3 comments about Property Management.

1. This is a good general introduction to the business of property management. This textbook includes chapters on
   
   1. Professional Property Management
   2. Property Management Economics and Planning
   3. Managing Owner Relations
   4. Marketing Management
   5. Managing Leases
   6. Managing Lease Negotiations
   7. Managing Tenant Relations
   8. Managing Maintenance and Construction
   9. Managing Reports and Insurance
   10.Managing the Office
   11.Managing Federal and State Laws
   12-16. Managing Residential/Specialized/Office/Retail/Industrial Property
   17.Managing Life Safety and Environmental Issues
   
   There are chapter questions with elaborated answers in the back of the book to guide your studies and a pretty decent glossary for many of the business-specific terms.
   
   Obviously, as a general course, it is not intended to address ANY topic in great detail and it is unlikely that most readers will find a need to cover the management of such a variety of property types. But this is the starting place.
   
   I have owned and managed rental property and the parts of the book addressing residental property rang true. If you are considering getting into the rental business or property management business, this is a good initial resource.



2. Took this course a few years ago, and we used this book. It is a good starter book. There are others out there that could be used also, but this one is written at the average persons reading level. It also is good becuase it covers all properties not just apartments or retail etc..



3. This book is good at the summary at the end of each chapter, but some details in the chapter is not cover. For example, like the law requirement in TX. There is mistake in the book on page 9. On the figure1.3, supposed Heavy Manufacturing instead of Industrial Real Estate repeat twice. This book should provide some excerise to work on. For example, like the math problem, let us know how to calculate the formula.

1 comments about Cities: X Lines: Approaches to City and Open Territory Design.

1. This ambitious production presents a well organized and defined typology of urban form. The ten categories comprising the 'x' in the title, are explained by way of a logical progression of contemporary case studies and historical precedents. Each chapter is divided into two parts, a collection of images followed by text. The dynamic CAD imagery and radical spatial diagramming provide in-depth analysis of highly complex architectural projects. The text succinctly draws out the key concepts of each of the projects, and more importantly, locates them in an historical continuum.
   
   Despite the value of the text and imagery in themselves, the physical dislocation of the imagery from the related writing (to the point of presenting unlabeled images) can be annoying at times. One imagines the author intended the images to be experienced first without textual guidance as one might experience a visit to an unfamiliar city. It is an interesting idea, but it encroaches on the overall readability of the book as one is forced to flip back and forth excessively.
   
   The organizational structure of the content extends to the physical design of the book itself. Two types of paper are combined in an elegantly produced object. Unfortunately, the library copy which I borrowed was already losing pages from the middle. In a book less than a year old, this indicates a structural problem with the binding. Nonetheless, this is an exciting project that will leave students, educators, and practitioners with a broader understanding of the nature of urban form.

5 comments about Architectural Research Methods.

1. This is a great book that fills a gap in architectural education. it tries to cover a wide range of issues. The effort is appreciated and to a great extend successful



2. This is a good overall text for anyone working in or towards a graduate degree in architecture or landscape architecture.



3. As a graduate student taking my first official course in research methods, I was disappointed. The language and structure of this book could have been made a lot easier to follow. I would have appreciated, for example, more frequent subheadings and listing of points. Because of the lack of, the book is difficult to skim or pick and choose sections to read; expect to read thoroughly. Some of the examples in the book were questionable -especially the chapter on experimental and quasi-experimental research. The frequent diagrams were also lacking in clarity. I think that the text could have been half as long and still conveyed the same amount of information. Redundancy aside, I did (with much caffeinated effort) gain a broad understanding of several research strategies and tactics. The book is not a comprehensive guidebook for conducting research based on particular research methods; it is merely a broad introduction or clarification of various strategies. However, it frequently suggests comprehensive texts for further reading if you are so inclined.



4. I found this book to be excellent: comprehensive and approachable, eclectic and interdisciplinary. It should save any student, researcher or instructor much time and can serve as a text book and/or a comprehensive reference manual. It also adds to the body of knowledge by freshly demonstrating the application of the research methods of many other disciplines in the specific context of architecture (including many cases and examples), all within a nice, logical, unifying philosophical framework.



5. The text is relevent for those interested in "Evidence based architectural design". It is excellent for both a beginning researcher in acadamia or an experienced practitioner involved with architecture research. It provides a broad research background as well as specific application to architecture. It is well organized and usable as an office reference or classroom text. It is written with jargon and graphics familiar to architects.

3 comments about A Manual of Construction Documentation.

1. It's one thing to tell someone what needs to be on a working drawing, but it's another thing to show them how to put one together. This book does just that. It describes a step-by-step procedure for developing a working drawing. While it's focus is on drawings for building construction, it can easily be adapted to parts fabrication as well. The clarity and simplicity of the presentation make this book a "must read" for anyone just entering the consulting design industry. It is also extremely low priced. I will say that the drawings are not completely cross-referenced and notated, as would be necessary for a complete set of documents. Still, the drawing examples do present clear set of procedures for preparing working drawings which everyone in the business should master. I highly recommend this book.



