Structural Aspects of Building Conservation (McGraw-Hill International Series in Civil Engineering)

Building conservation encompasses the preservation of buildings in their existing state, repair and restoration necessary for continuation of existing use, and adaptation or conservation for new use. This book is about the structural problems encountered when trying to conserve buildings. It provides the background knowledge of different types of structures, which is required to begin the conservation process, and the necessary technical advice on how to approach the variety of problems that arise. The first part of the book describes the basic principles of how structures behave in the "real world", and the principles and procedures of appraising a structure for conservation. The remainder of the book covers the individual materials (stone, wood, iron/steel, concrete) and, finally, deals with the most critical part of the building - the foundations. The text features numerous examples of conservation in practice, taken from the author's own experience. It includes coverage of buildings from medieval cathedrals and monuments to 20th-century office blocks. This book is aimed at architects, as well as structural engineers.