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

1. please send me a solutions manual for those chapters qestion in the in this book ( fundamentals of building construction ).please spon.



2. I got this text for school, thinking it would be like all other texts and like pulling teeth to read.
   I was very wrong, this is the first readable, detailed and clear Text I've come across.
   The illustrations are on point and the real world like photos are great.
   Although the book is quite large, it goes down rather easily.



3. This is just like a brand new book but it takes while to deliver :)



4. The price was excellent and the comments were accurate. The book is in excellent condition!



5. Dear Sir or Madame,
   
   I'm writing here but I already emailed to the Seller asking for a refund. Never received an answer. I bought the book to be used as a guide or reference during a twenty (20) days project that I already finished so I no longer need it.
   If you could help me with this Seller I'll really appreciate.
   
   Thanks,
   
   Paulo Gomes

1 comments about Digital Fabrications: Architectural and Material Techniques (Architecture Briefs).

1. Contributing to the discussion on the role of digital and emerging technology in the discipline of architecture, Digital Fabrications: Architectural and Material Techniques documents a series of recent projects with an integral relationship between the act of designing and the act of making. Iwamoto organizes these works in a manner that draws commonalities between their material, tectonic, and spatial innovations, presenting these independent projects as a coherent collective that is innovating architectural thinking, teaching, making, and designing. This curation captures the vanguard spirit of the 1:1 experiments by focusing on smaller-scale projects (fabricated within the past five years, and by relatively young, small firms or even students,) as their prescribed restrictions (the availability of space, budget, materials, and/or tools) promotes innovating standard, accessible materials and machinery to achieve a new, unanticipated affect.
   
   Throughout Digital Fabrications, the emphasis is design + fabrication. Iwamoto excludes purely tectonic projects, as well as unbuilt designs, as the true ethos of these experiments in architectural design/fabrication is how the two processes integrate and inform each other. The projects included are in continuous contact with material and fabrication techniques during the various stages of development. The design (and designer) works in congruence with the computer, as well as the tools and methods of fabrication, to conceive and realize their work. The included projects exemplify how open, synchronous communication between design and manufacturing can, and has been, expanding spatial, material, and tectonic possibilities within the discipline.
   Written for "anyone who wants to know how digital fabrication works, why architects use it, and how it promotes innovative design" Iwamoto documents the design process, as well as the material and fabricating techniques used, in order to disseminate these concepts. The structuring of the book, the categorization of projects by their means of their fabrication reinforces the idea that tooling and material techniques are an integral process of the final design. Each of the five parts (sectioning, tessellating, folding, contouring, and forming,) begins with a brief definition of the operation, its historical precedents, its most useful application, as well as its more innovative applications. It is here where Iwamoto takes the opportunity to cite built larger and smaller scale projects, putting the featured projects into a larger context of work while also emphasizing their ingenuity and inventiveness.
   
   The projects featured in Digital Fabrications: Architectural and Material Techniques are eliminating the boundary between conception and actualization, and are innovating solutions to recurring architectural problems. The digitization of the fabrication process has challenged designers to not only redefine the uses of traditional building materials, but to also redefine the limits of space, and redefine their role in the life of the design.

2 comments about Transmaterial 3: A Catalog of Materials that Redefine our Physical Environment.

1. This is the third edition of Transmaterial and we are happy to own so far all of them. It gives a brief insight of architectural research and materiality with a lot of chance for actual use on projects. We so much appreciate Blaine Brownell's work who I got to know once personally - a true intellectual with a strong vision. Go on, Blaine, and give us more of this!



2. The latest edition of the Transmaterial series does not depart from the style or content of the two previous volumes - if you like them, you will enjoy this one. As before, new materials and applications of those materials are organized by material type in one-page summaries. I enjoy this approach, and enjoy the fact that I never know what I'll find on the next page.
   
   Two minor criticisms of this approach - the Transmaterial series does not differentiate between "starting materials" that are a fundamental part of something built, and "finished goods" which are commercial applications of many different parts. Sometimes this book feels like a reference guide, and sometimes like a product catalog. I'd like to see materials broken down by the degree of "rawness" vs. finished polish.
   
   A second minor criticism is that the author solicits product submissions for consideration for inclusion in the book. While his judgement is very good, I find that several companies have multiple entries in the book in which the core technology is identical in several different "market ready" products. This reflects that innovative companies find multiple uses for their technology, all of which are original and imaginative. Still, this gives the book the feel that it is disporportionately weighting certain companies - perhaps unwittingly favoring them. It's a subtle bias that I don't object to, but I'd like to bring it to attention.
   
