Structure Systems

Nice book but more for architects than engineers

This is ASTRONOMICALLY THE BEST architectural structures book of all time!! This is the second book for a serious architecture student or architect to buy after Deplazes' foundation book. My structures education was so frustrating because it was not VISUAL. I longed for a book like this 20 years ago!! But better than I could have ever imagined, this book is intensely visual, almost no numbers, instead an encyclopedic catalogue of structural spanning options in a maniacally ordered logic, drawn with a sweet German version of Ching's style. Just skimming this book several times will aquaint you with the logic, the systems, the options, and the breathtaking possibilities this great book throws at your feet. "Take that", it says, "and go do something great!"

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Another reviewer mentioned that this book is the most important structures book for architects. I would agree, but do not necessarily agree that it cannot be read as a standalone book. There is a lot of intuitive insight that can be gained from this book with no prior learning, but the reader must pay close attention and have a very good idea of how to visualize forces and their impact on structures. Readers looking for a technical manual will be sorely disappointed as all the technical details are expected to be provided by the readers themselves.With that said, I was able to read this book without any formal knowledge of structural statics and grasp many of the concepts on the first try. But coupled with hands-on structural learning material such as Form and Forces by Edward Allen and Waclaw Zalewski the information will become instantly powerful and applicable. In fact I would say Form and Forces and Structure Systems are the key pieces of a visual understanding of structures combined with the quantitative methods required to design and interpret structures. Start with Form and Forces, then after completing all the exercises therein, pick this up and read ALL of it. It is not just a guide for daydreaming or slick collection of nice line drawings - it is a user's manual for those bold and imaginative enough to use it as such.Many own it, few have really read it, and fewer still have actually used it. Be one of the latter and you'll blow people away.

A fresh perspective to see categories of structure through the transmission path of force. The book is well organized, diagrams are clear and creative.

Lots of excellent diagrams illustrating structural systems. This book is an encyclopedia of structural diagrams for architects. Structural engineers will find it useful as well. The diagrams are explained quite well. The reader should have a sound understanding of basic structural behavior to fully appreciate this book. It's a picture book and not a book which explains any calculations. Excellent for bedtime reading and fantasizing.

Really like this book for the illustrations. explains different structure systems well and really helps you understand the difference between them. great for students and as a reference for continuing architects or engineers

It is a very simple way to understand how the structures function. Has a lot graphics that explain different structural systems.