Building Construction Illustrated

by Francis D.K. Ching, Cassandra Adams

Comprehensive and up-to-date-

the classic visual guide to the basics of building construction

For twenty-five years, Building Construction Illustrated has offered an outstanding introduction to the principles of building construction. Now this Third Edition has been expertly revised and updated to address the latest advances in materials, building technology, and code requirements.

Complete with more than 1,000 illustrations, the book moves through each of the key stages of the design process, from site selection to building components, mechanical systems, and finishes. Topics within each chapter are organized according to the CSI MasterFormat(TM), making the book extremely easy to use.

Special features of this edition include integrated coverage of environmentally friendly materials, sustainable building construction strategies, and ADA requirements, as well as the inclusion of both metric and standard U.S. measurements throughout the book.

With its clear presentation of the basic concepts underlying building construction, Building Construction Illustrated, Third Edition equips students and professionals in all areas of architecture and construction with useful guidelines for approaching virtually any new materials or techniques they may encounter in building planning, design, and construction.

Genres: Architecture, Reference, Nonfiction, Design, Interior Design, Construction, Textbooks

464 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

Frank (Francis D. K.) Ching (born 1943) is a widely recognized author of books addressing architectural and design graphics. Ching's books have been widely influential and continue to shape the visual language of all fields of design. He is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Washington.

Reviews

[Karl Gruenewald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ching's books are well-known in the architectural community as a fabulous source of information on a range of topics – ranging from structure, to form, to representation – that are richly illustrated and presented in a clear and comprehensive way intuitive to the visual learners who make up the bulk of the profession. Of these, Building Construction Illustrated is perhaps the most celebrated and time-tested of all, having remained a go-to reference on the shelves of both architecture students and fully licensed Architects since the first edition was published in 1975.

A masterpiece of the genre, this book is the first that comes to mind when I'm asked which books I would recommend to aspiring students or anyone who wants to learn more about architecture and how a building actually goes together. It is also one of the primary reference sources used by Intern Architects in Canada preparing to write their professional exams before becoming fully-licensed professionals. Now in its sixth edition, this book is a mainstay and who is seriously interested in architecture will regret owning it.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book lives on my desk at work. Definitely written for architects (or should I say illustrated there are few words).

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could not have survived the semester without it.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every book by Ching is a book worth owning.

[Baboula · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️

Top notch graphics 👌🏻

[Courtney Albertini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to thank Ching personally for getting me through five years of architecture school.

[Dyonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could you ever get through Architecture School without Ching?

[Philip Bergstresser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Required addition to any serious builder's library

[Jack Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Required reading when I studied architecture and still a valuable resource for anyone with their hands in the design of buildings.

[Alison Melancon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rather easy read as far as textbooks go. Lots of information and graphics packed onto each page. Extremely easy to skip around on topics as you need them.. I read this cover to cover in preparing for the ARE and it covers so much information needed for the tests.

[Zahraa زهراء · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book, like other Ching's books.
Easy, straightforward with high quality illustrations.

Helped me to do this drawing! :)


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[Yulika · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures are nice. Very informative. End of story.

[K.Uma Maheswara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[Neal Stoll · Rating 5 out of 5]

HE DOES NOT MISS, FRANCIS D.K. CHING DOES NOT MISS

[Maggie Gately]

School

[Camerun Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

good enough to have a spot on my desk at work (even if I barely open it)

[LS · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read it from cover to cover. The magic must be in the drawings because the prose is excruciatingly dry. It is missing coverage of those little balconies and tiny patios common in many West coast apartment building high rises, as well as anything on welding symbols. Not a self-contained book if you do not know anything about construction, as I had to make sure I had read ahead in Allen & Iano to fully understand what Ching was saying. The place where this book is indispensable is in the completeness, variety, and perfection of the drawings. The situation is similar to that of studying human anatomy when you have a book with clear, color coded diagrams of all the parts and their systems; then when you see an actual photograph of kidney and its cross section you know what is what. This is because the plans for a building can be incomplete due to omissions, mistakes and artistic license, so it is nice to know what a section of a curtain wall or whatever is supposed to contain. Some of the text seemed almost verbatim from Allen & Iano, however the sections on plumbing and electrical, and HVAC systems were superior to the treatment in Allen & Iano and really summed things up nicely. The suggestions about info to request from vendors is also a handy time saver.

[Hooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is hands down the most practically informative book I've ever read (although it's not really something you read cover to cover!). Very clear illustrations help in visualizing the construction of a building from locating the right site, to installing solar panels and casting your own concrete slabs.

[Du · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good resource to see how building construction is both simple and a very complex process. The illustrations and the text documenting the different phases and the different requirements for safe and secure home building is very telling. This is a reference book, so there is no story or prose to consider, and the collective education the pages offer, is very clear and concise.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is first "go to" book of reference on my shelf. I prefer the second addition - but all are very useful. Lots of clear illustrations. Good construction overview. My copy is full of tabs and very worn. A must have for architects and students of architecture

[Pei · Rating 4 out of 5]

codes....

[Charles Horn]

Excellent refrence, and i find the graphics astounding.

[Cimuchowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is huge and have a ton of info. in it.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I opened this book twice so far. I will let you know if it gets more useful in the future.

[Tom Hilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to build anything. Amazing illustration.

[Eippo1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the bible for any design drafter. Such an amazing and indispensable tool.

[Kast · Rating 5 out of 5]

its my only truth construction bible .

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most useful reference book I have used in my architectural career/ university course so far.

[Andrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful! Still on my shelf at work

[Vinod Suthar · Rating 4 out of 5]

nothing