“Aerodynamics is for people who can’t design engines.” Enzo Ferrari
Both structurally and environmentally, the architect designs the way in which buildings are organized. Along with the art – the social, cultural, philosophical, and political factors that influence design – it is the tools and techniques of the engineer – technology – that gives form and performance to the built environment.
Critical to an understanding of architecture is the relationship between design and technology. The aim of this textbook is to introduce the scope of that relationship to those who may be considering a career in architecture, as well as to enable students of architecture to integrate their design thinking with appropriate structural and environmental solutions.
The book sets out to explain the relationships between physical phenomena, materials, building elements, and structural types, using simple classification systems and real examples. Photographic images are used to familiarize the user with common construction technology, while historical examples are employed to chart significant moments in the history of architectural engineering.
The book introduces structural and environmental engineering to architects and, while it does not include mathematical calculation, it does make reference to current computer techniques that assist designers in predicting the structural and environmental behavior of buildings. At the same time, it makes liberal reference to historical precedents since it is important for the user to understand that the way in which the success of technology is measured is directly related to its cultural context. Some would say that the Gothic cathedral is the pinnacle of architectural engineering given the tools, materials, and techniques of the day. Currently, the world is far more conscious of the clean and efficient use of the planet’s resources, and the success of technology is measured thus.
Technology by nature is concerned with invention, and it is only ever possible to take a “snapshot” of technological achievements at any one moment in time. From materials science through to construction site procedures, invention, and progress in architectural technology occur constantly; it is hoped that a compendium of technology such as this book will not only aid students to understand its scope and historical context, but will also inspire them to invent new solutions for the future.
Second Edition
This second edition includes new information on the fast growing field of Building Information Modeling (BIM), as well as a section on the ways in which computer control may be used to enable buildings to adapt and respond to environmental changes. New diagrams have also been added to many of the case studies, and typical details have been included in the section on weathering. Under Building Services, there are new sections on integrating active and passive systems and on sanitation.
Architectural technologies are classified under two major headings: Structure and Form, and Climate and Shelter. While the very first primitive shelters, such as mud huts and igloos, employed the same materials and building components to both create structural form and withstand the elements, even a simple tent such as the North American tepee employed one type of material and component (timber posts) to generate the form and another (animal skins) to maintain its internal climate.
Structure and Form
This section is subdivided into three main topics: Structural Physics, Structural Elements, and Structural Logic. This is a linear progression from the fundamental principles of structural form – materials science, materials technology, and structural integrity – through descriptions of the common elements used in the construction of buildings, such as walls, columns, floors, and roofs, to how these elements are combined to form different building types, from simple “post and beam” structures through Gothic vaults to aluminum monocoque shells and tensile nets.
Climate and Shelter
The subdivisions in this section deal with two main topics: Human Comfort and Building Performance. Before examining how buildings are constructed in relation to their local environment, it is important to establish the thresholds within which the human body is able to sustain life. The first part of the section looks at the principles of thermal comfort and its provider, the sun.
The second part considers ways in which the built environment can be designed to maintain human comfort. As well as exploring how the design and fabric of a building – the climatic envelope – can both control and interact with its environment, passively and actively, it considers human comfort in the context of sound and light.
The book includes three additional sections:
Computational Tools and Techniques
The ways in which architects design are now much influenced by computers. Quite apart from their use in drafting and illustrating, they may assist designers to predict both the structural and environmental behavior of their buildings – through modeling and analysis – as well as supplying databases for materials, components and systems; indeed they can store, and create a virtual model of, all of the information needed for a construction project. This section explores the use of computers as analytical and organizational tools.
Case Studies
A range of case studies is used to explore the origins of construction types and illustrates the historic relationship between design and technology in architecture and civil engineering. The examples are listed chronologically and are described in relation to the structural and environmental taxonomies described in the first two sections.
Building Codes
Throughout the world, the construction industry is controlled by rules and regulations that are there to ensure the health and safety of both construction industry operatives and end-users. Building codes cover all aspects of construction and, increasingly, are concerned with regulating towards low-energy, sustainable solutions.
Contents Page
This is designed as a branching system so the user can contextualize any topic within the book. Every spread has a topic heading that can be cross-referenced with the contents tree.
Captions
The main body of the text is supplemented by illustrations, both diagrammatic and photographic. Captions are used to supply additional information and should be read as a continuation of the main text.
Taxonomy Charts and Icons
There are two major taxonomy charts used in Structure and Form, one for Structural Elements and one for Structural Logic. The organization of the charts is directly related to the page spreads that follow, and the individual diagrams are then employed as iconic references. These icons are also employed to cross-reference case studies with the main body of the text.
Further Reading
Related publications are listed under each of the major headings. It is also recommended that users reference the source information, both publications and web sites.