Book excerpt: Rather than relying on separate literature in the fields of structural engineering, architecture, construction and history, this text presents the field of structures holistically in terms of building and architecture. Buildings are studied from all points of view: geometrical, aesthetic, historical, functional, environmental and construction - providing the broadest treatment of structures available.* Descriptive, analytical, and graphical treatment of topics are presented with nearly equal emphasis. * Numerous case studies throughout exemplify structural concepts and develop a feeling for structure and form, instead of supporting specific architectural styles or structural acrobatics. * Teaching in the context of building structure and form (i.e., low-rise, high-rise, long-span, etc.) allows students to understand structures on real, not abstract, mathematical terms. * Structural systems (i.e., frames, arches, space frames, soft shells, etc.) and how they aid in making space and enhancing the formal presentation of a structure are discussed in detail. * Chapter 3 deals with approximate design methods for steel, wood, reinforced concrete, and prestressed concrete according to the