SWISS WATCHED.DEVELOPMENTS IN TIMBER ENGINEERING: THE SWISS CONTRIBUTION By Anton Steurer. Basel: Birkhauser. 2006. [euro]49.90 Wood is again an important building material, and no longer just for joinery joinery, craft of assembling exposed woodwork in the interiors of buildings. Where carpentry refers to the rougher, simpler, and primarily structural elements of wood assembling, joinery has to do with difficult surfaces and curvatures, such as those of spiral or finishes. The diminution of wood began with industrialisation Noun 1. industrialisation - the development of industry on an extensive scale industrial enterprise, industrialization manufacture, industry - the organized action of making of goods and services for sale; "American industry is making increased use of and accelerated with the advent of reinforced concrete reinforced concrete Concrete in which steel is embedded in such a manner that the two materials act together in resisting forces. The reinforcing steel—rods, bars, or mesh—absorbs the tensile, shear, and sometimes the compressive stresses in a concrete and steel towards the end of the nineteenth century. These changed not only the way we could build and what we could build but also of course our architectural and spatial expectations, all to timber's disadvantage. This book reminds us that timber, along with stone and grasses, is one of our earliest building materials Building materials used in the construction industry to create . These categories of materials and products are used by and construction project managers to specify the materials and methods used for . but alone of this elemental triad was once used for every single part of a building--from its structure to furniture, from floors to walls to roofing, even for plumbing. The first revival of timber occurred with its modularisation after the Second World War with new forms of wood such as plywood and MDF (1) (Main Distribution Frame) A wiring rack that connects outside lines with internal lines. It is used to connect public or private lines coming into the building to internal networks. . Later came the development of wood-plastic or wood-concrete composites. This book presupposes that advances in the use of timber are engineering led, which is surely correct. One can now accurately say that we build not with wood but with wood products. (This new meaning of the material, which contradicts a phenomenological nostalgia for wood, has only been explored by a few architects.) The latest revival for timber has come with the interest in sustainability, which coincides with new structural possibilities. Here again engineering is leading the way with composite materials, and hybrid approaches, such as pre- and post-stressing, often borrowed from other materials. Timber has become a high-tech material. There are a number of books now on timber or wood architecture but the Swiss contribution to timber engineering is a story worth knowing. Switzerland has a history of excellent engineers, especially for bridge building, a long tradition of timber engineering, and one of the most daring timber engineers today in Jurg Conzett. The book is a good general introduction to uses of timber with chapters on wood, research, laminated timber construction, connections, building construction and bridge construction. It is amply illustrated though suffers from an ungainly design and mediocre production. Its slightly textbook-like feel will not readily seduce se·duce tr.v. se·duced, se·duc·ing, se·duc·es 1. To lead away from duty, accepted principles, or proper conduct. See Synonyms at lure. 2. To induce to engage in sex. 3. a. you but if you persevere per·se·vere intr.v. per·se·vered, per·se·ver·ing, per·se·veres To persist in or remain constant to a purpose, idea, or task in the face of obstacles or discouragement. there is plenty of material within it to inspire you. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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