"Avian Architecture" - New Library Book

We've just spotted a rare breed of book to add to the architecture lending shelves. Peter Goodfellow's book Avian Architecture describes how birds design, engineer and build their nests, deconstructing every type of nest or avian structure by rendering it in the style of an architectural blueprint and annotating its construction processes and engineering techniques. Through a combination of simple text, illustration and photography, the book reveals the science of the humble nest over 35 case studies, profiling the skills of some key bird species.

We expect our printed copy will find a cosy place to nest in the architecture lending section at 720.108/GOO when it appears later this month.

New E-Book on University Library Design

With a refurbishment of the GSA Main Library planned in the Summer, the new e-book we've just added to the library catalogue couldn't be any more relevant. 'University Libraries and Space in the Digital World' considers the issues impacting on library design, both historically, and in the context of today's libraries with their focus on digital technologies. The book explores the use of space by bringing together international case studies and academic perspectives. There's also a look to the future use of library spaces - something we're on tenterhooks to learn more about as planning for the refurbishment continues.

Search for the book on the library catalogue and follow the link to access the resource online. You'll need your MyGSA log-in details to read.

"City Shock"- the Why Factory's new book reaches the Library

The events in the news this month read like fictitious headlines: a meteor plunging towards Earth injured dozens of people in Russia as it shattered against the atmosphere; an asteroid passed above our heads - a mere 28,000 km away. With all this intergalactic activity dominating the headlines, we were relieved to discover that the only thing that had landed on our desks by Monday morning was the Why Factory's new book "City Shock - Planning the Unexpected".

This outlandish, journo-style publication explores the theme of 'fear' in urban planning decisions in a world where even the most absurd scenarios are plausible.  In "City Shock" the Why Factory take our fear of disaster further by proposing a set of radical 'What if' scenarios and composing a sequence of fantastical newspaper reports -(im)possible headlines included. The book then imagines how each of these scenarios could play out in the Netherlands between 2018 and 2047.

The idea is fantastical but the theory behind the publication is grounded in logic: expose the possible causes and potential consequences of disasters and 'fear' itself can be used as a guide for urban planning.

The book will be appearing in the New Books stand and at 720.103/MAA on the main lending shelves soon. You can read more about The Why Factory's activities at the link below:
http://www.thewhyfactory.com/?page=thewhy

More ebooks in the Library

Here are some further architecture titles that are now available electronically on and off-campus with a MyGSA password:

• Architect's pocket book (Baden-Powell)
• Public places, urban spaces (Carmona)
• Construction technology (Chudley)
• Constructing architecture (Deplazes)
• Whose public space? (Madanipour)

 

 

New e-books in the Library

The following books are now available electronically to GSA all staff and students. They can be read both on- and off-campus using a MyGSA account; details are on the Library's online catalogue:

• The architect's studio companion (Allen)
• 
  Rethinking the meaning of place (Castello)
• Building construction illustrated (Ching)
• Building construction handbook (Chudley)
• Sustainable renovation (Gelfand)
• Sustainable urban neighbourhood (Rudlin)

Two new e-books

We've just added another couple of e-books to our steadily-expanding collection:

• Structural and stress analysis (T H G Megson)
• Sustainability and the design of transport interchanges (Brian Edwards)

Both books can be accessed on- and off-campus via the Library's online catalogue.

New e-book in the Library

Another e-book has been added to our collection, supplementing the hard copy versions which are always in high demand. It's the 3rd edition of Simon Unwin's 'Analysing architecture', an architectural design classic. A link to the book can be found on the GSA Library catalogue.

Access: Free, but MyGSA account required