Integrate Architecture: System Elements of Architecture

Author: (USA) Bachman L.R.
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Practical and instructional, offering an in-depth analysis of architectural system integration.
The book Integrated Architecture: System Elements of Architecture conducts a systematic study of architecture, detailing the process of architectural integration and bridging the gap between design intent and technical requirements of construction. It employs an analytical approach to explain the value, advantages, and applications of system integration, guiding architects in selecting technical systems during various stages of engineering projects, such as planning, design, and refinement. Iconic buildings, such as Eero Saarinen’s John Deere Headquarters, Renzo Piano’s Kansai International Airport, Glenn Murcutt’s Magne House, and Richard Rogers’ Lloyd’s Building in London, are organized into seven categories: laboratories, offices, large venues, green buildings, high-tech architecture, airport terminals, and residential buildings. The book further introduces integration methods, including an overview of integration, the system elements of architecture, and the integration potential of various building systems. The Pacific Flight Museum by Robson Nelson is used as a key case study to demonstrate how to identify the process of integration within a building. With 300 illustrations and photographs, the book serves as a valuable reference for architecture and civil engineering students, as well as architects, engineers, and other professionals in the construction industry.
This book systematically elaborates on architectural design methods. From an architectural technology perspective, the author objectively analyzes the various components of building systems and comprehensively discusses the significance of "integration" in modern architectural design. Part of the book introduces integration methods, divided into four chapters:
- Chapter 1 presents the principles and overview of the integration topic.
- Chapter 2 describes "system thinking" since the Crystal Palace.
- Chapter 3 explores different models of integration activities and reviews the integration potential of building systems.
- Chapter 4 proposes an analytical model and an extended case study to trace the traces of integration in any architectural work.
The second part is a case study, providing numerous recognized and significant architectural works in chronological order by type. These cases illustrate how technical systems and integration concepts coordinate and develop together. The reasoning presented in the book is clear and accessible, supported by extensive evidence, making it both highly practical and scientifically rigorous. This distinguishes the book and provides significant guidance in clarifying design thinking and direction.
The book can serve as a design reference for architects and also as a teaching resource for university and college students.