Materials, Form, and Architecture by Richard Weston

Materials, Form, and Architecture by Richard Weston

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press; Copyright 2003 edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0300095791
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 9780300095791
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.68 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.25 x 1.25 x 10.25 inches

Noted architecture expert Richard Weston begins with a brief cultural history of major building materials-such as timber, earth, stone, steel, and glass-exploring how they have been produced, considered, worked, and used in a variety of buildings and cultures. He then explores the ways that architects, theorists, and critics have articulated the relationship between materials and architectural forms and spaces throughout modern history. Other featured topics include the importance of place, time, junctions, finish, and meaning; the proposition that in an increasingly global and virtual world, many architects emphasize the material qualities of buildings to ensure a heightened sense of reality; and a comprehensive survey of current and prospective developments in materials, from refinements of such familiar materials as fiber-reinforced concrete and "intelligent" glass to new synthetic compounds and working methods. 

Together, these varied perspectives on the material art of building offer fascinating insights into the impact that the type and treatment of materials has on how buildings can be constructed and designed, how they function, and how they fare over time.