No comments about Architect's Drawings: A selection of sketches by world famous architects through history.

1 comments about Exposed Concrete: Technology and Design.

1. I purchased this book because I specifiy concrete and architectural concrete. 85% of this book were projects that have concrete in them, but nothing specific, just basic overall pictures and no information about concrete. The 15% that had to do with formwork and concrete was basically useless to me because it was basically a translation of German to English, using German and European standards, nothing that we can use here in the US.
   I was disappointed never the less and have returned the book. If Amazon had said something about this book was intended for Germans who read English, I would have not purchased it.

1 comments about Design Outlaws on the Ecological Frontier.

1. This book is one of the only works that addresses the topic of Ecological Design in an in-depth manner. Moreover, it focuses on the progenitors of this movement - the design outlaws that had the courage to forge entirely new and radical paths in art, design, science and technology. Powerful stuff - important message - innovative and engaging subject matter.

No comments about Material Architecture: emergent materials for innovative buildings and ecological construction.

No comments about Glass Houses.

4 comments about Time-Saver Standards for Building Types.

1. rich in graphics and details, perfect companion when you need quick answers, specially if you get a used book at a fantastic price like these, it is worth it!!



2. dear sir/madam

   am in need of a book call newfet Architectural data so plsss help me find it plss

   from terry




3. This is a book that sometimes resembles Neufert's, but it has a lot of additional information you might need that will make easier the process of designing various types of buildings. It gives you notions, ideas, proportions, measures and everything you need to know when starting a project. A must-have to any architect (specially with these incredible low-priced used ones. I got mine for 13 bucks and it's absolutely like new).



4. Amozon.com says that they save you money on books but this book cost a cool 150 smackers even if a customer has purchased many books from them -- the book is valuable and used like a dictionary for reference -- why can't we get a resonable price for it -- Amozon.com send out thank you and promises to do their best to keep the price lowest but why do they continue to bate and switch.

5 comments about Prescriptions for a Healthy House.

1. The introduction is a great primer on household toxins that affect us all, and includes references. Everyone should read it!
   
   Most of the book is geared to what to insist on when building a home, but it gives important insights if you're buying a home or wanting to make yours more healthy. Very good section on wiring errors (and how to explain to the electrician what you want), although some of the explanations of how electro-magnetic fields should be understood are slightly inaccurate. Unfortunately, not much about how to mitigate microwave signals, which is perhaps the biggest problem a lot of people will face. Still I wish I'd read this book years ago!



2. This is the perhaps the best book available for architects and builders wanting to create healthier homes. The book that not only explains what the potential hazards in a home are but provides lots of product information, i.e., where to order alternative building materials, less toxic-paint, safe insulation, etc.
   
   A must have for any architect or builder or home owner thinking of building their own home.
   
   
   Dan Stih is the author of Healthy Living Spaces: Top 10 Hazards Affecting Your Health



3. Ones' home is one of the most important factors in ones health, I believe. Todays houses are filled with toxic chemicles that slowly (sometimes quickly) erode the health of the occupants. Paula Baker-Laporte knows from first hand experience how a home affects its occupants - she herself has suffered from chemical poisioning in houses.
   
   As an an architect, she is sharing her years of research and personal experience with the public so that they can also live in a healthy home.
   
   This is a book that everyone in the civilized world should read. It is well written and filled with great information.



4. The book's major strength is that it gives specific wording to put into your contract that will try to ensure a healthy house. But some contractors will take one look at these specs and laugh "yeah, right!" Overall, I recommend John Bower's book "The Healthy House" over this one because it covers more topics and gives much more information.



5. When this new edition of "Prescriptions" came out, it was the most complete of any book about Healthy Homes/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. The combination of architect/doctor/building specialist as authors works very well.
   
   The information is thorough and well documented. They can back up what they say. It is very well organized.
   
   As a Home Builder, I find this to an excellent resource on MCS. On the down side, it is a little bit of a dry read.

No comments about Defect-Free Buildings (McGraw-Hill Construction Series) (McGraw-Hill Construction).

2 comments about Laboratory Design Guide, Third Edition.

1. The used book, listed as great condition, was in very crappy condition and I sent it back



2. Laboratory Design Guide, B.Griffin (Architectural Press,1999) ISBN 0 7506 3858 3

   Having moved in to a new laboratory for teaching and research 12 months ago, I wish that our faculty had had this book available to us 4 years ago while we were in the planning stage of the building. This would have given the laboratory staff insights into how buildings are built and how to go about consulting with the building designers, architects, engineering consultants, contractors and sub-contractors and all the other various people that most laboratory staff have little day-to-day experience with. It would have also improved the discussion on options for design of the laboratories and furniture by the faculty staff. The idea of adjustable benches would have been a better solution to our need to cater for disabled students than making a permanent low bench in each teaching laboratory which means these benches go unused if no disabled student is in the unit. The second half of the book is case studies and looking at new laboratories. Fourteen of the 17case studies are from Australia, all but two of these from NSW. How the architects responded to the needs of their clients and the different needs for different types of laboratories is discussed. The examples cover rnultifunctional tertiary teaching, research institutions, pure research, and commercial pathology and government laboratories. All the case studies are there to amplify points made earlier in the book. This book must be read in conjunction with the appropriate Australian Standards and the CCH manual and although it does not mention individual standards or CCH guidelines the text does give a good place to start your search of the standards and guidelines which are the definitive sources.

   Neil Ludvigsen, Northern Territory University, Book review in "Chemistry in Australia"

4 comments about Straw Bale Details: A Manual for Designers and Builders (Natural Building Series).

1. I have quite a few strawbale books, and I think this one I probably could have done without. Don't plan on using this book alone to do any projects.



2. I was very excited about receiving this book but I was very disappointed when I did. Not much info and the black and white drawings have a Notes section that is not numbered to correspond with the drawings or the one page text for each section. Overall, I feel this book was not a help at all.



3. If you're interested in strawbale building this is a nice little book on many of the details involved.
   The first 20 or so pages tell about various facets of the concept, they're followed by several short chapters (each with a written detail section)on things like walls, windows, foundations, electrical wiring and so on. Each of these sections consists primarily of architectural detail drawings of the chapter subject.
   There's a lot of detail here but I don't think it's enough for the total novice to go out and build from. You(if you're a novice)will need a lot more information on construction than is provided here. I guess that Amazon probably has all of the books you'll need, I think they do have all of the strawbale books listed in the short bibliography, those are worth a look.



4. This is a great book for people who have looked at the picture books and decided to build in strawbale. It is excellent whether you are an owner builder planning to prepare your own plans, or simply want to pass the detail on to your architect or draftsperson. I like the spiral bound layout which allows you to leave the book open without breaking the spine. The authors have considered most types of strawbale construction (e.g. with and without cellar, timber floored, concrete slab,etc) but a big negative for me was that it deals only with single storey details. I want to build two storey and would have appreciated information on how to incorporate the middle floor into the strawbale walls, both for load-bearing and post-and-beam buildings. If you've read architectural plans before, you'll be able to decode how to build a strawbale house... if you can't, you won't have a use for this book. All in all - a winner for the serious strawbale builder (cheaper than a strawbale workshop and you get a resource you can keep!)