Technics and Architecture: The Development of Materials and Systems for Buildings

"This is a book that conveys a tremendous amount of valuable information in an easily readable, engaging way. I recommend it to the specialist or non-specialist who has interest in buildings, their materials, and their history." -- Bisulay Utku, American Scientist "An aesthetic treat." -- Jane Brown Gillette, Historic Preservation

In this richly illustrated history, Cecil Elliott focuses on a neglected aspect of architecture, the technics of building form. Concentrating on developments in Europe and North America from the Industrial Revolution to the present, he surveys the ways in which new materials, methods, and systems were discovered and tested, and the ways in which they succeeded or failed. Elliott tells the story in two parts, first covering materials - such as wood, masonry, terracotta, iron and steel, glass, cement, and reinforced concrete - and then systems - including lightning protection, sanitation, lighting, heating, air conditioning, elevators and escalators, fire protection, structural engineering, and acoustics.