No comments about The Study of Architectural Design.

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 The State of Architecture at the Beginning of the 21st Century (Columbia Books of Architecture).

4 comments about Structure as Architecture: A Source Book for Architects and Structural Engineers.

1. If architecture is viewed as ideas of establishing different relationships between people and space, then structure is the first step to achieve these relationship in reality. How do we appropriately use different structure elements in reality, what kind of architectural effects will them create? These questions are answered in Andrew W.Charleson's book 'Structure as architecture'. The book is divided into chapters such as function/exterior/interior of buildings,structural detailing, light and structures and so on, which are discussed from both theoretical and practical approach. With enormous amount of first hand photo illustrations, the book also gives a comprehensive visual case studies to the reader. It is enjoyable to read and I recommend this stunning book to all architectural, building science students as well as architects and engineers in practice.



2. Although Architecture and Engineering are really only different sides of the same coin, they are often treated in completely different ways. Certainly they are normally approached from different directions. Charleson's book addresses this lack of continuity, and reduces structural diagrams down to a simple level (good for architecture students) as well as opening up the ideas of light and air and structure to thoseof a more engineering bent... And from all accounts he's a pretty inspirational lecturer as well, with the students fizzing away with excitement.
   
   End result: if you are a student of Architecture or Engineering, then rush out and buy this book. Invaluable source of knowledge - guaranteed to help you through those exams...



3. As per name, this book provides an excellent reference to building structures that expresses its architectural ideas. The book is well written and provides examples from around the world! ^_^



4. I am a student studying architecture, and have found this book to be a very useful reference.
   
   The first time I used it, I was looking for specific examples of "expressive" architecture. In the index, I found a long list of qualities such as "grounded", "light", "dynamic" etc. with references to pages illustrating specific projects whose structure has those qualities. The clear, full colour photos really help you get the feel of the buildings.
   
   I don't know of any other book that I could have looked to for that purpose. Of course, the content is useful for numerous other reasons as well.

5 comments about Architectural Graphics, 3rd Edition.

1. I know that Ching is revered in the field and is recommended by virtually all, but I'm just not feeling the love, especially for this particular book. The graphics in the book have a "sketchy" look I don't just don't find appealing or inspiring. A more serious problem is the way the information is weighted: there are pages of illustration/discussion about simple things like line weights and triangles, which would lead one to assume this is a beginner's book. That would be fine, but as the book progresses, the depth of information dissapates, so that a beginner who tries to follow instructions, for instance, on preparing a perspective or isometric drawing would be completely unable to do so. In this way, the book reminds me of certain assemble-it-at-home instructions: Step one is to get out your tools, step two is to take out the pieces, and step three is to put the thing together. If you're already a professional, you don't really need to see an illustration of a lead holder. If you are an absolute beginner, you need more thorough instructions. Really, I can't imagine the audience for whom this book is intended.



2. This book is great for a professional or just in school. Ching points out techniques to further develop and create great schematic and conceptual drawings.



3. this book offers easy understanding of the basic concepts of drafting. good book for interior designer and architects.



4. Get your act together Amazon or Wiley (I suspect Wiley) !!! (especially, note my final paragraph below)
   
   1. This is NOT a hardback.
   
   2. The "et al" is because this is NOT a single volume as suggested by the single ISBN 0471738263, but a COLLECTION of 3 PAPERBACKS - Architectural Graphics 4th ed ISBN 0471209066 (note different ISBN from that for the 3-volume set cited under only Ching's book title; 215 pages) by Francis D K Ching, Construction Drawings and Details for Interiors ISBN 0471109533 (246 pages)by W Otie Kilmer and Rosemary Kilmer, Interior Graphic Standards - Student Edition ISBN0471461962 (452 pages) by Maryrose McGowan AIA and Kelsey Kruse AIA for American Institute of Architects; overall total of 913 pages (NOT 944).
   
   I have owned Ching's book since the first edition and it continues to be one of the best of the best. The Graphics Standards series is, of course, of biblical stature among all interested architecture and associated professionals. The Construction Drawings ... book I am unfamiliar with, though at a glance, it seems worthy.
   
   Frustating thing is that I was especially interested in the prospect of a MAJOR significant enhancement of Ching's book - my take on Amazon's/Wiley's deceptive (or incompetent, to be more generous and kind) advertising. I already owned Ching's 4th edition and had no particular interest in the other 2 volumes, useful as they appear to be!
   
   If only one of these volumes is of interest, any one of these 3 books would cost substantially less as an individual purchase. The price of the package of all 3 is probably a bargain, though I have not verified this.
   
   You can do better Amazon and Wiley, so DO IT! This is sloppy work, which I have seen exemplified in other locations recently on your website; though, this is probably the worst I have seen (yet).
   
