The Architectural Detail

by Edward R. Ford

The Architectural Detail is author Edward R. Ford's life's work, and this may be his most important book to date. Ford walks the reader through five widely accepted (and wildly different) definitions of detail, in an attemptto find, once and for all, the quintessential definition of detail in architecture.

Genres: Architecture, Theory

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 19, 2011

Reviews

[Pablo Lopes]

"Some can reconstruct the laws of the universe
from just knowing a blade of grass."
Luis Kahn

That's how I feel about this book. The author takes the activity of detailing and from it explores the universe of architectural design, from the Parthenon to the works of UN Studio. This activity which sometimes is considered an afterthought becomes the center of a practice based on the most fundamental meanings conveyed by architecture, which are derived from construction, structure and program.

[John Kaye]

I started this book with enthusiam for the subject matter, but after about 100 pages I was flagging, and the intricacies of joints as detailing and the poor illustrations and their linkages rather lost me. I recovered a bit towards the end, but overall it was a struggle, and I am disappointed.

[Sophie G]

didn't read all., but the first four chapter is enough for me to build my own understanding of details and what is details.

[ej]

amazing structure