5 comments about Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods.

1. Arrived quickly and in great condition. Box could have used some stuffing such as foam or bubble wrap. Otherwise great choice.



2. it has real pictures explaining the details and materials not just 2d line drawings. great book



3. This is the best resource for someone who's starting to study for the ARE tests, and for the profession in general, and for anyone related or making GOOD CONSTRUCTION. It's totally worth the price, because its a hardbook cover and you will use it for the rest of your life.



4. This is an amazing book and a very pleasant to read and look into the diagrams and figures. This is a must for any Architect and designer to understand the issue of constructibility and structural erection.
   
   Also it is an excellent text book, sophisticated yet easy to comprehend.



5. The book could have gone into greater depth about reinforcing steel and formwork for concrete but these are minor drawbacks in an otherwise really helpful book which is a must for the budding architect and construction engineer or indeed for anyone working in the construction industry.This volume covers each aspect of building construction in quite a bit of detail. The illustrations are superb. The best I've seen for a book on this material for this price range.

5 comments about Architecture: Form, Space, & Order.

1. what i don't understand is how you can give any book but this book especially, anything below 5 stars. Ching seriously BREAKS it down! I got most of my ching books my freshman year of architecture school and you couldn't pry them from my hands. They are sooo helpful especially architectural graphic along with Form, Space and order. No one pursuing a career in architecture in their right mind, not have ching in their library arsenal.



2. This gook is a great value if you are new or just a beginning your career and want to get some nice perspective fast. I know that some reviews here indicate that this book is not the right book for architects.and i can understand their point of view, because they were expecting something the book didn't give.as a matter of face i was dissappionted too when i 1st got the book, but now i know it's a real treasure and definately a must-have for architects and new designers.
   This book is the greatest illustrator of buildings throughout time, not in pictures but in beautiful sketches, from different angles and with a brief explaination of the design concept...it helps if u r studying history of arhitecture and u want to know the architects and their works.



3. This book is a must for anyone studying drawing, drafting or architecture. Fantastic detail and examples.



4. By Jewel I mean, it's worth your time and money. Learn the meaning of structures and a little arch history from the author.
   Need to get a quick course in the form and space of architecture. here ya go. Other learning is needed after this. I wanted
   to build 3d set extensions. This book gave me a feel for the forms and how they make people feel.
   
   I recommend.



5. This book is elementary in the true sense of the word, presenting the basic components that create form, space and order in architecture. It is extremely methodical and organized. It actually starts off with the definition of a point before going on to lines, planes and volumes! The result is somewhat dull and often borders on platitudes. For instance, rhythm is defined as «a unifying movement characterized by a patterned repetition».
   
   In fact, the book actually contains very little text but is abundantly illustrated with the author's black and white renderings, some of conceptual notions and the others of actual architectural works.
   
   These are not restricted to the western world but include examples from the Middle East, India, China and Japan. However, no historical or cultural context is provided whatsoever. Also, hardly any 19th century structure is depicted and there is an anachronistically strong bias in favour of Modernism. Many examples are taken from Le Corbusier's (small) production and indeed he is given the final word with a quote from «Towards a New Architecture».
   
   The book is totally impersonal and appears detached from its author, giving the impression of exposing absolute truths. This is insidious since many readers are certainly new to the field and the information provided is far from neutral. Program and context, for example, consistently appear as very secondary facets of architecture.
   
   The CD integrated as a bonus is extremely basic but does include in addition to simple animation two elements absent from the printed book: colour and photographs. This is not devoid of interest but one wonders why the style is so utterly different.
   
   Overall, this book cannot unfortunately be recommended as a worthwhile investment in time and money.

5 comments about 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School.

1. I do not have any real design sense, I can't draw, and I don't know anything about architecture - but still I love this book. I'm a software developer, and I'm constantly amazed by how many parallels exist between the software design that I do and the more concrete, physical design that architects focus on.
   
   Some of the entries in the book are architecture-specific, but for the most part this book is just absolutely packed with wisdom about design in the abstract. I keep it on my desk at work and flip through whenever I have a down moment. 101 Things I Learned in Architecture School always leaves me with something to think about, and I'm sure it makes me a better developer.



