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The solar decision book of homes
Building and Environment, Vol. 17. No. 4, pp. 303 305, 1982. Printed in Great Britain.
0360-1323/82/040303-03 $03.00/0 Pergamon Press Ltd.
Book Reviews Although the title of the book suggests that the author has confined his attention to one particular facet of urban change, his observations also have an important bearing on the wider issues of conservation versus development in our cities. This book provides a well-illustrated explanatory account of the field. It will be of interest to a wide range of readers in different countries and will be particularly appreciated by urban designers and planning practitioners. DAVID GROOME
Skylines Understanding and Moulding Urban Silhouettes WAYNE ATTOE John Wiley & Son, 128 pp., ISBN 0 471 27940 4, £14.75 (1981)
WHAT MAKES a city skyline attractive? How important is a skyline in influencing the overall image of a city? Using examples from several countries, Dr. Attoe's study sets out to explain how and why city skylines have evolved in particular ways and illustrates conflicts that arise when attempts are made to protect and plan them. The author explores six principal themes. Firstly, he describes how skylines are much more than just collections of buildings, but are 'collective symbols' of the societies within which we live and work. He then examines ways in which they can represent the social values of communities ; thus, in some cities the dominant buildings have reflected the status of the church at one period or burgeoning municipal power at another. Skylines, too, can have a utilitarian value; particular buildings provide a sense of place and help people to orient themselves. A further theme explored is that of the aesthetics of skylines and the ways in which silhouette, rhythm, punctuation, weather and the observer's viewpoint can influence the image of a skyline. Another aspect discussed includes the 'ritual' value of skylines in providing a setting for activities such as sightseeing and tourism. Finally, the author shows how skyline symbols and emblems have become part of popular culture when used in advertising and in company logos. Does the shape of a skyline matter? Clearly, care for the aesthetics or form of a skyline is of secondary consideration compared with the critical questions of jobs, housing and inner urban decay that confront urban planners today. Nevertheless, the author demonstrates that skylines are worthy of concern since they can tell us a lot about ourselves and our history. More tangibly, perhaps, an attractive or dramatic skyline can be a useful revenue-earner as, for example, in the cMe of tourism. It is clear that skyline design and control is fraught with conflict. The author does not offer any answers to decision-makers confronted with controversial proposals to radically change the skyline of a city. There can be no single set of guidelines ; controls that seem appropriate in Oxford may be totally inappropriate elsewhere. There are, suggests the author, several approaches which might be adopted, ranging from laissez-faire to protection of selected key buildings and their surrounds or whole sectors of cities.
The Solar Decision Book of Homes RICHARD H. M O N T G O M E R Y with WALTER F. MILES John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 332 pp., ISBN 0 471 08280 5 (cloth), ISBN 0 471 87523 6 (paper), Hardback £20.25, Paperback, £10.75/$18.35 (1982)
THE AUTHOR'S objective in writing 7he Solar Decision Book of Homes was to help American home owners to make use of solar energy for space heating their houses. It covers both the modification of existing houses and the design of new ones and is, to a large extent, a 'do-ityourself' manual of design for the use of solar energy in buildings and for energy conservation in general. The book deals with the whole range of decisions which are involved in the planning of a scheme for the space heating of a house by solar energy, from the preliminary design and comparison with alternative energy sources to the final planning and execution of the work. All of the basic theory which is required for the calculations is explained. This includes the assessment of the amount of solar energy which is available through the year at a particular site, the assessment of the energy requirements of a particular building and the calculations of comparative costs. All climatic data required for sites irt the U.S.A. are given and sample work sheets and results tables are provided to assist the reader to carry out the types of calculation which are described. The techniques which can be used to optimise the thermal performance of buildings are dealt with adequately and the coverage of this aspect of the subject ranges from a discussion of the effect of overall form and orientation of buildings on their thermal performance to a description of the types of details which produce good thermal insulation and appropriate ventilation. The book provides a systematic and very clear description of all stages in the design of houses for solar heating. 303
Book Reviews
304
It should serve as an excellent introduction to the subject for students of the building professions and of members of these professions, as well as for the lay person who may wish to attempt the installation of a solar heating system to his or her house. The treatment of all aspects of the subject is thorough and professionals in the building field should not be put offby the fact that the book is primarily intended for the lay person.
