2 comments about Structure and Architecture, Second Edition.

1. This book describes the different types of structural elements in buildings (steel, wood, reinforced concrete) and how they are constructed for maximum efficiency. A lot of the book deals with spans and how the efficiency of materials must accomodate different spans and weights. The concepts were very well written and easy to understand (the appendices were a little bit more complex) with lots of examples. I would recommend this for anyone who would like to try framing a structure or who is interested in more than just the picture books of architecture and would actually like to know what's inside the walls and how those objects are functioning.



2. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Angus MacDonald's Structure & Architecture showcases the relationship between architecture and structural engineering using both historical and contemporary examples. This new edition is enhanced with an expanded and re-written chapter dealing with structural criticism and the relationship between structure and architectural style; as well as a new section on the relationships between architects, builders and engineers, and the influence which these relationships have on architectural styles and forms. Structure & Architecture is an invaluable and highly recommended addition to any personal, professional, or academic architectural studies collection.

No comments about Young Architects: City Limits.

1 comments about Building by the Book: Pattern Book Architecture in New Jersey.

1. This book was most helpful to me in my quest for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Finding subject matter specifically targeted for Pattern houses has been difficult.

   For me, this book would have been worth purchasing just for the introduction. I especially valued the section on Foursquare houses; my home is a Foursquare, which is part of the basis of my nomination. The Sears Roebuck catalog houses and Craftsman sections were also very interesting.

   In all, "Building by the Book" reflects a thorough study in what is probably a neglected period of building, whereby middle class owners were enabled to build architect-designed homes which would otherwise have been reserved for the wealthy. Pattern books also provided direction for local builders.

   As a preservationist and owner of a brick Foursquare classical revival pattern house built in the 1920's Craftsman era, I am hopeful that more of these homes will be saved for future appreciation. They generally exhibit a uniqueness that precedes the builder/developer subdivisions we see today.

   I had hoped to find some history on the "Architect's Small House Service Bureau of the United States, Incorporated", active in the 1920's, which was administered by the American Institute of Architects and from which my pattern house was derived. If anyone has information, I'd love to have know.

   Pattern houses were a boon to average citizens here and throughout the United States, enabling them to experience a share of the American Dream "that every American should be able to own a single-family house on its own green acre". The New Jersey study is an educational guide applicable across the nation.

No comments about The Making of the Modern Architect and Engineer.

No comments about Building Environments: Perspectives in Vernacular Architecture (Perspect Vernacular Architectu).

No comments about Architectural Programming: Creative Techniques for Design Professionals.

2 comments about Place, Time and Being in Japanese Architecture.

1. This is a thought-provoking book. It is immediately accessible with a clear structure and attractive images, but the informative footnotes indicate it also deals with important questions for readers who wish to think more deeply about architecture; and with the aid of the bibliography they will be able to do so. Since the Enlightenment western architects have had some difficulty, or maybe have just been embarrassed, in describing the transcendental nature of their art - usually the result is either an over-bearing rhetoric or a sentimental retreat into poetry. As it has done for at least the last two hundred years, the Japanese tradition provides an insight, by analogy, into issues that concern us all, as inhabitants of our fragile planet.



2. Rather than being a study of the unique characteristics of Japanese architecture, this book examines universal parameters which many Japanese buildings seem to manifest especially clearly. It helps to explain the unusually wide popular appeal of many traditional Japanese buildings, even among those with little knowledge of their cultural context, and also makes them practically useful to anyone interested in learning from Japanese architecture without importing its formal language. As such, it is a genuinely valuable contribution to contemporary cross-cultural studies, made all the more significant by its direct addressing of the issue of individual human identity in the context of globalization. The book is also visually stunning.

1 comments about 21 Things Every Home Inspector Should Know.

1. This book is worthwhile, but don't expect to learn alot about doing a home inspection. This book is excellent, and almost shall I say "required reading" for anyone that wants to get involved in the business. It is all about the politics, relationships, and the necessary steps to starting your own business. I highly reccommend it!

No comments about Gaudi.

4 comments about LARE Review Section E Vignettes: Grading, Drainage, and Stormwater Management, 2nd ed..

1. After taking the LARE in December of 2007, I found this review book helpful for general grading concepts. However, the vignettes in the exam where much more complicated.



2. LARE section E has changed significantly since this book was released. It would be good only for general grading practice. the problems are very similar to the pre 2006 version of the test.
   Hopefully it will be updated to be as useful for the current changes in the test. None of the LARE practice guides reflect 2006 changes in the test.



3. this book is a LOT harder than the real test. so if you can take these practice tests and get them right, you should do fine on the real LARE.



4. I found vignettes #2 and #3 severely out of scale. Vignettes #1 and #9 are slightly out of scale. I am disappointed that our profession cant get it together with the study material for the LARE. With that said, I would buy this book used or split it with a study partner becuase its not worth the full price.