   I hope the author continues the work and play evident in this volume, and in the future expands to touch on more of the "unsung heros" of the material world.

4 comments about The Barefoot Architect.

1. 
   The book was written so a person with barely some school could understand it. So a learner without a professor, could see the diagrams and know what to do if he is going to build by himself. However, architects like the book too, because is a great didactic tool.Not that they did not know what to do but the book is good.
   
   
   To give you an idea of how clear and good is the book, from 10 people interested in constructing by themselves or with a company, 9 wanted to get a copy of the book, after looking at it (in spanish ran out few years ago).
   
   
   However, the settings are underdeveloped areas of the world. After reading this book you could embrace any the study of sophisticated "ecological" systems. You can later keep going with modern ecological proposals, but without losing ground, because you will already know what is the purpose behind that "great material" or "new" technique.



2. This is the first English translation of The Barefoot Architect (TBA), which was originally written in Spanish in Mexico in 1982. Obviously written with a Third-World audience in mind, TBA nevertheless has a multitude of useful ideas that could be incorporated into North American buildings. At first glance this handbook's 697 pages are intimidating, but fear not - this tome is extremely user-friendly, as it employs only simple drawings and brief text to convey a wealth of handy ideas for laymen/owner builders and professional contractors alike. The only exception to that last statement is that TBA has a rather skimpy index.
   
   TBA starts off with a thoughtful design overview which shows how to situate your house, say, to take advantage of the prevailing winds, solar orientation, terrain, and vegetation on your building site. Subsequent chapters cover considerations and methods for building in deserts, jungles, and temperate zones. Granted, not many Norte Americanos will want to build their homes with bamboo, thatch or handmade adobe bricks, but there are plenty of examples of materials and construction techniques that I wouldn't hesitate to use where I live in Northwest Wyoming.
   
   The use of modern insulating, siding, and roofing materials that would be familiar and available to Americans is little discussed. Remember that the primary audience for this handbook resides not in North America/First World, but in the southern hemisphere, where most citizens don't have our economic wherewithal. I would not use a lot of TBA's suggestions in the building of my primary residence, but for outbuildings, walls, gardens, get-away cabins, etc., I would use this book in a heartbeat for my construction bible. Thoreau would have loved it. Perhaps in a post-peak oil world, TBA will become a must-have resource for those of us who have to live more simply and take advantage of the building materials close at hand. Most discussions in TBA readily stimulate one to think of practical uses for the natural resources that surround us all.



3. After my wife and I had finished writing The Straw Bale House and were beginning work in Mexico on a number of projects, we came across this book during our travels. We loved it so much we set out trying to find out where we could get more copies. The search took us to a bookstore in Mexico City where we bought several cases to bring back to the States. They were so popular with friends that we gave away/sold all of them in almost no time at all. It's just a marvelous little book with simple but very clear illustrations. Quite truthfully I'm totally amazed that Lloyd Khan the publisher came across this book and decided to print it in English. But then again, that's what makes Lloyd the entertaining publisher that he is.



4. I'm in the process of re-building the kitchen, bathroom, foundation and an addition to our home. Picking up this book to peruse made my imagination wander and provided tremendous insight into not only how to go about these significant changes but also provided new ways based upon sensible and older techniques. There are so many ideas, drawings and explanations that even if you thought you had everything at hand and knew just what you were going to do, this could very much make your work better. I very much recommend this thick and interesting book.

5 comments about The Works: Anatomy of a City.

1. Great book, very interesting with lots of visuals about all the inner workings of New York city from trash collection to plumbing. Arrived in good condition, very happy with the purchase.



2. This book looks great, but my criticism is for the LOOK INSIDE feature on Amazon. Note to the publisher - if you are going to block virtually every single image from the Look Inside preview, perhaps it is best to just not offer the option. It is very frustrating for the potential customer, particularly for such a graphics-based book. There are plenty of competitors that offer a generous preview through the site.



3. This is a wonderful resource that explains the nuisances of what it takes to keep New York City operating. It was excellently illustrated and diagrammed so may can see how things work. It is also a valuable resource of statistics concerning New York City. For instance, New York has 11,000 miles of local streets, 7,300 miles of secondary roads, and 1,250 miles of highways. The Grid Plan adopted in 1811 set the basis for Manhattan streets. Roads were clogged so more northbound streets were created.
   