Experience of Energy Conservation in Buildings Edited by A. F. C. SHERRATT The Construction Press Ltd., 180 pp., ISBN 0 86095 875 2, £20.00 (1981)
A. J. MACDONALD
Energy Conservation and Thermal Insulation Edited by R. DERRICOTT and S. S. CHISSICK John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 785 pp., ISBN 0 471 27930 7, £37.50 (1981)
THIS B O O K is a collection of 27 essays on the subject of energy conservation in buildings. The particular theme is thermal insulation, and each essay is written by a different author who is a specialist in the topic covered by it. The subjects fall into three categories, which are: present and future trends in energy supply, the manufacture and use of thermal insulating materials, and the aspects of building design which are relevant to the control of the thermal environment. The book begins with seven essays which are concerned with the current world energy situation. These review the present and future world energy needs, the attitudes of governments to the energy supply question, the success or otherwise of the various attempts which have been made by governments and international agencies to control the use of energy and the consequences of these, and the current state and future prospects of the energy supply industries. These essays give a good picture of the current state of thinking of the governmental and energy producing establishments on the question of the management of energy resources. The remaining essays are concerned with various aspects of the relationship between energy conservation and building design, with particular reference to the role of thermal insulation. Each paper is independent of the others and the topics covered include the use of alternative technologies, descriptions of the manufacture and use of various types of thermal insulation such as thermal insulating blockwork, cellulose fibre insulation and various foamed types of insulation material, and reports on a variety of building projects in which energy conservation measures have been adopted and evaluated. The book is neither a systematic nor a comprehensive treatment of the subject of thermal insulation in relation to energy conservation, but it does provide much information which will be useful to those who are concerned with the design of thermally efficient buildings and should therefore find a place on their bookshelves. A. J. MACDONALD
THIS BOOK is based on the conference of the same title which was organised in March 1980 by the Construction Industry Conference Centre Ltd., in conjunction with the Chartered Institution of Building Services, the Institute of Energy, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Department of Energy, all of the U.K. It contains twelve chapters, each written by a different author, and is based on papers which were given at the conference. Each chapter is followed by a transcription of the conference discussion which followed the original paper. All of the chapters are concerned with fairly broad issues in relation to the use of energy in buildings and each deals with a different aspect of the subject. The topics covered include an outline of the current world energy situation, various aspects of the economies of energy use in buildings, the role of thermal insulation in energy conservation, the techniques of heat recovery and the relationship between fighting and energy consumption. Of particular interest is a group of papers in which the experiences in the use of energy in buildings of a number of large companies and institutions are described and the effects which these have had on their energy use policies are discussed. The orgnnisations for which information is given include a property developer, a local authority and a company which operates a chain of department stores. The book gives a good account of the current state of practice and thinking, on the subject of energy use, of a major section of the community which is concerned with the construction and operation of buildings. It deals almost exclusively with practice in the U.K., although one paper is included in which a review of the situation in the U.S.A. is given. m. J. MACDONALD
Structural Brickwork A R N O L D W. HENDRY The Macmillan Press Ltd., 209 pp., ISBN 0 333 25748 0, £15.00
A VERY LARGE amount of research has been carried out in the last 20 years into the behaviour of structural brickwork. Although much of this has been incorporated into codes of practice, most of it has not been published other than in specialist journals and conference proceedings. This volume, which summarises and explains the most significant results ofthe research and which has been
0360-1323/82/040303-03 $03.00/0 Pergamon Press Ltd.
Book Reviews Although the title of the book suggests that the author has confined his attention to one particular facet of urban change, his observations also have an important bearing on the wider issues of conservation versus development in our cities. This book provides a well-illustrated explanatory account of the field. It will be of interest to a wide range of readers in different countries and will be particularly appreciated by urban designers and planning practitioners. DAVID GROOME
Skylines Understanding and Moulding Urban Silhouettes WAYNE ATTOE John Wiley & Son, 128 pp., ISBN 0 471 27940 4, £14.75 (1981)
WHAT MAKES a city skyline attractive? How important is a skyline in influencing the overall image of a city? Using examples from several countries, Dr. Attoe's study sets out to explain how and why city skylines have evolved in particular ways and illustrates conflicts that arise when attempts are made to protect and plan them. The author explores six principal themes. Firstly, he describes how skylines are much more than just collections of buildings, but are 'collective symbols' of the societies within which we live and work. He then examines ways in which they can represent the social values of communities ; thus, in some cities the dominant buildings have reflected the status of the church at one period or burgeoning municipal power at another. Skylines, too, can have a utilitarian value; particular buildings provide a sense of place and help people to orient themselves. A further theme explored is that of the aesthetics of skylines and the ways in which silhouette, rhythm, punctuation, weather and the observer's viewpoint can influence the image of a skyline. Another aspect discussed includes the 'ritual' value of skylines in providing a setting for activities such as sightseeing and tourism. Finally, the author shows how skyline symbols and emblems have become part of popular culture when used in advertising and in company logos. Does the shape of a skyline matter? Clearly, care for the aesthetics or form of a skyline is of secondary consideration compared with the critical questions of jobs, housing and inner urban decay that confront urban planners today. Nevertheless, the author demonstrates that skylines are worthy of concern since they can tell us a lot about ourselves and our history. More tangibly, perhaps, an attractive or dramatic skyline can be a useful revenue-earner as, for example, in the cMe of tourism. It is clear that skyline design and control is fraught with conflict. The author does not offer any answers to decision-makers confronted with controversial proposals to radically change the skyline of a city. There can be no single set of guidelines ; controls that seem appropriate in Oxford may be totally inappropriate elsewhere. There are, suggests the author, several approaches which might be adopted, ranging from laissez-faire to protection of selected key buildings and their surrounds or whole sectors of cities.
