The Architecture Concept Book: An Inspirational Guide to Creative Ideas, Strategies and Practices

An inspirational and insightful resource for architecture students, offering a fresh perspective and new approaches to the challenges of the 21st century

Architecture is a discipline that requires constant collaboration with the wider world, but too often architectural teaching and indeed building designs don't reflect this important fact. The Architecture Concept Book encourages the reader to look and think again, to draw inspiration widely and to consider the context in which the building will sit before putting pen to paper, or cursor to screen.

Building on the success of the first edition, James Tait has updated his original text with introductions to each section that inspire further creative thinking and understanding. With 18 new pages and 5,000 extra words of text, this revised edition is the perfect way in to the ideas and fundamentals that govern an often impenetrable industry for anyone interested in our built environment.

• Equips young architects with the essential tools for developing creative and original concepts.
• Presents thirty-two topics across the four steps of the design process.
• Covers the entire range of design stages, from assessing the site, addressing the social, environmental and political contexts of the building, understanding the programme inside out, assembling building components and creative approaches to economizing, reuse and craftsmanship.
• Features more than 200 sketches, plans and illustrations specially produced by the author, along with photographic references and an inspirational guide to further reading.

Contents List:

ASSESS: Wonder • Environment • Disorder • Memory • Function • Form • Irony • Politics ANALYSE: Walk • Influence • Reclaim • Respect • Obscure • Heroize • Improve • Improvise ASSEMBLE: Floor • Wall • Structure • Roof • Door • Façade • Stair • Services AUGMENT: Review • Diagram • Optimize • Economize • Colour • Contrast • Scale • Craft

About the Author:

James Tait is an architect, author and educator. Winner of the internationally renowned RIBA and RIAS Silver Medals in 2008, he has since gained considerable experience as an architect, leading a broad spectrum of high-profile projects at some of the best architectural practices in the UK. James is also a contributing writer to the Architects’ Journal.