Structure as Architecture: A Source Book for Architects and Structural Engineers [Paperback]

Andrew Charleson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 11, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0750665270 | ISBN-13: 978-0750665278

Structure As Architecture provides readers with an accessible insight into the relationship between structure and architecture, focusing on the design principles that relate to both fields. Over one hundred case studies of contemporary buildings from countries across the globe including the UK, the US, France, Germany, Spain, Hong Kong and Australia are interspersed throughout the book. The author has visited and photographed each of these examples and analyzed them to show how structure plays a significant architectural role, as well as bearing loads. This is a highly illustrated sourcebook, providing a new insight into the role of structure, and discussing the point where the technical and the aesthetic meet to create the discipline of 'architecture'.

* Presents a comprehensive analysis of how building structure contributes to architecture
* Connects architectural design ideas and structure in the context of contemporary architecture, materials and structure
* Highly illustrated, providing a sourcebook of architectural and engineering design ideas

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

A beautifully illustrated guide to integrating functional structures as a design feature in buildings

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Architectural Press (August 11, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750665270
• ISBN-13: 978-0750665278
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,047,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A student's opinion, October 4, 2005

By 

"Archie" (Wellington, New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Structure as Architecture: A Source Book for Architects and Structural Engineers (Paperback)

I am a student studying architecture, and have found this book to be a very useful reference.

The first time I used it, I was looking for specific examples of "expressive" architecture. In the index, I found a long list of qualities such as "grounded", "light", "dynamic" etc. with references to pages illustrating specific projects whose structure has those qualities. The clear, full colour photos really help you get the feel of the buildings.

I don't know of any other book that I could have looked to for that purpose. Of course, the content is useful for numerous other reasons as well.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Compulsory purchase for Architects and Engineers alike, December 10, 2005

By 

G. L. Marriage "guido_el_mariachi" (Middle Earth, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Structure as Architecture: A Source Book for Architects and Structural Engineers (Paperback)

Although Architecture and Engineering are really only different sides of the same coin, they are often treated in completely different ways. Certainly they are normally approached from different directions. Charleson's book addresses this lack of continuity, and reduces structural diagrams down to a simple level (good for architecture students) as well as opening up the ideas of light and air and structure to thoseof a more engineering bent... And from all accounts he's a pretty inspirational lecturer as well, with the students fizzing away with excitement.

End result: if you are a student of Architecture or Engineering, then rush out and buy this book. Invaluable source of knowledge - guaranteed to help you through those exams...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Please read, June 18, 2006

By 

Xu Yi Jing "Yijing" (Wellington) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Structure as Architecture: A Source Book for Architects and Structural Engineers (Paperback)

If architecture is viewed as ideas of establishing different relationships between people and space, then structure is the first step to achieve these relationship in reality. How do we appropriately use different structure elements in reality, what kind of architectural effects will them create? These questions are answered in Andrew W.Charleson's book 'Structure as architecture'. The book is divided into chapters such as function/exterior/interior of buildings,structural detailing, light and structures and so on, which are discussed from both theoretical and practical approach. With enormous amount of first hand photo illustrations, the book also gives a comprehensive visual case studies to the reader. It is enjoyable to read and I recommend this stunning book to all architectural, building science students as well as architects and engineers in practice.