“Beautiful Architecture” by Spinellis
The book by Spinellis and Gousios provides the basic knowledge in the sphere of architecture that is required for any architecture student. In general, the book explains the key aspects of architecture, involving brief digression into the history of architecture. Every aspect of architectural science, associated with the successful architectural project development is provided. Hence, the authors explain every particular step of architectural project software creation. The key steps are as follows: software projecting, selecting materials, structuring and planning the creation, the rules and principles of beauty in architecture, architectural composition and others.
In general, the book is closely associated with the matters of proper software planning of an architectural project. Hence, the authors provide a detailed overview of various architectural CAD systems, their particularities and opportunities. Considering the fact that an objective assessment system exists, the computer aided design systems intended for architectural projects are crates with various aims from the perspective of functionality and usability comfort. Hence, every project creator prefers some particular CAD environment for creating projects. The differences, as well as advantages of any software pack are discussed in the paper.
Another important aspect of the research is the discussion of the virtualization aspects of architectural planning. Considering the fact that some old school architects prefer manual project creation, the advantages of CAD systems seem evident. However, authors emphasize the possible advantages of manual design, as well.
The challenges of developing high-performance and high-reliability construction are generally regarded as the necessary cost for creating something useful and durable. However, most software planners are not able to calculate the durability of the construction, while designers tend to create maximum effectiveness with minimal costs. However, regardless of the actual importance of minimizing the costs, the authors tend to emphasize the key notion that construction principles are unique and require various approaches towards calculation and design of the architectural projects.
Partington, C. F. (2006). The builder’s complete guide: Comprehending the theory and practice of the various branches of architecture, bricklaying, masonry, carpentry, joinery, painting, plumbing, etc. Oxford: Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1825). Web.
The Builder’s complete guide is the creation that involves everything necessary for becoming a successful architecture department student. In fact, the book by Partington offers in depth digression into the history of architecture, and explaining all the related spheres of building, architecture design and decoration works.
The historical part of the book provides the detailed explanation of various architectural styles and principles in different regions of the world. The actual importance of this explanation provides the sufficient basis for creative thinking over the potential architectural projects. The historical lecture on the matters of architectural styles and direction provides the clear understanding of the national tendencies and processes in architecture development. This is generally explained by the fact that architectures who know the history are able to approach the projects creatively. Moreover, the understanding of key rules applied by ancient architects is required for creating innovative principles, as well as assessing the contemporary projects through the prism of ancient knowledge.
Bricklaying and bricklaying chapter of the book provides the detailed explanation on the matters of the materials that are used for erecting buildings. The clear understanding of the materials and their properties may be helpful for adjusting the building for any particular climatic and weather conditions. Further understanding of the building process may be helpful for considering the possible construction faults and mistakes in order to ensure them in a project.
Carpentry, plumbery, painting and other stages of building creation are explained with the only aim – to give the clear representation of the infrastructure importance, as well as the necessity to pay sufficient attention to effective location of infrastructure elements and components. On the one hand, this is the traditional approach associated with architectural planning; on the other hand, the planning of such elements requires extended physics and study of the strength of materials. Hence, the actual importance of proper planning is explained in the historical part of the book (various styles were formed in accordance with the weather conditions and climatic particularities of the location).
Sharp, D. (2002). Twentieth-century architecture: A visual history (3rd ed.). Mulgrave, Victoria: Images Publishing. Web.
The history of the 20th century is regarded as the history of the most progressive and extensively developing period of the humanity. The history of architecture is not an exception, as the development of technologies have provided the extensive boost in the effectiveness and design patterns of the constructions. While bricks and timber were the key elements in the beginning of the XX century, the end is featured with the extensive use of enforced concrete and glass.
The book provides the extensive and detailed explanation of the history of architecture that is featured with the extensive development of architectural principles and traditions. The XX century became the epoch of cultural and traditional interconnection, as tendencies from various cultures became penetrating into the architectural science of the world. The buildings were no longer featured with the national patterns and tendencies, while architects aimed to study at their foreign colleagues.
The importance of this study is explained by the significance of the historical process itself, as there is no longer Greek, Roman, German etc architecture. There are European motives, Asian, American and Middle Eastern. The end of the 20th century erases even these borders, as the architectural principles become differentiated only by the technological development of the region.
The research by Sharp emphasizes the extensive burst in the architectural technologies, and provides the clear explanation of the cultural inheritance of the nations for the global culture. This book may be regarded as the report of the work done in the sphere of architecture that is timed to the beginning of the new century. Moreover, the book emphasizes the importance of the most outstanding buildings and architectural projects that changed the entire considerations of the architecture, and opportunities of the human mind. The list of these buildings is given in the book, and author explains the importance of these constructions for further architectural development from the perspectives of technologies, as well as aesthetic perception of constructions.
Carpenter, J. (2010). Valuing material comprehension. In P. Bernstein, & P. Deamer (Eds.).Building (in) the future: Recasting labor in architecture (pp. 60-66). New York: Princeton Architectural Press. Web.
Considering the importance of historical overviews, it should be emphasized that most authors are too cycled on the history of architecture. In distinction to others, Bernstein and Deamer make on overview into the future of architecture, offering the non-standard assessment of the architectural science, and the development of technologies. It is emphasized that the next several decades will be featured with the rise of technological progress in terms of energy-consumption technologies and other techniques and materials that can prevent excessive pollution of the atmosphere, water, and soil. Thus, the buildings will become more similar to ‘green houses’ designed due to the global warming tendencies. Though people can fail to understand the construction of this type and its usefulness, the buildings will leave a footprint in the history of architecture of the 21st century.
In spite of the possible positive or negative forecast on the matters of architectural science development, it should be stated that the author emphasizes the inevitability of the construction progress, however, the instances of this progress may be associated with either creating energy efficient or ineffective constructions, as everything depends on the realization of the energy consumption principles. The contemporary development of alternative fuel consumption, as well as construction materials emphasizes that the humanity is on the right path.
The research also emphasizes the risks of future architecture, as they are closely associated with the matters of the skill development within architects. Hence, the author slightly emphasizes the risks of automation in projecting the constructions, as architects do not have to create the projects manually, hence, they may miss some construction mistakes, and the world will be uninsured against software mistakes.
Another aspect that is analyzed by authors is the opportunity to create courageous and innovative projects, as the development of the materials and construction principles will soften the construction rules, as some of them will help to overcome the nature laws.