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Building data

cf38,8,8>*Neufert Architects' Data

Publishers: Blackwell Science Ltd., London

Distributors: Oxford University Press, New Delhi

Price: Rs 1,650. 00

THE field of architecture has in recent times, become highly specialised with numerous branches such as landscape architecture, construction management, historic building conservation, interior design and housing and urban design. At the same time, the d esigner is always confronted with the situation of having to understand the brief at hand in its totality and carry it through to fruition exactly as planned. In short this would mean, that a successful architect or designer should not only have a thorou gh knowledge of all subjects related to the project that has been conceived, but be in a position to brief consultants in such a way that the product results as imagined.

However, in practice, one finds that in the case of smaller works the architect himself is forced to offer suggestions on matters of construction management, interior design and site planning as part of his regular services.

The revised edition of the Neufert's handbook of architecture, aims to satisfy such a varied quest for information, in arming the professional user with all necessary technical and background information on the building type concerned in a comprehensive and concise fashion.

The response of the book to contemporary design methodologies and the systematic way in which this edition has been structured makes it even more invaluable. To enable easy and quick reference, the book is broadly divided into two main portions. The init ial sections consist of basic data that is common to all building types, followed by specifics relevant to any one type of building.

By using this presentation technique the book has managed to prevent repetition of information and encourages the reader to move easily from one section to the next. For example, the nuances involved in the design of a complicated building such as a hosp ital are covered in great detail in the section on healthcare buildings.

This section lists the different types of hospital buildings such as teaching, general or specialty hospitals, the possible building forms and the various departments that make up a healthcare unit. In spite of this it will be essential for the serious d esigner to also refer to other subsidiary sections -- such as the one on restaurants for catering and kitchen facilities; residential buildings and hostels for staff or student accommodation; and general sections on heating, ventilation, thermal and soun d insulation, fire protection, lighting and vehicles of vertical movement, roads and streets - to get a complete picture of what a hospital demands.

A typical presentation of any one building type as provided in this book contains a flow chart indicating the inter relationship between various functions, supported with plans of different built examples complete with furniture arrangements, hence prese nting the reader with various options of a solution.

In certain cases the plans are substantiated with a sectional drawing to explain the roof form. An area statement is always present. Where the building demands a complicated structure, such as high rise constructions, detailed sections through different models have been presented to give an idea of the possibilities. In almost all the case studies special furniture requirements with detailed dimensions are covered, thus making the book useful for interior designers too.

A little less than half of the book is initially devoted to sections that are general in nature. The information contained in these pages take the reader through the systematic procedures of project formulation, construction management and all the miscel laneous information needed to substantiate the main design such as site planning and the various possibilities in building construction.

The section on services is extremely detailed and contains charts and minute technical data necessary for making crucial decisions. The latter chapters on landscaping and the refurbishment of old buildings are in fact a timely response to contemporary th inking on the integration of building and site and the special sensitivity required to handle old buildings.

Much of this information will certainly come as a pleasant surprise, especially to student readers, who invariably have to move labouriously from one book to the other for reference on any subject.

The pages on building biology are especially intriguing for, for the first time a discussion on geological effects such as energy waves generated by the earth and its effect on the built form have been presented in a very scientific manner. Peculiarly, t his is very similar to the Indian thought on Vastu Shastra. Such varied information has served to lend to the volume a sort of all-in all quality thus making it more of an encyclopedia on building rather than merely a data book.

The young designer will find useful the pages on drafting guidelines that also discuss the recent developments in the use of the computer as a drawing tool and standard international notations for the indication of various building components.

The added advantage of the revised edition is that all the additional information has come, more in the form of drawings rather than written matter making it user friendly and quick reference. Further, almost all of these diagrams are extremely reduced ( in size) versions of a fairly detailed construction drawing capable of providing a lot of information to the discerning eye.

The Indian price of the book is extremely attractive particularly for what it has to offer, but for those of us familiar with the earlier international edition the quality of paper and printing that reflects in the sketches will be a little bit of a let down. However this is inevitable when it comes to the question of cutting costs.

K. Kalpana

The reviewer is a Chennai-based architect.