Ecology of Building Materials [Paperback]

Bjørn Berge (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0750654503 | ISBN-13: 978-0750654500 | Edition: 1st

As both a practising architect and a researcher, Berge introduces us authoritatively to issues such as using raw materials from renewable sources, and the possibilities of designing and manufacturing reusable building materials. The alternatives to modern building materials are outlined and discussed from an ecological perspective.



In a time when environmental labelling is becoming increasingly popular and the producers of building materials are urged to be more environmentally aware, it is obviously important that we are acquainted with these alternatives.

Important issues discussed in this book include:

Can raw materials from non-renewable sources be replaced with raw materials from widely available or non-depletable sources?
Can environmentally friendly chemicals replace environmentally damaging ones?
Can the make-up of building materials be altered so that individual components can be re-used?

A clear interpretation of complicated Life Cycle Analysis issues and vital guidance are given to specifiers confronted with a plethora of manufacturers' environmental claims.

* Gain a comprehensive understanding of ecology in building
* Learn about alternative building materials and how to use them
* Vital technological information allows you to pu the ideas of sustainability into practice

Editorial Reviews

Review

Silver Award Winner at the Chartered Institute of Buildings Literary Awards:
"This book looks in fine detail at the composition and properties of building materials from an ecological perspective. Packed full of fresh information and comprehensive data, it tackles a subject about which very little has been published before. There is a freshness and clarity of treatment that stems from the author's clear passion for the subject. Ignore this book at your - and your grandchildren's - peril."
CIOB Committee

'[The book] is tightly packed with text, tables, references and illustrations; it is thorough...and it is wide-ranging in coverage of materials and techniques, both familiar and less so.'
Adam Voelcker, The Architectural Review

'...an amazingly comprehensive and thorough resource, full of gems of wisdom, and anyone seriously interested in exploring alternatives to mainstream materials will find a great deal of useful material.'
Environmental Building News

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Norwegian --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Architectural Press; 1st edition (October 8, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750654503
• ISBN-13: 978-0750654500
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,703,157 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bjørn Berge is a practicing architect, researcher and lecturer. He has written several books on building ecology for the Scandinavian public and is one of the founders of Gaia Architects who have developed a wide range of pioneering techniques in sustainable building.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Architectural Resource, December 1, 2011

By 

adnarim - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Ecology of Building Materials, Second Edition (Paperback)

I had to buy this book for my Building Construction class. We hardly used this book to read from cover to cover, but it was a good reference book on different materials. The writing is clear and understandable. The most helpful parts of the book are the tables that compare materials - they are easy to read and can be quickly understood.