2. I have been teaching construction documents to interior designers at Parsons School of Design for the past three years. The Wiggins Book is one of the two prime texts included in my course bibliography. The sheet by sheet instruction are very clear and show the process of putting together a set of drawings. I don't always follow the same standards as Wiggins, but it's the best that's out there. As previously commented, not recommended for residential or specialty interiors projects. Very good reference for general commercial construction documents.



3. I was looking for an introductory book to explain how to prepare construction drawings, and the title seemed like it might do the job. However, this book is ENTIRELY dedicated to commercial buildings and the target seems to be intermediate users. There is very little useful information for residential Projects or Beginners.

   The book was done well however, and I wish the author would make a similar book for residential work and revise the title or taglines these books.

3 comments about ARCHITECTURE IN THE DIGITAL AGE: DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING.

1. We all know that information revolution has totally transformed the society. Architecture is no exception. Relative to industrial revolution's impact on architecture, "what has this recent revolution done to the field?" is the basic inquiry to the book. This book diligently answers to the question. It is extremely informative and provocative regarding digital technologies available for architecture.
   
   As an outcome of a symposium held at U.Penn. in 2002, the book compiles various scholars and practitioners around the world. They grapple with the current technologies available to design and manufacture innovative shapes/forms/spaces that associate with digital aesthetics.
   
   Spearheaded researchers such as Bill Mitchell(MIT), Chris Luebkeman(Arup), Ali Rahim (U.Penn), and Branko Kolarevic (U.Penn, chief editor of the book); and, cutting-edge practitioners such as Jim Glymph (Gehry), Hugh Whitehead (Foster & Partners), Bernhard Franken (Franken Architekten), etc.; both groups provide theoretical framework and actual applications.
   
   It's interesting to point out that the authors deliberately associated digital architecture with smooth forms. Double curvatures deform structure/ skin/ space of the building. The new modes of design and production enables that complex geometries to be part of building industry.
   
   As a reader, the most challenging claim of the book is that the authors
   assert (some explicitly and some implicitly) on the new role of an architect. They believe that this new mode of production will revolutionize the client-architect-contractor relationship. Because architects will be the (single) dominant source of information on the three dimensionally morphed shape, manufacturers and fabricators would rely heavy on architects. The authors predict architect would regain absolute power of medieval master builders.



2. I'm getting my masters in Architecture and this book is a must-have, must-read for anyone designing in the digital age. It's informational and inspiring not only for architects, but anyone interested in using computer technology as a method for design carried through to manufactuing.



3. This book provides a great overview of the developing technolgies in digital design and fabrication. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a comprehensive study in the current trends in digital architecture. A series of 20+ articles by designers working in this area of architecture, this book updates the conversation to what is happening today and what is being projected in the future. Great resource!

5 comments about Understanding Buildings: A Multidisciplinary Approach.

1. This text is a great introduction to the world of building systems. It spells out in easliy understandable terminology the basics of many systems with great little sketches to boot. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning about how buildings work and are constructed.



2. I am a fan of architecture with little technical background. I was drawn to this book because I wanted to increase my understanding of architecture by learning how the mechanical systems within buildings work. I began this endeavor with E. Allen's "How Buildings Work: The Natural Order of Architecture", perhaps the best introduction to the subject. Having enjoyed that book, I wanted to get to the next level of complexity.
   
   Esmond Reid's "Understanding Buildings" is an intermediate level book. The writing is at college freshman level and was easy to understand for a reader with no engineering or other technical background. The many line drawings helped immeasurably in getting across basic points.
   
   For the true beginner, I would recommend E. Allen's book. If you like that work, "Understanding Buildings" is an exciting progression in beginning to understand how the buildings we interact with on a daily basis work. Highly recommended.



3. This book was written mainly for aspiring architects and civil engineers, and covers almost all types of building systems thoroughly. It is very detailed and has separate chapters for important topics such as structure, climate services, lighting, acoustics, fire safety, etc. Although the author largely stays away from mathematics, he is always clear and concise in dealing even with complex analytical problems. As an example I would give his excellent treatment of two and three-hinged portals, and the fascinating parallels he draws between the engineering ideal of arches and the different types of portals. He covers all major construction techniques from timber platform frame construction (generally of houses), to more complex forms such as the hyperbolic paraboloid (opposed double curvature), and the esoteric "hyperboloid of revolution", the opposed double curvature architecture (almost always in concrete) common in power station cooling towers.

   His writing on accessory systems such as heating, air conditioning, ventilation, and fire detection and prevention are both introductory and comprehensive. In all areas from structure to systems he is careful to explain real-world rationale in an approachable format that is both thorough and easy to understand.

