[.ca] Architectural Detailing: Function, Constructibility, ... (ISBN 0471547921)

Nice but nothing new:
As much as I like the author's "Building Construction", this book is not recommended. It is based on the premise that many construction details share common principles: shed water by using sloping surfaces, for instance. After a few such groupings are described, it turns into a tips and tricks collection, e.g., do rough work before finish work. It's not a comprehensive reference by any means. On the contrary, it's shamefully padded with many nearly blank pages. Enjoyable reading, nice drawings, just not nearly enough material to justify the price.

Concise and to the point!:
This book is the recipe to designing architectural details. The book is divided into many small but concise sections each dealing with different aspects e.g, controlling water leakage, accommodating movements, providing structural support, forgiving details, etc. In each of these sections various solutions and stategies to deal with these aspects are shown with simple easy to understand diagrams accompanied by a brief explanation. A chapter at the end is dedicated to developing and designing the architectural details through choosing and combining solutions disscussed in the sections with illustrated examples. This book is the essence to "designing" or merely to "understanding" architectural details. The structure and simplicity of this book makes it almost like a dictionary of architectural details. This book is suitable for students, practicing architects, and those who are interested in the detailing of architecture. Note: in my opinion this book is of a reference nature and not recommended for leisure reading.

Brilliant and indispensible:
This book is the thinking person's "Graphic Standards" (no slight to that book intended). But in this case, instead of handing you details, it teaches you how to design your own details. It is not only a one-of-a-kind approach but incredibly well-done, well organized, and beautifully illustrated as well. It is a guide to knowing why details should be designed in particular ways. It explains, in depth, what to think about when designing at the level of the detail. And the three case studies in the back of the book are worth their weight in gold. This book truly makes the point that detailing is part of the process of design. Get it, and keep it.