2. As I said this is not a heavy book. Very approachable for students and will introduce you to all the terms that professors are going to say. Great for a giggle after you graduate and look back at all of the silly things that you learn, do and worry about in architecture school.



3. I have a BA and MA in art but always felt like I was a missing something...the structure that grounded the imagination. I enjoy building/remodeling and, because of my ability to conceptually understand how forms work together, my husband always said I was an Egyptian architect in a past life and probably worked on the pyramids. This little fun-to-hold book is the answer to my prayers. It puts in words concepts I already subconsciously understood, but didn't realize were architectural in origin; like #34 "Frame a view, don't merely exhibit it" (as a designer, work to carefully shape, size, and place windows such that they are specific to the views and experiences they address). This is my new favorite book - bought the first copy in San Francisco at the DeYoung Museum gift shop - liked it so much I bought three more as gifts. As a professional event planner - I've already applied some of the 101 tips to the design of my tented installations. No need to spend years in architecture school to learn the theories of architecture - this is a great source of easy-to-understand information as well as a great value...and, the physical design of the book is like holding a little piece of sculpture. This may be the smallest most important book you ever buy.



4. it's a great little thing for anybody who studied architecture and knows something about architecture student's life ... ;) perfect as a memento from an architecture school.



5. My girlfriend is an architecture student and I am not in the field. I really like talking to her about her project, but needed some insight so that I would have a better idea of what she was describing. This book has not only helped me nail down some of the architecture jargon, but has also taught me a lot about her thought process. I really like the way concepts are really broken down. The quotes and figures are perfectly placed to illustrate the author's points. I recommend this book for any novice that is getting in to architecture. I can definitely see how this would be a handy reference guide and, at points, inspirational source for new architects.

5 comments about Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Sustainable Design Methods for Architects.

1. Being an architecture student, I understand the future of architecture is held in sustainable design. I found this textbook to be an extremely reliable source for my Environmental Systems class. When designing, we now put a greater emphasis on sustainable techniques and how future generations are effected by how we design today. Lechner describes a wide variety of methods that can be used in modern architectural design. The textbook covers everything from basic sunlight integration to complex ventilation strategies. He develops these ideas based off precedent studies and historical influence. He goes into great detail when describing how and why past and future methods can be effective. A nice thing that Lechner does is he describes the pros and cons to many sustainable techniques. It's really nice to see what has worked, and what hasn't. He also summarizes each chapter, allowing the reader to pick up on the most essential ideas. Visual diagrams and images also assist the reader in understanding key components. All of the information presented is well thought out and executed to get the important concepts exposed. It's filled with relatively simple yet effective information anyone can understand. I would absolutely recommend this textbook to anyone, especially if they are looking to grasp a firm understanding of sustainable design strategies.



2. I had to use this book in an Environmental Systems course. While it does a good job of listing a lot of good design methods, its EXTREMELY opinionated. Text books are supposed to tell you facts and ideas, not give you opinions. A lot of it is politically motivated, I suspect. Once and a while the author slips into the 1st person (or refers to themselves in the 3rd person) to take a jab at something. Its chapter on electric lighting literally tells you that all the standards should never be used, which is unrealistic for a student, since thats what they use in the working world.
   
   A majority of the time, the text book is trying to convince you that global warming is a huge problem and all of that... which, regardless of your political opinion (even though I generally agree with the guy), doesn't have a place in a design text book. Phrases like "the author thinks that..." are used way too much.
   
   That aside, it also repeats itself a LOT. I was in one of those classes where reading the entire book cover to cover was a necessity, and having done so, I think the book could have been concentrated into about half the size. A lot of the stuff it tells you is also not really possible to do in the real world economically. Things that do apply to the real world are common sense and generally common knowledge (sun makes hot) and have been used for decades, even centuries.
   
