Encyclopedia of Architectural and Engineering Feats { repost }

图书介绍

From School Library JournalGrade 9 Up-Cities, tents, teepees, tunnels, tombs, rapid transit systems, bridges, gardens, cathedrals, skyscrapers, and even a space station are just some of the "feats" included in this authoritative survey. From prehistory to the present, high-tech to low, more than 200 architectural and engineering achievements have been selected that reflect "humanity's propensity to `just do it'- against the odds" and the "social imperatives that stimulated people to push the available technology to its limits." The volume includes articles on structures that are frequent subjects of reports ("Empire State Building," "Great Wall of China") and lesser-known works, as well as selected design movements ("The Bauhaus," "Postmodern architecture") and building technologies ("Curtain walls," "Geodesic domes"). Each alphabetically arranged entry is covered in two pages or less. The book concludes with a poignant, up-to-date entry for the World Trade Center. The text is occasionally relieved by average-quality, black-and-white photographs. The dearth of illustrative material is, alas, a major impediment to readers' understanding and appreciation of the text. The index lacks cross-referencing, which is especially helpful for students. It is unfortunate that there is no listing of entries by country or a chronology. Though flawed, Encyclopedia is a valuable resource for serious students of structures and the man-made environment.