Prefab Prototypes: Site-specific Design for Offsite Construction

Book Description

Prefabricated construction is a hot topic in architecture these days, and for good reason. Prospective homebuilders around the world are gravitating to prefab as an environ-mentally responsible and cost-effective way to achieve that holiest of grails: an affordable, well-designed house. If you're hoping to jump onto this bandwagon or are just interested in what prefab building really entails, Prefab Prototypes is required reading. While other prefab books on the market show what can be done, dangling pretty pictures of affordable homes before your starry eyes, Prefab Prototypes takes you to the next step it shows you how.

Architects Mark Anderson and Peter Anderson have been working with prefab buildings for more than fifteen years. With Prefab Prototypes, they break prefab down into six systems, from most flexible to most complicated panelized wood framing, sandwich paneling, steel framing, timber framing, concrete systems, and modular systems. Each chapter delves into the benefits and drawbacks of its respective method, and features detailed plans, sections, and photographs of projects they've completed that use each of these systems. The resulting book is both a lush depiction of their prefab output as well as an in-depth analysis that will prepare you for taking the plunge into prefab building. If you're familiar with the prefab trend and want to graduate to the next level, Prefab Prototypes is your guide.

Customer Reviews:

Craft and Cordination.......2007-05-07

The craft of this book is as enhancing as many other that have won awards over the past decades. I personally have been trained to view things at the tectonic level and the technical pages coordinate wonderfully with the graphic pages. The Andersons have a very nice way of depicting there key elements within each project.

If you're looking for some precedents of Pre-Fabrication projects that literally are site specific, modular, green and even custom this is a perfect book and you will be very happy with your investment. From the choice of colors to how they label the diagrams makes understanding the project very nice.

Good job and thanks

Beautiful and Clear.......2007-02-16

This book goes above and beyond the typical prefab picture book. The images are not only compelling but are informative in a way that brings clarity to someone who wants to have a better understanding of how prefabrication actually works. The Andreson's passion for design, experimentation, and progress is truly inspiring. As a young professional it is good to see a smaller firm doing interesting work. The book is very detailed, and provides clear diagrams of connections and materials. You can see very easily how it all comes together. The one thing I would have liked to know more about is (on a project by project basis) how exactly the prefabrication process takes place. It is not clear how the architect and prefabricators interact as far as collaborating on a set of documents that gets the building or project built. Perhaps that is thier proprietary secret, or perhaps it is too boring for a handsome architecture book. You can only put so much information in one book, and this one is filled to the brim.

Drawings good enough to eat........2007-01-25

This book is gorgeous. Excellently written with amazing axonometric drawings of provocative projects. In a word, the drawings are luscious. It's no wonder these guys are winning competitions left and right.

Wood-Frame House Construction: Complete "How-To" Information on Constructing Wood-Frame Houses

Average customer rating:

A little weak on illustrations
Great Illustrations
Lots of material, but a little old

Wood-Frame House Construction: Complete "How-To" Information on Constructing Wood-Frame Houses
Leroy Oscar Anderson , and William Oberschulte
Manufacturer: Craftsman Book Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0934041741

Book Description

This book presents sound principles for wood-frame house construction and suggestions for selecting suitable materials that will greatly assist in the construction of a good house. It is also meant as a guide and handbook for those without this type of construction experience.

Many wood houses are in existence today that were built more than 200 years ago when early settlers arrived. The modern conventional wood-frame house, with wood or wood product covering materials, is economical, long lasting, and can be constructed in any location. The United States is well supplied with timber and has a diversified industry that manufactures lumber and other wood products used in the house. Few, if any, materials can compete with wood-framing in the construction of houses. However, to provide this efficient wood house, good construction details are important as well as the selection of materials for each specific use.

While designing and planning are beyond the scope of this publication, the information on materials and building practices is intended to guide builders and prospective homeowners in erecting a good house with a minimum of maintenance. This handbook can also be used as a training aid for apprentices or as a standard by which to judge the quality of house construction.

It sets forth what are considered to be acceptable practices in assembling and arranging the parts of a well-designed wood-frame house. While details of construction may vary in different localities, the fundamental principles are the same. This handbook deals essentially with established methods of construction, and does not attempt to show new ones that are used in various parts of the country.

Construction details for houses are given in a series of drawings with accompanying text, which show the methods used in assembling the various parts.

In general, the order of presentation confomrs to the normal sequence of constructing the building - from foundation to finish work. The final chapters add information on painting, protecting wood from decay and fire, and maintenance. A glossary of housing terms is also included at the back of the handbook to aid with unfamiliar or specific word usage.

Customer Reviews:

A little weak on illustrations.......2007-03-17

This book has some useful and informative discussion of the construction methods but if you intend to purchase only one book on the subject, then you are better off with GRAPHIC GUIDE TO FRAME CONSTRUCTION by Thallon.

