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    Cover of Why Buildings Stand Up

    Why Buildings Stand Up

    Mario George Salvadori · 1980

    Here is a clear and enthusiastic introduction to building methods from ancient time to the present day, illustrated throughout with line drawings. In addition, Mr. Salvadori discusses recent advances in science and technology that have had important effects on the planning and construction of buildings. B/W line drawings

    Design & UX
    Open LibraryAmazon
    Stats for nerds
    3recommend
    4mentions
    3people
    2018–2024years
    100% recommend

    Mentions per year

    2018201920202021202220232024

    What Hacker News says

    1. titheJun 2024
      Here's a bunch that are on the bookshelf at the moment:

      - Information Rules - Carl Shapiro & Hal Varian

      - Normal Accidents - Charles Perrow

      - Why Buildings Stand Up: The Strength of Architecture - Mario Salvadori

      - Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief - Jordan Peterson

      - The Power Broker - Robert Caro

      - Political Order and Political Decay - Francis Fukuyama

      - The Creators - Daniel Boorstin

      - The Square and the Tower - Niall Ferguson

      thread
    2. jaclazJan 2020
      OT, but not much, if anyone is interested in how/why buildings/structures stand up or collapse, there are a couple great books by Mario Salvadori:

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Salvadori

      Why Buildings Stand Up (1980) and Why Buildings Fall Down (1992)

      that are elementary enough to be read by anyone, without being at all superficial.

      thread
    3. mauvehausMar 2018
      Thank for the recommendation! If you're into that sort of thing, you might also enjoy Why Buildings Stand Up and Why Buildings Fall Down.

      Why Buildings Fall Down includes a case study on a seemingly minor change during construction that caused a walkway to collapse once it was put in use.

      At the risk of stating the obvious, these are focused on buildings rather than roads :-)

      thread
    4. jaclazMar 2018
      I would suggest - as basic readings for those that are not structural engineers or however working in the field or familiar with it - these two (by now "classics") by Mario Salvadori:

      Why Buildings Stand Up: The Strength of Architecture

      Why Buildings Fall Down: How Structures Fail

      thread

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