   On learning the actual things you need to learn in an environmental systems class... it doesn't really do a good job. It does a good job of ignoring pretty important things that a student will be required to know on his/her exam, or even just on the job, and goes on about things that really only exist in the author's made-up utopian world. As a textbook for a sustainability class, I think it would be acceptable given the content. (and content ONLY). There's definitely a slant to it though, and I would definitely not recommend it.



3. I purchased this book for a course I'm taking on Environmental Design. The course is required for my Master's of Architecture (first professional) program. The book is very comprehensive and provides a great amount of information that can IMMEDIATELY start influencing your designs and make them more sustainable. Great book!



4. So far, just a lot of words to explain a few simple points. Each chapter can be explained in a couple of pages.



5. "Heating, Cooling, Lighting: Sustainable Design Methods for Architects" is a book that I know since the second edition. I've used this book extensively as resource in my lectures for architectural students. It can be very helpful for architects both in practice and in academic research. The book is well illustrated, the writing is straightforward and, at the same time, comprehensive and thoughtful. It embraces roughly everything you want and must know for doing bioclimatic and sustainable design. The case studies and appendices are also helpful and the latter includes some useful tools for architects, such as the angle-finder (for estimating the height of trees) and the heliodon (an apparatus for sun/shadow analysis). If for any reason you have to choose only one book about sustainable and bioclimatic architectural design to buy, no doubt that this is the one you are looking for.

5 comments about Design Drawing.

1. "Design Drawing" is a superb book, containing all the core essentials of drawing in one place. The clarity of the author's writing is superb, and his illustrations excellent (pun intended). However, it should be remembered that drawing and illustration are quintessentially kinesthetic. The techniques cannot really be understood, let alone mastered, without actually putting pen or pencil to paper. Each and every exercise should be completed, and not just once but repeatedly until they are mastered. Doing so develops the necessary eye for seeing what is to be illustrated, and also the eye-hand coordination required to transfer an image from the mind to paper.
   
   Also necessary for design drawing is a firm understanding of the conventions used in technical and architectural illustrations. These conventions and mathematical constructions can seem bewildering to the newcomer. Many books on the subject have not made the subject easier, nor have they eased the newcomer's fears of the subject. This book is outstanding in presenting the various drawing conventions clearly and simply, thus reducing or eliminating the mystery altogether. The examples provided are clear and illustrate the author's points well (as they should in such a book!).
   
   The book is divided into three main sections: The first section, "Drawing from Observation" (Chapters 1-4), which addresses illustrating what one sees, with exercises focused on training the eye and the hand. The second section, "Drawing Systems" (Chapters 5-8), describes the formal conventions used in technical and architectural illustration. The formal constructions are described clearly, and the exercises reinforce each point made and each technique. The final section, "Drawing from Imagination" (Chapters 9-12), takes the student to the next level. Again, the exercises are well chosen to develop and reinforce the ideas and techniques described in the text.
   
   A final note: The disappointed (1-star) reviewer who saw insufficient information on shading cannot have read the book well, if at all. The information is there, but each artist must develop his or her own techniques for establishing tonal values. Mr. Ching discusses the need for and use of such tonal values succinctly and clearly. All the information required is present, and permeates the book. For instance, Chapter 2 spends considerable time on the subject of "Tone and Texture," and on developing a tonal scale -- shading, in other words. Chapter 4, on "Space and Depth," addresses the use of tonal values -- shading -- to lend volume to images presented on a flat surface. Chapters 6, 7, and 8 each have a section on the use of shade and shadows. The whole last section draws on and includes the lessons on shade and shadows and tonal values introduced earlier in the book. Quite simply, the 1-star review is not understandable, in light of the content of the book.
   
   As with any book describing technique, there is no simple, easy way to acquire the necessary talent and techniques. This book will not instantly infuse the reader with certain skills. However, it will guide the student who follows the exercises and practices in developing a visually rewarding capability.



2. A good source for an introduction into design drawing. As with all Ching books, simple and clean graphics go along with the text to help ensure the reader grasps the concepts being explained.
   
   Definitely recommend.



