Building design at Arup

DETAIL engineering 2

DETAIL engineering 2

"Total Architecture"

The idea of designing, planning and building as an inseparable process

The idea of "Total Architecture", as described by Ove Arup in his vision of design, continues to serve as the maxim for the globally operating engineering firm ARUP and its Building Engineering Department. Drawing on selected projects from recent years, this second volume in the new DETAIL engineering series shows how future-oriented and sustainable civil engineering can be combined with this ideal of a holistic design process – always with the aim of achieving perfect unity of strength and elegance in every structure. The focus is placed on the different processes that have accompanied the presented construction projects. Connections are shown between the individual buildings whose synergies are pursued in an exemplary fashion.
The remarkable building projects reveal what continues to drive and inspire the engineers at ARUP to this day: a passion for pioneering work.

- ARUP over the course of time
- Process descriptions from the perspective of the involved architects, engineers and planners
- From supporting structures to light design and building services to future-oriented civil engineering
- Interdisciplinary thinking, planning and realization
- "Total Architecture": comprehensive management of building projects, from the initial designs right through to construction

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  • Paris

    Paris carries its history in its buildings and yet remains a perpetual site of architectural experiment. No other major city negotiates tradition and innovation quite so naturally. The book portrays a generation of architects – among them established practices such as Moussafir Architectes and Régis Roudil – who are fundamentally rethinking urban space. Large-format photographs, precise plans, and well-researched texts invite readers on an architectural tour of the city, presenting a variety of outstanding contemporary buildings that engage with the defining issues of our time: urban density, ecological responsibility, and social diversity. A multilayered picture of a city in transition – between cultural heritage and a visionary future.

  • Housing

    How can we build housing today that is genuinely affordable, socially inclusive, and sustainable? This book presents 33 best-practice projects spanning social housing, lowcost construction, and building renovation, showing how architecture can respond to the pressing challenges of our time with intelligence and responsibility. Detailed drawings at 1:20 scale give precise insights into each construction solution, complemented by floor plans and sections that enable a sound spatial and technical understanding of the buildings. Photographs and texts convey atmosphere, materiality, and architectural quality.

  • Herzog & de Meuron

    This fifth edition of the monograph documents 24 built projects designed by Herzog & de Meuron. It presents the architects’ design intentions, their approach to both traditional and innovative materials, and the technological challenges involved. Texts, photographs, drawings, and illustrations document the buildings and reveal processes and construction details.

  • Manual of Masonry Construction

    The new Manual of Masonry Construction is a fundamental handbook for architects and planners, providing expertise on masonry construction and its technical details. It brings together a wealth of knowledge on classic and contemporary masonry construction, covering topics from production and loadbearing behaviour to building physics, fire protection, and sustainability. The authors address traditional techniques as well as the latest developments in the field.