   I resent the fact that this review is also being used at the Architectural Graphics (single volume only) webpage - where, removed from it's original and proper context, my comment appears to make no sense at all - as well as at the webpage where Ching's book title is deceptively (or sloppily) used to entice buyers to purchase a 3-book package (not explained at the webpage), when the buyer may only be interested in Ching's excellent book, thinking the much higher price is for a major revision of such (which it is not).
   
   Fredric Lee McLaughlin, Architect



5. this book has taught me so many drawing techniques... this is useful. hightly recommended!

5 comments about Architecture Exam Review, Vol. II: Nonstructural Topics, 6th Edition.

1. This is an excellent book and may be sufficient to pass a couple of exams although additional reading is recommended. This book gives you an introduction to the exam contents. You will know what to expect in each exam. After reading this book you will be able to tell what additional reading is required. I know no better starting point. For some reason the price is going up. It was about $70 a couple weeks ago, I bought is for about $100 in February and now (March 1, 2008) it's $120.



2. I'm just starting to study for the M&M portion of the exam and in just fifteen pages, I found three errors. They were relatively minor, and pretty obvious, but it makes me worry that i'm memorizing more major misprints or mistakes. If you do find a mistake, you can post it (please)on their website (the web address is on the inside cover of the book). It also helps to check the site to see what other mistakes were reported. You will need to consult other books for your studying, but this one is very manageable and good to start with.



3. you definitely need this book to study for mep portion because ALS doesn't cover some materials in a deeper context. this book covers most of the important matters and much less intimidating than MEEB (big blue book). I give it 4 stars due to lack of diagrams so you need to look at MEEB and AGS for it.



4. I am currently studying for the exam and I've been using this book as a basis. The individual chapters are fairly short and each one has a short quiz at the end to test your newly gained knowledge. This is helpful because it makes asborbing the information much more manageable - much better than trying to read Architectural Graphic Standards from cover to cover.

   Beware: some sections are somewhat spotty so count on having to use other resources as well.




5. I found this guide to be extremely valuable. It covers a broad range of topics in the appropriate detail. Of course, it doesn't have all the answers to the ARE, but those tests are meant to have many "unanswerable" questions. But this guide will give you a strong base from which to work. It also has valuable information and rules of thumb that apply to practicing architects. I leaned most heavily on this resouce in order to take my exams.

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.

3 comments about Architecture Exam Review: Structural Topics, Sixth Edition (Architecture Exam Review).

1. I think this book is excellent. It is written for the engineer kind of thinker. Somebody with mathmatical difficulties may find Kaplan/ALS material more helpful.



2. Disappointingly, this book is full of formula errors. This book must be used in conjunction with a formal Structural Analysis book in order to check and or correct 40% of the formulas given. This book does give you a broad over view of Structural Systems, but do not rely on it to be correct. My firm has both this book and the study series by Kaplan, suffice it to say Kaplan's Structural series is a much better study guide and so far I have found no formula errata. My Structural Engineer Colleagues can not believe That this book by Steven E. O'Hara and David Kent Ballast ever made it through any type of pre-production review with this many errors.



3. A good location to find many different subjects to the topic. Each chapter has sample exam questions for review. A good resource but not the ONLY resource you should use if you are taking the Architectural Registration Exam.

3 comments about Buildings of Earth and Straw: Structural Design for Rammed Earth and Straw-Bale Architecture.

1. Learn how to build with earth, and straw. The one thing I didn't like about the book is that there are no photo's of finished projects.



2. This book educates the lay builder of "earth and straw" about the technical side of the mentioned building methods. This technical lingo is explained clearly for the person's understanding. This book bridges the gap between building inspetors and the "alternative" builder by increasing the technical knowledge of basic building structures and forces.



3. This book is definitely the funniest structural engineering book I have ever read. It is also useful for the professional, intelligible to the general reader, and attractively illustrated. King includes California's straw bale code, a comprehensive wish list for further testing, and a useful list of references for both stabilized earth and straw bale. Included are equations for the engineer who is ready to start designing right now, and a glossary for the lay reader who isn't quite sure of some of the terms. A valuable book which is also enjoyable to read. This is not always true of engineering texts!

2 comments about Architectural Models: Construction Techniques, 2nd Edition.

1. Even though this is meant for graduate level and professionals, I ordered this book for our jr. high-aged homeschooled children, who are very interested in architecture and building models of their plans. I am happy with the way this book presents things simply and clearly, but does not restrict itself to only foam core board constructions. It introduces other ideas and techniques for models that my kids are excited to try. This book fulfills my wish to find a resource that will be of use to them for years and years...no matter how far they go into the field of architecture and model building.



2. A good insight into the diffreent types of materials available for the construction of several types of architectural models. I particularly liked the way in which the book is divided and the several practical hints wihch the author gives to the beginner -- a good book.