3. I got this book to learn how to construct shades and shadows. After reading the glowing comments here, I have to wonder if they're all from the author's friends and family, or if I'm just the dumbest person on Amazon. I find this book difficult at best to follow. It's supposedly for beginners, but assumes the reader knows far more on the subject than he probably does.
   
   I finally did learn how to construct shades and shadows, but it wasn't with this book, it was with Rendall Yee's " Architectural Drawing."



4. Design Drawing
   Great book for all architects or people, who wants to know how the drawings work. I am 100% satisfied ;-)



5. This is a great tool to use for design and is a great reference book for work if you are a drafter too. The drawings are very clear, informative and precice. We love this book for our office.

5 comments about A History of Architecture: Settings and Rituals.

1. I purchased a book from the seller and my order has not been shipped, almost a week later.. A little disappointed since I always purchase my school books from amazon and I have not run into any problems until now. I sent an email to the seller hopefully I receive a response in a timely manner.



2. It came in good time and was in the condition it was told to be in.



3. I was very happy with the purchase, mainly because it was $50 off retail price and was free to ship.



4. Covers all the major styles and period the Western tradition of architecture. It does one chapter on Asian architecture but no single chapter can cover all the styles and history of the Asian countries of India, China, Japan, etc. It will be great for any aspiring architect who wants to have a good foundation...or to anyone who wants to appreciate the history of spatial design, and decoratives more.



5. This book was devised by a profoundly politically-correct mind. It is hard to read, inaccessible for an enthusiastic amateur, filled with historical gaps for a professional, and turns more often to social issues than to actual history of architecture. I don't know where to begin to list its omissions in terms of illustrations. On top of that, paperback is just too heavy and falls apart. I bought it at a clearance within a year after publication, it tells you something.

5 comments about Construction Drawings and Details for Interiors: Basic Skills.

1. BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ IN THE SUBJECT CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS. I HAVE BEEN IN THE INTERIOR DESIGN FIELD FOR TWO YEARS, AND THERE ARE TIMES THAT A REFERENCE BOOK IS NEEDED. THIS BOOK IS FOR BOTH THE STUDENT AND PROFESSIONAL. A MUST HAVE BOOK FOR YOUR LIBRARY. I MUST SAY THAT EVEN TWO COPIES WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA. THIS BOOK WILL NOT SIT ON YOUR SHELVE FOR IT IS FULL OF HELPFUL INSIGHT.



2. Being an Interior Design major, it gets really expensive buying books, when I need 4-6 books sometimes for ONE class. I buy the majority of my books online and have not had a problem. This book came in the condition stated and came faster than expected. Thanks!



3. This book is a very good resource to be kept in any interior design library as it adds up to all the technicality of the job and help remind us with all the little details.



4. This a great book for the basics of how to create Construction Drawings. It has everything you could have questions about as an Interior Designer learning how to create Documentation for a project. I highly recommend this book. It lays everything out in an easy to understand format and has great pictorial examples.



5. This book made all the difference for me in my Interior Design studies. The course that I took was intensive, and if I had not discovered and utilized this book, I would have probably scored much lower on my desk-crits, and my practical exams. Because of it's wonderfully portable size, I take it with me everywhere. It is easily carried, yet filled with pertinent information from cover to cover. Construction Drawings and Details for Interiors contains a wealth of information, and I am grateful to the author for having written this book. It is, and will remain a cornerstone of my Design library.

5 comments about A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series).

1. Sorry, but if you think that women and men are integrated, connected, rational beings in touch with nature and themselves, you're hiding your head in the sand! And this is supposed to be revolutionary? This book and its predecessor MAINTAIN THE STAUS QUO.
   The primary conditions of modernity are alienation from nature, from the rest of humanity, and from the self, as described by Kafka, Camus, etc.. Architects are notoriously money-hungry business people who don't give a damn about the human condition, Christopher Alexander and company not excluded; they are simply part of the apparati of power that keeps human beings in line. Unfortunately, the post-modern philosophy I've read doesn't rescue us from these conditions, although it purports to rationalize them, and offer a way out. A Thousand Plateaus, The Society of the Spectacle, Foucault, etc.. You want to be a new-age drone? Read this book, and bury your head in the sand. Otherwise, think for yourself and formulate your own revolutionary sociological and architectural ideas!