Great Illustrations.......2007-01-11

This book has great illustration for wood framing. Recommend it: however, it would be nice to have a CD on all the drawings illustrated in the book.

Lots of material, but a little old.......2003-05-11

This book has many things to recommend it. It includes a wealth of material on wood frame house construction, from laying out a hole in the ground for foundations, to framing, to "paint and paper". And it's clear and generally easy to read. It was designed for people in apprenticeship programs and trade schools, so it's oriented toward practical details, not engineering theory, which will make it a good match for most do-it-yourselfers, too.

On the other hand, it clearly is an older book. Attempts have been made to keep it up to date with newer techniques, but a lot of obsolete material remains, and it's not always easy to tell which methods are new and which old. The obsolete material could be a plus, in some cases -- if you're renovating an old house, for example. But I wouldn't place absolute trust in this book as a bible of new house construction.

Book Description

Brothers Mark and Peter Anderson have been building things together since their boyhood days in Tacoma, Washington. Their work as architects, carpenters, builders, and general contractors encompasses the design and construction of residential, commercial, and public art projects. Anderson Anderson is noted for its highly customized work and its prefabricated systems for large-scale production. Informed by their experiences as carpenters and influenced by place and landscape—mud, clouds, and rain, in the case of the Pacific Northwest—the work of Mark and Peter Anderson highlights experimentation and adventure. Anderson Anderson: Architecture and Construction delves into the process of construction as a source of creative imagination and discovery—from the hands-on material process of making things, to the lessons learned from large-scale projects, to the development of new construction technologies. This book explores the simple beauty of their finished products as much as the process of getting there—the unglossed stories of young architects working, learning, traveling, and having fun. The book features over 25 projects in the Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Texas, and Japan.

Customer Reviews:

Evolution of the Architect.......2001-03-27

The work of the Andersons is truly inspiring. The idea of a great designer being also a great craftsman seems, lately, to be an extinct , if not rare occurance in architecture, and relegated to "artists". The Andersons demonstrate that Design-Build, when done right, is exciting and innovative. They take such seemingly mundane issues as pre-fabricated homes, construction specifications and documents and introduce the idea that anything can be re-thought to be stimulating.

Average customer rating:

Perfect for any library strong in 'do it yourself' or home reconstruction or construction projects.
Rubbish.

Diary of an Eco-builder
Will Anderson
Manufacturer: Green Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Design & Construction | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Will Anderson's monthly features in The Independent have an enthusiastic following; readers are following his progress from finding a plot, getting planning permission and building himself a stunning contemporary eco home, which mirrors the fine-tuned ecology of a tree. Drawing on his columns in The Independent, Will has created a diary that will be invaluable to anyone contemplating building their own eco house.
The Diary of an Eco Builder focuses specifically on environmental issues through the story of his attempt to realize an inspiring and challenging vision. Honest, amusing and unexpected, it highlights all the key issues which arise when you build an eco house, records the process of the nitty gritty of self build, and provides contacts and references for more information.
The Energy Saving Trust is using Will's house as a case study and will monitor and evaluate the house to learn from the way it performs.

Customer Reviews:

Perfect for any library strong in 'do it yourself' or home reconstruction or construction projects........2007-06-17

Will Anderson's articles in The Independent about his experiences building an 'eco-house' had a great following, and Diary of an Eco-Builder shares his ideas and experiences, from foundation to finished home. In providing a diary format to chart the daily challenges of such a venture, DIARY OF AN ECO-BUILDER covers all the major challenges of the process and will provide homeowners and would-be builders with both inspiration and insight. Perfect for any library strong in 'do it yourself' or home reconstruction or construction projects.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Rubbish........2007-05-26

I bought this book expecting to get a few tips and ideas for building an eco-friendly house. Yes, the ultimate product is a 'green' building, but it turns out the author spent almost half a million pounds building this massive, wasteful house in the centre of London. Throughout the book he cuts corners and is constantly apologising for using not-so-green methods, for example a massive concrete foundation.
Buy this if you have a lot of money to waste and you don't care how much you damage the environment during the building process.
Don't buy it if you wish to learn about eco-building.

Build Your Own Low-Cost Home: Complete Working Drawings and Specifications for Eleven Homes Suitable for Year-Round and Vacation Use, With Step-By-S

Average customer rating:

Build Your Own Low-Cost Home: Complete Working Drawings and Specifications for Eleven Homes Suitable for Year-Round and Vacation Use, With Step-By-S
Leroy Oscar Anderson
Manufacturer: Dover Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0486215253

Average customer rating:

On Streets

Manufacturer: The MIT Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

Urban & Land Use Planning | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books

General | Urban Planning & Development | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0262510391

Book Description

On Streets offers a superbly illustrated study of the history and sociology of streets, their role in urban life, their design and structure, as well as an actual demonstration project.