   This book is wonderful. It should be read by every student in engineering or architecture school (the section in chapter one on stresses is of enormous value to technical students), and I would further recommend it to practicing professionals as an excellent conceptual 'refresher course' of real world building systems wisdom. This is an excellent book.




4. This book was written mainly for aspiring architects and civil engineers, and covers almost all types of building systems thoroughly. It is very detailed and has separate chapters for important topics such as structure, climate services, lighting, acoustics, fire safety, etc. Although the author largely stays away from mathematics, he is always clear and concise in dealing even with complex analytical problems. As an example I would give his excellent treatment of two and three-hinged portals, and the fascinating parallels he draws between the engineering ideal of arches and the different types of portals. He covers all major construction techniques from timber platform frame construction (generally of houses), to more complex forms such as the hyperbolic paraboloid (opposed double curvature), and the esoteric "hyperboloid of revolution", the opposed double curvature architecture (almost always in concrete) common in power station cooling towers.

   His writing on accessory systems such as heating, air conditioning, ventilation, and fire detection and prevention are both introductory and comprehensive. In all areas from structure to systems he is careful to explain real-world rationale in an approachable format that is both thorough and easy to understand.

   This book is wonderful. It should be read by every student in engineering or architecture school (the section in chapter one on stresses is of enormous value to technical students), and I would further recommend it to practicing professionals as an excellent conceptual 'refresher course' of real world building systems wisdom. This is an excellent book.




5. It's rare to find an architect who can explain things in such a conversational way. The underlying principles are always laid out, first for a small building and then for a large one, to show the effects of changing scale. For example as the surface area to volume ratio changes, so do heating and cooling demands. And for me it was educational to see the British way of building houses: floor joists over concrete slabs, or brick basements. I learned the dew point drops gradually toward the exterior inside porous materials, and 15 deg east of south is the optimum solar orientation in the Northern hemisphere. And the slogan of the man who invented the revolving door ("It's always closed.")
   The second half of the book covers building services--heating, plumbing etc.--concisely, and it becomes apparent the author has plenty of real world experience and is no mere academic. Lighting, acoustics and fire safety finish the book. Even at 20 years old, still educational.

2 comments about Graphic Thinking for Architects and Designers.

1. As an Architecture Student, I really enjoyed this book. It was very helpful with sketching techniques and just general concepts related to architecture. It was a required text for a class, but it has been a helpful reasource since. I recommend this book to any person wishing to develop a good sketching technique. This book refrences very important works by Aalto and Wright. It also addresses important and helpful hints about abstraction of ideals and their graphic weight.



2. As an interior design student I have found this book to be very informative and helpful. The step by step analysis of the design process is terrific and I've practically worn out the copy at the library, so it's time to buy it for myself.

4 comments about Architectural Graphic Standards Student Edition: An Abridgement of the 9th Edition.

1. I am a fourth year architecture student and I use this book every semester. I keep it with me at all times. It is the perfect design handbook. If you don't have it, You need it!



2. The book was in great condition as expected. It was delivered during the expected time frame, but it was later rather than sooner. I purchase frequently from amazon and I recieve consistently good service from them.



3. Loaded with tons of reference data all good for Architects.
   Font is a small



4. This book is one of the best reference books an architect will ever use. It contains the necessary information for the beginning and advanced architect. Inside the 568 pages in this book one will find from the most basic to the highly complex architectural graphics. The book provides reference for the various arcchitectural plans such as the floor plan, elevation and perspective drawings. No other reference material can surpass the amount of information provided in this excellent book.

3 comments about The Portfolio: An Architectural Student's Handbook (Architectural Students Handbooks).

1. sus fotografias son blanco y negro y pequeñas....muy poquitas hojas de ....informacion y no muestra muchos ejemplos de portafolios....sin embargo hay cierta informacion iinteresante...y se le puede sacar provecho.....



2. If you want to be inspired and gain a new prespective on how to design an architectural portfolio, this is an excellent book.
   
   Not the step-by-step guide, or a list of creative ideas, it allows for creativity along with both basic and detailed pointers on layout, overall design, content and award-recipent portfolio examples. Direct references to certain colleges in both Europe and the USA.
   
   Something not in the description that was a very pleasent surprise: The authors compare UK schools and USA schools, their application process and how the portfolios differ. A very useful thing for a student, such as myself, planning on applying to both European and USA architecture grad. schools.



3. I was very excited at first when I bought this book. It's full of nice illustrations and examples, but I was very disappointed when I finished reading it. It's very general with no structural orientation. It does not serve as a guide on how to design and develop your portfolio and just mentions general common knowledge which, as an architecture student or professional, you can learn throughout college and work.
   I would not recommend it for those who want to create a portfolio with strong impact.

No comments about The State of Architecture at the Beginning of the 21st Century (Columbia Books of Architecture).