   The number of roads increased 45% from 1983 to 2002 while the population increased 10%. Yet, rush hour traffic increased from occurring an average of 3.4 hours to 7 to 8 hours a day.
   
   There are 11,400 traffic lights in intersections. There are 40,000 total intersections. Traffic lights mostly run on 60, 90, or 120 second intervals. For many Manhattan streets, the 60 second intervals make traveling at 30 MPH, which is the speed limit, the best cruising speed. Traffic lights are controlled at fifteen computers, handling 720 intersections a piece, at the Traffic Management Center. Traffic is monitored there with 230 cameras.
   
   There are 1.1 million cars and trucks entering New York City daily.
   
   There are 3,250 pedestrian push buttons. Less than 25% of them work. The city is avoiding the $400 cost per unit it takes to remove the inoperable boxes.
   
   There are 50 red light cameras photographing license plates of traffic offenders. 1.4 million summonses have results since this program began in 1993. There has been a 40% decrease in violations where cameras exist. There are 200 locations with inoperable dummy cameras.
   
   The average auto speed in Midtown Manhattan is 4.8 MPH eastbound and 4.2 MPH westbound.
   
   There are 130,000 priority regulation signs, such as "stop" and "do not enter" signs. There are 333,670 street lights, costing$50 million annually in electric costs.
   
   There are 66,000 parking meters. Most parking meters run 1 to 9 minutes per hour longer in time. This is done to minimize charges against their accuracy. A parking meters holds from $30 to $60 in coins.
   
   The subway has 4.5 million riders daily. It is the fifth busiest subway, behind Tokyo, Moscow, Seoul, and Mexico City. The system has about 6,200 cars, which is the most in the world. There are 842 track miles, with 660 miles for passenger service and the rest for shops and storage. Two third of the tracks are underground. During rush hour, trains run from a minimum of every three minutes on four lines to a maximum of every nine minutes on four other lines. There are nine abandoned stations.
   
   Trains approach stations at 25 MPH.. The doors are open for at least ten seconds.
   
   The subway uses 1.8 billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually, making them the city's largest user of electricity.
   
   748 pumps from 309 pump plants pump 13 million gallons or less of water in one day from the subways.
   
   There are 30,000 pay phones from 63 phone companies in New York City. 20% of city residents do not have their own phone service.
   
   New York has 6,600 miles of sewer pipes and mains and 14 wastewater treatment plants, handling 1.3 billion gallons of sewage daily. There are 145,000 storm water catch basins and 5,000 seepage basins that place water into the ground. Sewage was dumped at one ocean site 12 miles away from the coast and second 106 miles away from the coast until 1992. Sludge was then taken by train to Sierra Blanca, Texas until 2001.
   
   New York combines storm water with waste water which is then sent to treatment plants. Rain causes overflow about half the time, meaning untreated water, about one fifth of which is raw sewage, goes into waterways. New York has 450 outflows into the harbor. 23 locations have booms or floating barriers capturing floatable, which are paper, plastics, and Styrofoam, and preventing them from going into the waer. A city owned vessel, the Cormorant, captures more floatables with nets and is able to handle 24 tons of floatables.
   
   There are 14 sewage treatment plants and about 100 pumping stations handling wastewater. Digesters heat sludge encouraging anaerobic bacteria to grow and then remove the sludge's organic material over 15 to 20 days. Half the bio-solids are formed into pellets at Hunt Point Plant in the Bronx. Most of these pellets are used for Florida citrus fertilizer. Others go to Virginia cornfields and grazing land as well as to Colorado and wheat fields. Some is pelletized in Arkansas for use as fertilizer, composted in Pennsylvania for topsoil blending, and lime treating in New Jersey for corn and hay fertilizer.
   
   The Sanitation Department employs 10,000 handling 12,000 tons of resident and municipal waste daily. It is collected two to four days a week. Recyclables are collected once a week. Commercial waste is handled by private companies.
   
   235 street sweepers operate daily. Each covers from 6 to 20 miles in one day. Their maximum speed is 37 MPH. They control 240 gallons of water. They refill at hydrants.
   
   410 of salt spreading trucks are used at one inch of snow. At 2 to 4 inches of snow, all spreaders are used and 380 plows are used. At 4 to 6 inches, over 700 trucks are used. At over 6 inches of snow, all 1,335 plowing trucks are used.



4. I really enjoy owning this book. A couple times a week I go to this book to look up something that I've always wondered about New York City.
   
