Author Description

This is the first in a series of books exploring the close relationship between architecture and engineering, and produced in association with Arup, the largest firm of consulting engineers in the world. This title addresses the ways in which architects and engineers collaborate in the design of ever more sophisticated systems of internal environmental control in buildings (lighting, heating, ventilation, acoustics etc), while keeping in mind considerations of energy efficiency, climate and local culture. The historical introduction reviews the environmental strand of architectural theory and practice, establishing the background for 20 critical studies of international contemporary buildings by major architects. Each of these is built in association with Arup and they cover a wide range of different functional types: offices, houses, universities, museums and sports facilities. The growing debate over the vulnerability of the global environment has given a new significance to the complex issues raised in this book.