Buildings do not exist in isolation. They are conceived to house, support, and inspire a range of human activities in response to sociocultural, economic, and political needs, and are erected in natural and built environments that constrain as well as offer opportunities for development. We should therefore carefully consider the contextual forces that a site […]
Lateral forces caused by winds are a major factor in the design of tall buildings. Even in locations belonging to low-wind zones, tall buildings are designed for the wind effects. The greatest wind effect is caused by hurricanes and tornadoes. Hurricane is the highest wind storm on the earth, and few natural disasters can pose […]
This book is about the materials and methods of building construction. Throughout it, alternative ways of building are described: different structural systems, different methods of building enclosure, and different interior finishes, each with characteristics that distinguish it from the alternatives. Sometimes a choice between alternatives is based on visual characteristics, such as when a particular […]