Our cities and neighborhoods are composed of urban building blocks and a knowledge of these elementary components is part of the basic equipment of city planning. It is absolutely essential for urban design that one understands their form and structure, their functional conditions, and the differentiation into private and public spheres, as well as the ways they are networked into their surroundings. Study of these city building blocks represents a first step toward understanding, and successfully developing the built structure of the city as a physical and social habitat. Themes are - the row, - the block, - the courtyard (the block in reverse), - the passageway, - the line, - the solitaire, - the group, - the "shed".

Our cities and neighborhoods are composed of urban building blocks and a knowledge of these elementary components is part of the basic equipment of city planning. It is absolutely essential for urban design that one understands their form and structure, their functional conditions, and the differentiation into private and public spheres, as well as the ways they are networked into their surroundings. Study of these city building blocks represents a first step toward understanding, and successfully developing the built structure of the city as a physical and social habitat. Themes are - the row, - the block, - the courtyard (the block in reverse), - the passageway, - the line, - the solitaire, - the group, - the "shed".

Basics Urban Analysis is a new addition to the module on city planning. Building on the elements of cities as described in the volume Basics Urban Building Blocks, it provides techniques for analyzing cities. As a basis for city planning and architectural design work, a solid understanding of the existing and surrounding urban structures is indispensable. This volume not only explains the possible approaches; it also describes in practical terms how to implement those approaches in the areas analyzed and how to evaluate the data one has collected.

Once the design has been completed, the architects prepare the tender documents for the contractors, and provide support during the tender procedure. For the purpose of commissioning various building works it is necessary to set up building contracts which contain standard content as well as very individual provisions. The building contract and its extensive drawings and specifications are the basis for the building work; they must be understood by the supervising architect and implemented to create the building. The complexity and diversity of building contracts is increased by the fact that there is hardly a building contract that does not have to be modified after it has been signed. Basics Building Contract offers the typical structures and explanations, as well as the tools for creating project-specific contracts and understanding the inherent complexity.

Site management is an important and interesting field of activity for architects. This volume describes the various tasks that fall to architects in construction supervision in practical and understandable terms. It addresses construction supervision and quality control in general as well as individual subjects such as quantity survey, account settlement, and cost and supplemental services management. Subjects: General construction supervision, Quality assurance, Progress and cost management, Acceptance and delivery, Quantity survey und account settlement.

Timber is one of the most elementary and oldest building materials used by mankind, and has still not lost any of its attractiveness and topicality. In many cultural spheres and climate zones, the primary construction methods of domestic architecture include both masonry construction and timber construction. However, this living, lightweight, and easy-to-work material has specific characteristics that impact on the way it is used in construction in different ways compared to other building materials. In order to develop high-quality designs that suit the material, architects need to be familiar with the specific characteristics of this building material and with the rules governing timber construction. The new edition of the successful Basics Timber Construction volume lists the most common solid timber construction systems, including that using solid timber wall elements, as well as the rules, applications, and the relevant details.

A roof over one’s head is a basic need – it provides shelter from rain, wind and the cold. In addition to these requirements, the structure must be load bearing and stable. Out of traditional craftsmanship, roof shapes and typologies have developed that fulfill these tasks and endure to this day. Basics Roof Construction describes the different kinds of roofs and which advantages and disadvantages each of them has. It explains which tasks are performed by the structural elements and layers and how to account for these in planning construction. The objective is to provide students with the principles, properties and technical terms of construction so that they can implement this knowledge in concrete design plans: from building, to insulation and sealing, all the way to the basics of drainage.