2. This book was recommended to me by one of my professors in college, and it is a really good guide for what certain parts of buildings (courtyards, types of rooms) as well as cities do. I found it particularly helpful in deciding how to improve my designs from some of the book's suggestions. Really a great book.



3. This book provided very valuable insight into the type of home that we wanted to build. We ultimately bought a home that we did not design, but this book helped us to develop values that would assist us in finding a home that would nurture us and our environment.



4. Lent it to a client and of course, never got it back. Bought it originally back in college. Everyone in the design field should be required to read this book.



5. This classic architecture work contains abundant wisdom and practical direction for living for every thinking person. I first read it nearly thirty years ago and used its principles to create a garden that delights to this day. When I found it again, I was eager to read the parts I had skipped over the first time. To my sorrow, the book is no longer relevant to the way most people now live. There is barely any nod to electronic communication or entertainment. If you want to be overwhelmed by how much we have lost, or changed, since this was written, I highly recommend it. I hope that, as with other lost arts, a new generation will be fascinated by the old ways people used to live, and will adopt the good and reinvent human spaces. Big box stores, super highways, multiplex cinemas, malls, security-driven barriers and other structures such as looping airport approaches and chaotic store layout, fractured product placement in retail outlets: all were not thought of in this work. The serenity of the human soul was the overriding value. It is easy to see the world today is organized more like a bandit's trap than a serene living arena. Definitely a deep and thought-provoking read.

5 comments about The Codes Guidebook for Interiors.

1. This book is an invaluable resource for any designer who can't get their hands on a copy of the IBC. I used this for studying the NCIDQ and also when I needed to find something quicker than going to the IBC. The information and tables comes from the IBC but you should always reference the IBC to make sure the information has not been changed.
   
   Great book. I used the previous edition in college and had everything tabbed because I used is so much.



2. This book is very simple to read & understand, and makes learning the codes so much easier. has many tables, and graphs to quickly layout the rules. Great for reference!



3. The book came in great condition, I edge of the cover was bent, but could have easily happened during shipping.



4. I guess there was a malfunction with something but I purchased the book then received an email saying that it was going to someone else. then received an email saying that it was being shipped. then received an email saying that it was not coming and my money was going to be given back to me.



5. A must have for Interior Design Students. This book has been helpful to me so far in school.

5 comments about Professional Practice for Interior Designers.

1. The book was in excellent condition, and although there were issues with shipping, the company I worked with expedited the service and shipment.



2. I am using this book for a class. It is actually very readable and has lots of good clear information.



3. The book is very informative,easy to read, and enjoyable! I wish I would have read as an interior design student, but I wouldn't have appreciated it as a 21 year-old.



4. This is very good! I haven't read the whole thing though. This version is so much better than the old one. It's twice as thick and scary at first site. If using it to study for the NCIDQ, better start reading way in advance, it's long and small print. Got a nice CD in the back to use for forms, nice!



5. Its a good book, but there are some things I think need to be reworked.
   
   There are real-world examples that are kinda hokey.
   
   There are lots of ethical "what would you do" examples with no follow up about whether or not such an example is an ethics violation or not. With relating the examples to codes of ethics, these examples are pointless.
   
   There seem to be some factual errors too. For example, the author states that if a designer witnesses work on a job site that is not in conformance with drawings they should intervene and stop work. HELLO! Contract law clearly states a designer should NEVER intervene. They should instead inform the contractor and the client of such inconsistencies and NOT recommend a remedy. It is up to the contractor to decide the appropriate remedy and the client to determine the appropriate contract action to take.
   
   And some things seem outdated. In the chapter on preparing marketing presentations, the author states that women "MAY" be permitted to wear trousers to a presentation depending on the firm they work for. Is this 1960? Forcing women to wear skirts violates employment law and the author should know this.
   
   Overall its a useful book, but I wouldn't call it great.