Overview
Since the spread of classical design and construction amongst the upper echolons of British society in the late seventeenth century, traditional construction methods have largely fallen by the wayside. Centuries later, as the construction industry faces up to its environmental responsibilities, this book explores its rich and ancient tradition to provide tried and trusted solutions to modern day construction problems. By way of introduction, the ancient and historical lifestyles that dictated the nature of traditional construction are explored, before focussing on its health and ecological benefits. As well as cultural background, this book includes a detailed scientific description of traditional building materials and their constituents which draws a sharp contrast with modern petrochemical-based materials. The studies of traditional buildings included reveal the sustainability of features such as natural ventilation and breathing walls, and comparisons with modern construction methods show how they could prevent 'sick building syndrome'. The author argues that maintenance for long life, by contrast with the modern concept of life-cycle costing, is at the nub of sustainability and underlies the contribution traditional building construction can make to tackling climate change. Over 250 original photos, and over fifty bespoke diagrams illustrate the features, techniques, and characteristics of traditional construction that could make such a valuable contribution to the industry today. The inclusion of a close study of how these methods relate to British building regulations makes this book a practical guide for construction professionals, as well as an authoritative resource for students and policy-makers.
Full Product Details
Author: Carole Ryan (Formerly of Bournemouth University, UK)
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint: Routledge
Weight: 0.840kg
ISBN: 9780415467568
ISBN 10: 041546756
Pages: 384
Publication Date: 07 January 2011
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Professional and scholarly
,
Tertiary & Higher Education
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Reviews
"""Inclusion of a detailed study of how traditional methods related to current building regulations make this a practical and useful guide for construction professionals, as well as ammunition for the informed client"" - Ancient Monuments Society"
Inclusion of a detailed study of how traditional methods related to current building regulations make this a practical and useful guide for construction professionals, as well as ammunition for the informed client - Ancient Monuments Society
Author Information
Carole Ryan is Senior Lecturer at Bournemouth University, UK, where she was until recently Director and Course Leader of the MSc in Building Conservation. Prior to that, she was Principal Conservation Officer and Director of Historic Environment for Shropshire County Council.