The Solar Decision Book of Homes RICHARD H. M O N T G O M E R Y with WALTER F. MILES John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 332 pp., ISBN 0 471 08280 5 (cloth), ISBN 0 471 87523 6 (paper), Hardback £20.25, Paperback, £10.75/$18.35 (1982)
THE AUTHOR'S objective in writing 7he Solar Decision Book of Homes was to help American home owners to make use of solar energy for space heating their houses. It covers both the modification of existing houses and the design of new ones and is, to a large extent, a 'do-ityourself' manual of design for the use of solar energy in buildings and for energy conservation in general. The book deals with the whole range of decisions which are involved in the planning of a scheme for the space heating of a house by solar energy, from the preliminary design and comparison with alternative energy sources to the final planning and execution of the work. All of the basic theory which is required for the calculations is explained. This includes the assessment of the amount of solar energy which is available through the year at a particular site, the assessment of the energy requirements of a particular building and the calculations of comparative costs. All climatic data required for sites irt the U.S.A. are given and sample work sheets and results tables are provided to assist the reader to carry out the types of calculation which are described. The techniques which can be used to optimise the thermal performance of buildings are dealt with adequately and the coverage of this aspect of the subject ranges from a discussion of the effect of overall form and orientation of buildings on their thermal performance to a description of the types of details which produce good thermal insulation and appropriate ventilation. The book provides a systematic and very clear description of all stages in the design of houses for solar heating. 303
Book Reviews
304
It should serve as an excellent introduction to the subject for students of the building professions and of members of these professions, as well as for the lay person who may wish to attempt the installation of a solar heating system to his or her house. The treatment of all aspects of the subject is thorough and professionals in the building field should not be put offby the fact that the book is primarily intended for the lay person.
Experience of Energy Conservation in Buildings Edited by A. F. C. SHERRATT The Construction Press Ltd., 180 pp., ISBN 0 86095 875 2, £20.00 (1981)
A. J. MACDONALD
Energy Conservation and Thermal Insulation Edited by R. DERRICOTT and S. S. CHISSICK John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 785 pp., ISBN 0 471 27930 7, £37.50 (1981)
THIS B O O K is a collection of 27 essays on the subject of energy conservation in buildings. The particular theme is thermal insulation, and each essay is written by a different author who is a specialist in the topic covered by it. The subjects fall into three categories, which are: present and future trends in energy supply, the manufacture and use of thermal insulating materials, and the aspects of building design which are relevant to the control of the thermal environment. The book begins with seven essays which are concerned with the current world energy situation. These review the present and future world energy needs, the attitudes of governments to the energy supply question, the success or otherwise of the various attempts which have been made by governments and international agencies to control the use of energy and the consequences of these, and the current state and future prospects of the energy supply industries. These essays give a good picture of the current state of thinking of the governmental and energy producing establishments on the question of the management of energy resources. The remaining essays are concerned with various aspects of the relationship between energy conservation and building design, with particular reference to the role of thermal insulation. Each paper is independent of the others and the topics covered include the use of alternative technologies, descriptions of the manufacture and use of various types of thermal insulation such as thermal insulating blockwork, cellulose fibre insulation and various foamed types of insulation material, and reports on a variety of building projects in which energy conservation measures have been adopted and evaluated. The book is neither a systematic nor a comprehensive treatment of the subject of thermal insulation in relation to energy conservation, but it does provide much information which will be useful to those who are concerned with the design of thermally efficient buildings and should therefore find a place on their bookshelves. A. J. MACDONALD
THIS BOOK is based on the conference of the same title which was organised in March 1980 by the Construction Industry Conference Centre Ltd., in conjunction with the Chartered Institution of Building Services, the Institute of Energy, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Department of Energy, all of the U.K. It contains twelve chapters, each written by a different author, and is based on papers which were given at the conference. Each chapter is followed by a transcription of the conference discussion which followed the original paper. All of the chapters are concerned with fairly broad issues in relation to the use of energy in buildings and each deals with a different aspect of the subject. The topics covered include an outline of the current world energy situation, various aspects of the economies of energy use in buildings, the role of thermal insulation in energy conservation, the techniques of heat recovery and the relationship between fighting and energy consumption. Of particular interest is a group of papers in which the experiences in the use of energy in buildings of a number of large companies and institutions are described and the effects which these have had on their energy use policies are discussed. The orgnnisations for which information is given include a property developer, a local authority and a company which operates a chain of department stores. The book gives a good account of the current state of practice and thinking, on the subject of energy use, of a major section of the community which is concerned with the construction and operation of buildings. It deals almost exclusively with practice in the U.K., although one paper is included in which a review of the situation in the U.S.A. is given. m. J. MACDONALD
Structural Brickwork A R N O L D W. HENDRY The Macmillan Press Ltd., 209 pp., ISBN 0 333 25748 0, £15.00
A VERY LARGE amount of research has been carried out in the last 20 years into the behaviour of structural brickwork. Although much of this has been incorporated into codes of practice, most of it has not been published other than in specialist journals and conference proceedings. This volume, which summarises and explains the most significant results ofthe research and which has been