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 modelling. As well as providing a clear grounding in these topics, it will also help students 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 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 accompnied 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 behaviour of buildings. It also uses historical precedents to explain how the success of a technology is directly related to its cultural context.