   Recent questions this book has answered for me:
   Why do some buildings have old water towers on top and not others? What is that clanging noise in my radiator? Does somebody personally read the name and address every time I send a first class letter or is there a machine that does it? Where does my market buy their food from? Does anybody manage harbor traffic to make sure all those tankers don't crash, or do they just obey the rules of the road and hope for the best? How do they clean the ceiling of tunnels from all the car exhaust and how often do they have to do it? How many "no parking" signs are there in NYC? Does the Stove or the microwave use more electricity? How many trees in central park?
   
   If you are the kind of person who wonders about the mechanics of life this is a good book to have around.



5. This is a geeks delight. The book is great as it disects and explains all the different systems and components that makes NYC function without being overly detailed or hard to digest: subways, railroads, ships, power supply, water supply, electricity generation and supply, sewage, recycling, manholes, and much much more...
   
   Each page has sharp and enjoyable illustrations that break down the systems, map out how everything works from beginning to end, and leave you with a better understanding of what it takes to make any city run. Although this book focuses on what makes NYC run, you can easily apply the civil engineering components to just about any other modern city.
   
   You can pick up and pick any page in the middle of the book as it can be read as an encyclopedia, or you can read it from beginning to end (like I did) without being overwhelmed with the details.
   
   Bottom line: fun in a very geeky way, easy to pick up and read for a few minutes or a couple of hours, great illustrations that will get any reader hooked and a terrific compliment for anyone to enjoy the cities on a different level. A

5 comments about Earthbag Building: The Tools, Tricks and Techniques (Natural Building Series).

1. A fascinating, informative and useful book. I'm not yet finished but this book makes you realize that this idea is solid and not just wishful thinking... I would have given it 5 stars (or even 10 stars) if all the pictures were color but the black and white pictures lose so much detail it is disappointing.



2. Kaki Hunter and Donald Kiffmeyer have put together all the basic information you'll need to intelligently evaluate how you can solve your own housing needs without selling your soul to a banker. Earthbag construction is the smartest system of construction I can think of. It also interfaces seamlessly with other organic building systems. These two individuals have spent much of their lives bring this "solution" information to the people on the planet. Earthbag homes are not only esthetically pleasing but are seismically safe, energy efficient and downright fun to live in.
   
   Thank you Kaki and Doni
   
   Sheila Kerpleman, president
   IPAC Marine Environmental Research Corporation



3. This is a well written book. It details all the steps you need to go through to build your own Earthbag buildings. I like how it goes into numerous options allowing you to know how to approach what your building project needs. After reading this book I now know I can do this kind of building and it has instilled in me the confidence to tackle my own building project.
   
   It is my intention to build a home using this method. I am now starting to look for land to buy so I can get started.



4. I wasn't expecting a be-all and end-all book when I ordered this item; however, I was beyond impressed with all of the thorough information packed into this paperback book. The authors Kaki Hunter and Donald Kiffmeyer wrote this with the beginner in mind as well as those totally unfamiliar with construction basics. Though this book has pretty much everything you need (resources info too!), you can never get enough information on this wonderful type of earth-friendly construction!



5. This book is a great introduction to building with Earthbags. There are detailed explanations along with a plethora of images that describe the engineering of doorways, window and buttresses.

5 comments about Materials for Design.

1. The book itself is solid graphically and formatted well, however as an architectural student I would not recommend it to anyone looking for gaining a unique perspective on the manipulation and action of materials in design. A much better choice would be the Berkhauser Series, particularly the Facade Construction Manual. The assembly drawings and diagrams are too stripped down to gain any understanding of the system assembly. Not for students or people with a good understanding of material and assemblage effects.



2. thing you wont see in avery book, they go further, projects not that known wich is great



3. This is one of the best materials books I've been able to find. It provides thorough descriptions of the history, development and manufacturing of numerous materials (traditional and non traditional) in addition to useful applications and proper techniques all in one very well crafted book. An essential for student and practicing architects as well as anyone involved in interiors, environmental design, industrial design, graphic design...



4. It is really a nice book. The definitions for each material are clearly represented. The case studies are up to date. I like the demonstration of all of the details.



5. I highly recommend this book. I am an architecture student, and I have found this book to be interesting, useful, and full of great projects. The book does a nice job of talking about the history, uses, strengths, and weaknesses of building materials. The book is organized by material with building projects that utilize those particular materials in an innovating and interesting way. The photos are great and the detail drawings are very nice to see as well.

