The Architects’ Handbook

Abstract

The Architects’ Handbook provides visual and technical information for most building types likely to be encountered by architects, designers and building surveyors. For each section, we have tried to ensure a representative sample of recent buildings to reflect the diversity of approach so essential in a well-designed environment. Numerous plans, many sections and elevations, and some three-dimensional views have been included, to give the essential character of a particular building. The distinctive contribution of this book is that it concentrates more on the overall character of buildings, and not on excessive detail or too much technical information. Although we have deliberately avoided comment on the design qualities of buildings, the fact that a building is included indicates. that we consider it makes a positive design contribution. One aspect that became increasingly evident as the book progressed was just how flexible a building designation needs to be: ‘business parks’, for instance, do not want to be included in ‘industrial buildings’; an ‘arts centre’ should be considered with theatres, and certainly not with ‘art galleries’; and is an arts centre really just a superior type of community centre? Many buildings designed to produce physical components, which we used to call ‘industrial buildings’, are now more akin to offices than industry. There are many similarities between an out-of-town hypermarket shed and a warehouse, yet one is commonly called a ‘shop’ and the other an ‘industrial building’. The question of how much reference should be made to technical standards and other legislation is never easy to answer. Wherever possible, therefore, such references have been kept to a minimum, and grouped at the end of the book. It should also be remembered that accessibility facilities have been discussed in several sections, and generally it has been assumed that, for instance, a disabled WC must be provided in every building to which the public has access, and it seemed superfluous to mention this in every instance. The one thing of which we can be certain is that technical requirements will continue to be amended, and no doubt expanded. Architects and other designers have to keep abreast of seemingly constant changes and will appreciate that it is essential to check that all technical information is up to date. One sad but inevitable development is the increasing rarity of drawings of good visual appeal. The growth of computer-aided design is resulting in the near-disappearance of visually satisfying drawings. CAD drawings are often unsuitable for book reproduction - there is little distinction in line thickness, much irrelevant detail is included (grid lines, minor dimensions etc.), while other important information often seems impossible to obtain (for instance, scales and north points). To try to ensure that the art of good draughting is not entirely forgotten, a section on drawing practice has therefore been included - a subject that otherwise might not seem to be particularly appropriate for this book. This work has drawn upon many sources, and considerable efforts have been made to ensure that all copyright material has been properly credited. If by mischance anything has been overlooked, it will be noted in the next edition. Many specialists have been consulted about technical details, and their contributions are gratefully acknowledged; they are listed in the following pages. Inevitably in a work as extensive as this, some errors are bound to occur, and readers’ comments and suggestions (which should be sent to the publishers) will all be noted. I am very grateful to all the architects, other individuals and organisations who have supplied information, many having gone to considerable lengths to provide the correct drawings or technical details. Sincere thanks are due to all the contributors for their hard work, and also to Antonia Powell, who undertook a great deal of research. I would also like to thank my publisher, Julia Burden, who offered constant encouragement and suggestions, and Paul Stringer and Mark Straker, who have managed to turn a mass of text and drawings into an excellent final layout. Thanks also to Geoff Lee for his many first-rate drawings.