Design often stands out with a striking concept and imagination but it often falls due to the quality of detailing. Not only students but professional architects also require knowledge of architectural detailing.
Architects from around the world create superior drawings using their specialist construction knowledge and wide design perceptions. A process and a product of exhaustive detailing architecture are what make a design create its style and identity. From macro-level planning of cities to micro construction details of furniture all require a large vocabulary of detailing.
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe‘s famous dictum, “God is in the details” depicts the absolute importance of detailing which requires extreme thinking and analytical application of creative knowledge.
Following is the list of 10 books on Architecture detailing and construction every architect must be aware of who are seeking inspiration and understanding about architectural details…
1. Building construction illustrated by Francis D.K. Ching | Architectural Detailing
One of the most comprehensive and well-composed architecture books authored by Francis D.K. Ching focuses on the technical representation of details and drawings. Visual understanding of technology becomes difficult in most cases but this book offers a wide range of detailing that employs the universal architectural language of illustrations. Designing from basics to correct construction drawing, everything is addressed in this book. It is often seen in every architecture studio as it is a perfect organization of details from building site to walls to the roof of the structure.
2. Architectural Detailing: Function, Constructability, Aesthetics by Edward Allen and Patrick Rand
Apart from the universal detailing handbook just as the previous one, this book targets specific parts of detailing concerning functionality, constructive ability, and aesthetics. A combination package of all three makes it unique detailing by purpose. Controlling heat and moisture, acoustical considerations, and blocking the passage of water are some of the particular sections one can find in this book.
3. Architectural Graphic Standards by the American Institute of Architects and Dennis J. Hall | Detailing Architecture
A massive comprehensive manual is considered as the bible of architects’ and designers’ documents almost every aspect of the design element in building technology. This volume elaborates on the entire structural assembly of a building to load calculations and various technological systems used for the construction of any structure. A thorough but synchronized book that has immense detailing about all components where one may get lost if not familiar with design and construction.
4. Time-Saver Standards for Interior Design and Space Planning byJoseph DE Chiara, Julius Panero and Martin Zelnik | Architectural Detailing
After understanding the basic construction knowledge and detailing, the time saver standards focus on the implication of logical understanding and space planning of interior spaces. It covers the ergonomics of different furniture arrangements, spatial considerations and diagrammatic representation of various components. Being a more subjective book, it covers all the architectural references and anthropometry needed to understand the basic scale and proportion of architectural drawing.
5. The Elements of Style: An Encyclopaedia of Domestic Architectural Detail by Stephen Calloway, Alan Powers and Elizabeth Cromley
With over 4000 images representing different styles and elements of aesthetics arranged in chronological order, this edition of the book brings a complete summary of diverse key style features. Each chapter gives the synopsis of major components specific to that era with a brief introduction. Covering varied aspects of building, some of which are doors, windows, staircases to aesthetical components such as moldings and embellishments are elaborated appropriately. From past to present, this book displays detailed case studies of building styles portrayed in a system of color-coded tabs. Additional information on biographies, restoration and maintenance make it an ideal encyclopedia of every architectural style.
6. The Detail in Contemporary Timber Architecture by Virginia McLeod | Architecture Detail
This book provides aesthetic as well as constructive knowledge about timber architecture. Featuring more towards residential and commercial typology, this book represents more than 50 influencing timber designs with innovative technology and detailing. Different editions of contemporary architecture with detailing among landscape, concrete, glass to even modern kitchen and bathroom design are also available authorized by Virginia Mc Leod.
7. Architecture in detail II by Graham Bizley
A reference handbook of more than 150 color illustrations and 40 case studies detailed in a way to perceive how innovative technologies and ideas can be applied in reality. Organized according to building type, one can go through it with ease. Following the previous edition, this book is a collection of different projects selected due to specific innovations such as on how to reduce construction cost, insights to overcome on-site problems and speed up work which is otherwise hard to achieve in reality.
8. Barry’s Advanced Construction of buildings by Stephen Emmitt and Christopher A. Gorse | Architectural Details
Robin Barry’s handbook is available in 5 volumes first published in 1958. It has gained rapid popularity among students and academicians involved in the construction industry. This book covers a deeper understanding of advanced construction technology and the detailing of large-scale buildings. Emphasized on certain characteristics such as building performance, environmental impact, and building obsolescence and revitalization are dated with the latest regulations and technology.
9. Understanding Architectural Detailing by Emma Walshaw
This manual is an ebook with varied topics on residential, commercial, and basement construction. It is not only a 300-page informative resource book but it also explains details in the following areas like foundations, masonry, functional requirements, etc. There is also a provision of downloading cad and SketchUp details for further understanding. The third edition focuses on principles behind construction detailing to develop knowledge about each area of the building.
10. Introduction to Architecture Technology by William McLean, Peter silver and Dason Whitsett | Architectural Detailing
This book is ideal for architecture students as it provides information related to all aspects of architecture technology such as computer modeling, structural physics, environmental impact, etc. It also explains how technology is directly related to the cultural context. Thus exploring the new sections of detailing and construction phenomena.