Following an introduction on the urban ecology of streets by the editor, Joseph Rykwert and Anthony Vidler discuss streets in the past. They are followed by three essays on the structure of streets by William C. Ellis, Thomas Schumacher, and Victor Caliandro. Peter Wolf writes about the impact of different transportation types on street use. The semiology of the street is taken up by Thomas V. Czarnowski and Diana Agrest who focus on the street as the locus of communication and signification in the community.

Social scientists Gloria Levitas, Gary H. Winkel, and Robert Gutman's contributions are especially intriguing investigations of the anthropology and sociology of streets, man/environment research, and the architectural profession's nostalgia for street life. Stanford Anderson's own study of neighborhoods in Paris and Cambridge forms the basis for a system of classification for public/private space, while Kenneth Frampton writes about architectural efforts to build alongside streets or to create megastructures with streets inside them. The book concludes with a demonstration project by the Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies for Binghamton, New York.

Stanford Anderson is Professor of Architecture at MIT.

Average customer rating:

Build your own low-cost house
L. O Anderson
Manufacturer: Coles Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006XICA6

Construction guides for exposed wood decks (Agriculture handbook / United States Department of Agriculture)

Average customer rating:

Construction guides for exposed wood decks (Agriculture handbook / United States Department of Agriculture)
L. O Anderson
Manufacturer: Forest Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Decks & Patios | How-to & Home Improvements | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006VZVPM

Book Description

This book offers guides to the design, finishing, and treatment of outdoor wood decks to insure user satisfaction. Both good and poor construction details are amply illustrated for the benefit of architects, builders, and homeowners.

The Fuel Savers: A Kit of Solar Ideas for Your Home, Apartment, or Business

Average customer rating:

of very marginal use
A GREAT START TO FIND OUT ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY

The Fuel Savers: A Kit of Solar Ideas for Your Home, Apartment, or Business

Manufacturer: Zeri
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Energy Efficient Design | Home Design | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

General | Conservation | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0962906905

Book Description

The Fuel Savers contains a wealth of ideas that can be easily adapted to almost any building. From insulating curtains to solar hot water heaters, each idea is examined for materials costs, fuel reduction, advantages and disadvantages, and cost-effectiveness.

Customer Reviews:

of very marginal use.......2005-02-23

This should be a .pdf that you can download for free. Don't waste your money, just look at the internet.

A GREAT START TO FIND OUT ABOUT SOLAR ENERGY.......1999-08-20

WHEN, I FIRST GOT "THE FUEL SAVER" IN THE MAIL I WAS A LITTLE BIT UPSET ABOUT THE SIZE. BUT, AFTER READING THE BOOK I FOUND THAT IT HELPED ME A LOT, WITH JUST 81 PAGES THAT HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION THAT I NEEDED TO GET STARTED ON MY OWN SOLAR SYSTEM. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BOOK ABOUT PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU. BUT IF YOU WANT TO REDUCE YOUR ELECTRIC BUILD BY USING SIMPLE METHODS, THIS IS THE BOOK. IT'S EASY TO READ AND UNDERSTAND. THE APPENDIX IS OUTSTANDING FOR FUTURE REFERENCES.

Low-cost wood homes for rural America: Construction manual (Agriculture handbook)

Average customer rating:

Low-cost wood homes for rural America: Construction manual (Agriculture handbook)
L. O Anderson
Manufacturer: For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Architecture | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006XA7WM

Customer Reviews:

A savior to any research paper one could do on Bill Viola.......2000-11-02

If you are looking for any information on Bill Viola, you know it is hard work. I have spent weeks working on a research paper about his "The Stopping Mind" piece. It was very frustrating not to find any decent descriptions about it. Then this book showed up in my search. This book is incredible. The descriptions in this book are phenomenal. In several pieces, including the one I am studying, the words that can be heard in the piece are written in this book. This aspect in itself is incredibly helpful for any formal analysis, questions or concerns that you may have within any of these pieces. The description also includes Bill Viola's inspiration as well as mental work and meanings behind his art. The title does look overwhelming, being partly in a foreign language, but it is very nicely laid out, English in the right column on every page of the book which makes it easy to follow.

Customer Reviews:

One of the greatest Batman stories of all........1999-06-03

Birth of the Demon is possibly the greatest Ra's Al Ghul story of all time, and certainly the best post-crisis tale featuring him. Batman has discovered a way to use Ley lines to find out where Ra's will have to dig his Lazarus Pits, which are responsible for his prolonged life. This leads to an account of Al Ghul's history, his discovery of the Lazarus Pits, and how he became the man he is today. The inevitable confrontation between Ra's and Batman is spectacular. Denny O'Neil, one of our finest writers, agains demonstrates his complete mastery of the written word, and artist extraordinaire Norm Breyfogle provides the breathtaking painted art. This is a magnificent tale; if you're a Batman fan, it's required reading.

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