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Structures by Design

Thinking, Making, Breaking
By Rob Whitehead
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Structures by Design: Thinking, Making, Breaking offers a fresh approach to learning structural design, tailored for architects who thrive on hands-on, creative problem-solving. Rather than relying on abstract formulas, the book employs a project-based method to explore efficient and expressive architectural structures. It covers key structural resistance types—Form, Sections, Vectors, Surfaces, and Frames—through design exercises that encourage iterative thinking using a variety of tools from physical models to advanced digital analysis.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$13400
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book is ideal for architecture students and professionals seeking an engaging, practical guide to structural design that integrates creative studio techniques with technical understanding.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Structures by Design: Thinking, Making, Breaking is a new type of structures textbook for architects who prefer to learn using the hands-on, creative problem-solving techniques typically found in a design studio.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Winner of the 2021 TAA Textbook Excellence Award

Honourable Mention of the 2021 BTES Book Award

Structures by Design: Thinking, Making, Breaking is a new type of structures textbook for architects who prefer to learn using the hands-on, creative problem-solving techniques typically found in a design studio. Instead of presenting structures as abstract concepts defined by formulas and diagrams, this book uses a project-based approach to demonstrate how a range of efficient, effective, and expressive architectural solutions can be generated, tested, and revised.

Each section of the book is focused on a particular manner by which structural resistance is provided: Form (Arches and Cables), Sections (Beams, Slabs, and Columns), Vectors (Trusses and Space Frames), Surfaces (Shells and Plates), and Frames (Connections and High-Rises).

The design exercises featured in each chapter use the Think, Make, Break method of reiterative design to develop and evaluate different structural options. A variety of structural design tools will be used, including the human body, physical models, historical precedents, static diagrams, traditional formulae, and advanced digital analysis.

The book can be incorporated into various course curricula and studio exercises because of the flexibility of the format and range of expertise required for these explorations. More than 500 original illustrations and photos provide example solutions and inspiration for further design exploration.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781138224155

Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 21 August 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Routledge

Illustration: 409 Line drawings, color; 220 Halftones, color

Audience: Tertiary education

DIMENSIONS

Width: 219.0mm

Height: 276.0mm

Weight: 1713g

Pages: 472

Collections

Arts & Culture Education & Reference Engineering, Technology & Agriculture Non-Fiction Rob Whitehead

About the Author

Rob Whitehead, AIA, LEED AP is an architect and Associate Professor of Architecture at Iowa State University where he teaches structural design, design-build, and integrated design studios. He was named one of 30 Most Admired Educators by Design Intelligence (2014). He received the Iowa Educator Award (2014) by the Iowa Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), and the Emerging Faculty Award (2011) by the Building Technology Educators’ Society (BTES). His structural design course was awarded the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) Creative Achievement Award. He is the co-author of Design-Tech: Building Technology for Architects (2014) and currently serves as the Wells Concrete Construction Research Fellow.

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