No comments about 2009 International Building Code Need to Know: The 20% of the Code You Need 80% of the Time.

5 comments about Timber Framing for the Rest of Us: A Guide to Contemporary Post and Beam Construction.

1. Roy brings out new home building books every year, it seems. The last few years have seen major treatments of all his basic building strategies, timber, earth, log ends. The new books are handsomely produced, up to date, and comprehensive.
   
   With timber frames there are several major threads. The uber domestic architecture movement, based largely on church architectural norms, very difficult to home build. The modernist post and beam thread, now out of favour; And the domestic level shorter post and beams method designed for home architecture. This book is mostly towards the latter thread, with additions as required. In other words, even a person working alone with modest tools can do these builds. (Other good books in this scale are Sobon's books that cover traditional settler forms for modern makers, and Mitchell's West Coats classic The Craft of Modular Post and Beam. Sobon's diverts from simplicity in favour of some of these older forms, and Mitchell in favour of West coast style, though they are both still practical)
   
   Often the glaring omission in timber frame books is the lack of any engineering treatment of how to size beams. This is a major stuff where the fancy frames are concerned, but it is within the realm of possibility for simpler homes. Roy covers this ground simply, and it is essential stuff for anyone who wants to do some design work before talking to the local planing office or a professional architect. This chapter can be skipped, but ads to the comprehensiveness of the text for those in need of the information.
   
   One doesn't have to be planing a house to use this book. Timber framing is a practical form for smaller buildings like sheds, workshops, picnic shelters. Due to their scale these structures can often be timber framed within the span of only a few posts and beams of dimensional lumber, saving money with an elegant approach, and increasing interior space.



2. Author did not use enough examples, really only sited building one structure. It was imformative though.



3. Mr Roy writes in a very understandable way. His books are both informative and entertaining. My plans for using timber framing in my next house have been finalized after reading this great book. Keep up the good work Mr. Roy.



4. This is a great reference for how to put the joints together. Not as good of a reference for structural design but if you are not an engineer you should probably consult one anyway so that isn't really a minus. Easy to follow.



5. This book provides information needed by DYI buillders who need the why's as well as the how's. It focuses on durability and practicality rather than elegance and tradition.

5 comments about Transmaterial 2: A Catalog of Materials That Redefine Our Physical Environment.

1. This is simply a great book to own, particularly if one is a designer. My architecture studio professor recommended this book to my class when looking for materials for a project, and after she lent us her copy, I decided to buy it. Have not regretted it one bit. The book is easy to use, catalogs a wide range of innovative materials, and provides further information on where one can find either more information about the material or where to get it. It helps loads when trying to find materials that not only look beautiful, but also have all sorts of interesting functions and abilities.



2. As an architecture student, I found this book to be quite useful in studio courses. Materiality is something students often struggle with, and this book opens up boundaries (as well as including some more conventional choices). For schools stressing sustainability, this book becomes an even more useful tool. The sequel contains more experimental materials as well as a great deal of digital (i.e., not necessarily as practical) mediums than the first book.



3. As a designer I try to stay up on the evolution of products and new and developing products. As quickly as technology is moving and changing this is a huge and massive task. That is why when I came across this book I purchased it...and it did not disappoint! WoW. I like the lay out too, one or two pages per product and description...a couple are obviously not in mass production and widely available but most are. Love this book.



4. Transmaterial II is a great catalog of the new materials and combinations of older ones for quick reference. It is thought provoking with succinct descriptions of products Brownell has come across in his research. Most of these products and materials are cataloged by single manufacturers, which is usually the only manufacturer as these are all innovative designs. Applicable to many industries, the book is laid out in sections: 01 Concrete, 02 Mineral, 03 Metal, 04 Wood, 05 Plastic + Rubber, 06 Glass, 07 Paint + Paper, 08 Fabric, 09 Light, and 10 Digital. One page per product with MasterFormat reference, pictures, synopsis, and an easy-to-follow rundown of product characteristics and contact info. Brownell came to lecture at my school and is quite thought-provoking and long-sighted. Great reference for any design student or professional. Can't wait 'til the next edition.



5. Cannot recommend this book highly enough - it does a great job of finding cool, interesting, ground breaking materials and then providing information on how to source them. A must-have reference for any designer, interior designer or architect who prides themselves on staying abreast of cutting-edge materials. (And since materials are the palette of the designer this book will go a long way to keeping you on the leading edge of design as well.) Not to be missed.