design-led approach extracts the full potential of a site and contributes to a lasting legacy of attractive housing. Paul Wheeler of DEGW discusses the development of the Housing Quality Indicators. Matthew Carmona of University College London examines six urban design projects and identifies the principles that appear to correlate with good urban design. Bryan Lawson of Sheffield University and Susan Francis of the Medical Architecture Research Unit both address medical buildings - Lawson presents two case studies that show hospital patients favour new wards and recover quicker in them, while Francis identifies the qualities necessary to create therapeutic environments.
Four chapters address the processes necessary to achieve design quality. Tony Pollington of the Construction Clients’ Confederation discusses the introduction of the Construction Clients Charter - which commits those clients who sign it to continuous improvement in the procurement of buildings. Peter Trebilcock of AMEC presents three case studies about the management of design that illustrate the need for close co-operation between all parties in the construction process, and an appreciation of each others roles and interests. Adrian Leaman & Bill Bordass of Building Use Studies
draw on the findings of post-occupancy evaluations of buildings to recommend design strategies for achieving flexible and adaptable buildings that accommodate changing requirements and are robust in use. Giles Oliver of Penoyre & Prasad identifies what support design needs to establish a common language for valuing design within the built environment.
Finally three chapters discuss the issue of whether and how design quality can be measured. Sunand Prasad of Penoyre & Prasad introduces the ethical and philosophical issues surrounding the measurement of quality. Michael
Dickson of Buro Happold describes the recently-launched Design Quality Indicators, setting out the attributes and their grouping under three headings of functionality, impact and build quality. And Jennifer Whyte, David Gann and James Barlow of the Science Policy Research Unit, responsible for the development of the Indicators, describe antecedents in other sectors and how the Indicators were constructed and then piloted on five building projects.
The book is intended for construction industry practitioners, particularly among architectural, engineering, planning, surveying and project management practices, as well as clients responsible for commissioning buildings and
civil engineering projects. It will be an essential text book for many university courses in the built environment, including architecture, engineering, construction, planning and urban design.

Andrew Charleson, “Structure as Architecture: A Source Book for Architects and Structural Engineers”

Architectural Press | 2005-08-19 | ISBN:0750665270 | 256 pages | PDF | 7,4 Mb

Structure As Architecture provides readers with an accessible insight into the relationship between structure and architecture, focusing on the design principles that relate to both fields. Over one hundred case studies of contemporary buildings from countries across the globe including the UK, the US, France, Germany, Spain, Hong Kong and Australia are interspersed throughout the book. The author has visited and photographed each of these examples and analyzed them to show how structure plays a significant architectural role, as well as bearing loads. This is a highly illustrated sourcebook, providing a new insight into the role of structure, and discussing the point where the technical and the aesthetic meet to create the discipline of architecture.

* Presents a comprehensive analysis of how building structure contributes to architecture
* Connects architectural design ideas and structure in the context of contemporary architecture, materials and structure
* Highly illustrated, providing a sourcebook of architectural and engineering design ideas

Charles Nelson, “Managing Quality in Architecture”

Architectural Press | 2006-07-13 | ISBN: 0750668180 | 320 pages | PDF | 6,6 Mb
This handbook addresses the question of how best to manage quality in architecture for the mutual benefit of design practices and their clients. Based on research from the last two decades, it explores the general principles, tools and techniques that can be adapted to the unique culture of any design practice.

The book addresses all aspects of quality in creating the built environment, with international contributions representing some of the best thinking that exists in design practice management. It is aimed at the entire design team those who have a role in design inputs, design processes and design execution; including project managers, contractors, suppliers and clients. An accompanying website also provides commentary and updates on the text.

Topics are linked to relevant sections of the current quality standard, and the standard is interpreted as to its application to design practice. Practices interested in establishing an ISO 9001-compliant quality system will find all the tools they need.

The interpretation of quality is comprehensive. The focus is completely practical, rather than theoretical, affording readers a concise picture of how the issues of excellence and quality performance flow across every aspect of design practice. This focus provides the vital link that distinguishes truly successful practices from the rest, Here, simply, is the answer to the forces of commoditization that challenge all designers in today’s competitive environment.

The text is augmented and supported by chapters from twenty-two authoritative contributors, a foreword authored by Eugene Hopkins, and illustrations by graphic artist Michael Lindell.

Key case studies are also provided focusing on:
Anderson-Brulé Architects, San José CA
Add, Inc., Cambridge MA
Geyer Pty Ltd, Melbourne, VIC Australia
Harley Ellis Devereaux, Southfield MI
RVK Architects, San Antonio, TX

* The only book for the design and construction industry that references the current (2000) version of the Quality Standard ISO 9001 * Over 20 expert contributions from around the world represent the best thinking in design practice management

Product Description
A highly illustrative structural design resource for architects and builders

Architectural Structures provides the critical tools and know-how to design and build structures that will withstand wind, earthquakes, and other forces. This major survey of structural design is a useful guide to the fundamentals of establishing the structural concept for a building and dealing with structural issues.

Using diagrams, models, computer simulations, case studies, and exercises, Architectural Structures provides a comprehensive narrative that makes selecting and giving shape to structures and structural elements understandable. In addition to developing the necessary vocabulary to effectively work with structural engineers, it helps readers gain a common-sense understanding of principles and issues, the complexities of the design process, and useful analytic methods. This exceptional volume also features:
* Diagrams, drawings, and photographs supporting complex concepts
* Helpful case studies illustrating structural behavior and the design of structural systems
* Information on cost estimation and other practical issues
* Real-world problems and solutions based on actual building structures

From the Back Cover
A highly illustrative structural design resource for architects and builders

Architectural Structures provides the critical tools and know-how to design and build structures that will withstand wind, earthquakes, and other forces. This major survey of structural design is a useful guide to the fundamentals of establishing the structural concept for a building and dealing with structural issues.

Using diagrams, models, computer simulations, case studies, and exercises, Architectural Structures provides a comprehensive narrative that makes selecting and giving shape to structures and structural elements understandable. In addition to developing the necessary vocabulary to effectively work with structural engineers, it helps readers gain a common-sense understanding of principles and issues, the complexities of the design process, and useful analytic methods. This exceptional volume also features:

• Diagrams, drawings, and photographs supporting complex concepts
• Helpful case studies illustrating structural behavior and the design of structural systems
• Information on cost estimation and other practical issues
• Real-world problems and solutions based on actual building structures

This book is an ideal bible for students, who, whether budding architects or surveyors, will appreciate the detail of it explanations Construction Manager

I found this book extremely useful as a guide to both the theory and practice of building. It is a useful reference for the self-builder, student or professional and is written in easy to understand language without too much jargon. Volume 1 covers the basics - foundations, walls, roofs etc. This probably all many people would need. Volumes 2-5 give more specific information. There are plenty of drawings to illustrate the text.