The Art of Construction

Why do buildings and bridges stand up? How do they withstand the tremendous forces of wind, earthquakes and gravity? This book, written for youngsters from 8 to 80, draws on examples from every period in history to explain the principles of building. Everyday objects – drinking straws, paper, sponges, rulers and even eggs – are used to illustrate the laws of tension and compression and to build models of complex structures such as pneumatic roofs or Takenaka space trusses. These projects and their explanations show how basic scientific principles and human ingenuity combine to create durable and engaging architecture. Illustrated throughout with line drawings.

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