Problem Seeking: An Architectural Programming Primer (Paperback)

~ William M. Peña (Author), Steven A. Parshall (Author) "Good buildings don't just happen..." (more)
Key Phrases: programming squatters, analysis cards, brown sheets, Information Index, Convention Center, Determine Needs (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The first task for any architect is determining the requirements of a proposed building or site--a process referred to as programming. This systematic process includes gathering and analyzing information about a building or other setting, and using that information to create guidelines for the performance of that setting. Problem Seeking: An Architectural Programming Primer instantly recognizable, classic book on programming by one of the world's premier architectural firms--HOK. In this new edition, the authors have extensively revised and updated content to reinforce the programming method that they have refined through 50 years of practice.

From the Back Cover

The classic programming guide for architects and clients–fully updated and revised

Architectural programming is a team effort that requires close cooperation between architects and their clients. Problem Seeking, Fourth Edition lays out a five-step procedure that teams can follow when programming any building or series of buildings, from a small house to a hospital complex. This simple yet comprehensive process encompasses the entire range of factors that influence the design of buildings.

This new edition of the only programming guide appropriate for both architect and client features new ways of thinking about programming, new strategies for effective group action, and new settings in which to explore programming concepts. Supplemented with more than 120 helpful illustrations and diagrams, this indispensable resource provides updated technical information and faster, easier access to explanations, examples, and tools, including:

• Updated building costs and their relationship to interior fit-up costs
• A primer on discounted cash flow analysis and net present value analysis
• Project statement examples organized by project phase and building type
• Useful techniques for data management, functional relationship analysis, and more

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 4th edition (July 26, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471126209
• ISBN-13: 978-0471126201
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #289,105 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Bible" of Architectural Programming, April 29, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Problem Seeking: An Architectural Programming Primer (Paperback)

If you're interested in architectural programming--defining a project's requirements prior to designing--then this book is a "must read." Why "Problem Seeking?" Pena explains that since design is problem solving, programming is, "the search for sufficient information to clarify, to understand, to state the problem."
Part One of the book is a primer, focusing on theory and principles. Part Two is the "how to do it" section, providing details and examples. The book is based on decades of real-life project examples from one of the most experienced architectural programming teams in the nation.


The core idea is profound: Separating programming (analysis) from design (synthesis), brings tremendous clarity to the design problem. Focusing first on the goals, facts and concepts, then translating those into quantifiable needs (independent of the solution!) facilitates decision-making and encourages innovation.


Reading this book won't make you an architectural programmer, but it provides an essential foundation for anyone involved in a building project--architects and owners alike. The book is used as a text book in architecture schools across the country, and is required reading before taking the Architectural Registration Exam. A 9 out of 10 only because it will leave you yearning for more.