Birkhäuser Basel

Cities of change; Addis Ababa; transformation strategies for urban territories in the 21st century.

The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland, in partnership with the U. of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, have engaged in a process of creative solutions to the development of Ethiopia's urban environment. This volume presents 49 of the projects, which cover the gamut of a city's infrastructure, including water, people, space, material, capital, and energy, using the basic idea of the stocks and flows of each. Many of the essays include the brainstorming and theory behind the project's conception, making this an excellent volume for a wide readership on urban planning. Not indexed, the volume is well-illustrated with b&w and color maps, drawings, plans, models, and photos. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Open/close; windows, doors, loggias, filters.

This large format volume (11x8.75 inches), part of a series in modern architectural techniques, explores the use of doors and windows in contemporary design projects. Intended to provide both theoretical and practical information, the work examines both broad principles of aesthetic placement and design as well as technical specifications from a construction perspective that inform proper use. Chapters cover architectural elements such as doors, windows, passages, shutters and baffles and discuss the geometry, materials, ambiance and intermediate spaces related to their integration into the larger design. Color illustrations and photographs are included throughout, along with numerous technical drawings. The authors are architects associated with the Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany. (Annotation ©2011 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)