Introduction to Architectural Technology

Understanding the relationship between design and technology is critical to the understanding of architecture. Aimed clearly at architectural students, this book provides an accessible introduction to all aspects of architectural technology: structural physics, structural elements and forms, heating, lighting, environmental control, and computer modeling. As well as providing a clear grounding in these topics, it will also help students to integrate their design thinking with appropriatestructural 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 world examples. Photographs 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. Every topic area is accompanied by a set of cross-references for further reading and research.

In addition, this volume explores current computer techniques for assisting students to predict the structural and environmental behavior of buildings. It also uses historical precedents to explain how the success of a technology is directly related to its cultural context. Written by three experienced teachers, this book will be invaluable for those contemplating the study of architecture and for those already embarked on such a course.

Will McLean and Pete Silver both teach at The School of Architecture at The University of Westminster, London. They are also joint authors of Fabrication (2006).

Dason Whitsett lectures at the School of Architecture of the University of Texas at Austin.