How Buildings Work: The Natural Order of Architecture @ richardeward.com

How Buildings Work: The Natural Order of Architecture
from Oxford University Press, USA

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

• Jack of all and master of none
  I bought this book in the hope that it will be talking about Heating/Cooling, Lighting/Acoustics in some detail and touch upon other topics as well. The book however was disappointing because it covered too many topics without getting into significant depth for any of them. After reading the book, one can only be satisfied enough as after reading a magazine or sketchbook on the mechanics of architecture.
  Another point of contention is that the material presented is rather dated and the contemporary... more info

• Excellent introduction to architecture
  The underlying premise of this book is that architecture is an imitation and application of the principles of nature. To build is not merely to impose our will on nature. It is to cooperate with nature.
  Shelter is a natural human need. Building is the art of meeting that need. It does so, according to Allen, by following the example of nature herself and applying her principles. An organic analogy runs through the book. Buildings live and breathe. A building, like a human body, is matter so arranged... more info

• Mandatory Reading If You're Thinking of a New House
  This is a book on how buildings are designed. It's not a book on how to design a building, that's the architect's job. It's a book on what the architect is going to do to design the building you want.
  The book contains hundreds of line drawings on the components of a building. This is how a wall is built, this is how heat circles around a room, this is how a truss structure holds up the roof, this is how electric power is brought into the house and distributed.
  This is not a book on how to design... more info

• Great Introduction for the Novice
  I approach this book as someone who likes to walk around old neighborhoods and look at houses. I have collected architectural field guides for years and I can identify most building styles. However, I had little idea how buildings worked.
  This book was enjoyable because the writing style was simple and straight to the point. One does not need a technical background to get a lot out of the book. Edward Allen's skillful line illustrations also add a great deal. If I could not understand the technical... more info

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