Product Description

'Structure and Architecture' is an essential textbook for students and practitioners of architecture and structural engineering. MacDonald explains the basic principles of structure and describes the ranges of structure types in current use. Furthermore, the book links these topics directly with the activity of architectural design and criticism. An update of the first edition, 'Structure and Architecture 2ed' includes a revised opening chapter, and a new section that discusses prominent buildings constructed since the last edition was published in 1994.


Angus MacDonald deals with structures holistically, relating detailed topics back to the whole structure and building. He aims to answer the questions: What are architectural structures? How does one define the difference between the structure of a building and all of the other components and elements of which it consists? What are the requirements of structures? What is involved in their design? An understanding of the concepts involved in answering these questions and an appreciation of how the structure of a building functions enhances the ability of an individual to appreciate its architectural quality. This book is unique in that it discusses the structural component of architectural design in the context of visual and stylistic issues.


Enables the reader to develop an understanding of how architectural structures function
Allows students to acquire a vocabulary covering the entire range of structure types and their appropriate use
Generously illustrated with many examples taken from contemporary buildings giving tips on how to evaluate architectural structures

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #330617 in Books
• Published on: 2001-03-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 164 pages

Review
'This book sets out the basics of structures very clearly and helps you to understand the complex world of structures. I recommend it to students studying architecture as well as engineering as it helps explain everything you need to know to design thoughtfully.'
5 star Amazon customer review

'The author's analysis of high-tech is particularly shrewd.'
Glass Age Magazine

' An extremely readable book, far removed from the rather stodgy textbooks familiar to engineers, and made the more pleasing by the effects of the
publisher in achieving a consistent and stylish appearance and attractive typeface, good line drawings, and well reproduced photographs.'
The Structural Engineer

'...an invaluable and highly recommended addition to any personal, professional, or academic architectural studies collection.'
The Bookwatch

Reviews for the first edition:
'People ought to know more about engineering...and Angus J Macdonald's Structure and Architecture is a good place to start. It is a solid introduction to the materials and methods that underpin architecture'
The Washington Times

'Angus Macdonald is particularly good at making the conceptual link between buildings in the real world and the mathematical models of the loads, materials and the structure which engineers work with.'
The Architect's Journal

From the Publisher
Angus MacDonald deals with structures holistically, relating detailed topics back to the whole structure and building. He aims to answer the questions: What are architectural structures? How does one define the difference between the structure of a building and all of the other components and elements of which it consists? What are the requirements of structures? What is involved in their design? An understanding of the concepts involved in answering these questions and an appreciation of how the structure of a building functions enhances the ability of an individual to appreciate its architectural quality. This book is unique in that it discusses the structural component of architectural design in the context of visual and stylistic issues.

About the Author
By ANGUS J MACDONALD

Customer Reviews

Extremely useful book, especially for students
This book sets out the basics of structures very clearly and helps you to understand the complex world of structures. I recommend it to students studying architecture aswell as engineering as it helps explain everything you need to know to design thoughtfully.

Mixed opinions
This is a good book that is very useful to students studying architecture who are in their first year. It book has a gradual learning curve as it starts off with simple analysis of structure within architecture and deleves deeper into complex engineering methods and theories. The problem with the book is that it is probably not worth the price, seeing that the book only contains just over 100 pages. Also, some of the pages started falling out within the first week of me reading it.