Many sizes of buildings are viewed, from very small projects, like a house by Shigeru Ban designed for the homeless after the Kobe disaster of 1995, to huge buildings such as the San Francisco Main Library by I.M. Pei. Categories of construction are wide-ranging: residential, commercial, religious, medical, and cultural facilities are all considered in this comprehensive report on life-saving construction strategies."--BOOK JACKET.

Seismic Design for Architects shows how structural requirements for seismic resistance can become an integral part of the design process. Structural integrity does not have to be at the expense of innovative, high standard design in seismically active zones. * By emphasizing design and discussing key concepts with accompanying visual material, architects are given the background knowledge and practical tools needed to deal with aspects of seismic design at all stages of the design process * Seismic codes from several continents are drawn upon to give a global context of seismic design * Extensively illustrated with diagrams and photographs * A non-mathematical approach focuses upon the principles and practice of seismic resistant design to enable readers to grasp the concepts and then readily apply them to their building designs Seismic Design for Architects is a comprehensive, practical reference work and text book for students of architecture, building science, architectural and civil engineering, and professional architects and structural engineers.

This is arguably the most comprehensive book on the subject of architectural-structural design decisions that influence the seismic performance of buildings. It explores the intersection between the architecture and the structural design through the lens of earthquake engineering. The main aim of this unique book, written by renowned engineer M.Llunji, is to explain in the simplest terms, the architecture and structure of earthquake-resistant buildings, using many practical examples and case studies to demonstrate the fact that structures and buildings react to earthquake forces mainly according to their form, configuration and material. The purpose of this book is to introduce a new perspective on seismic design,a more visual, conceptual and architectural one, to both architects and engineers. In a word, it is to introduce architectural opportunities for earthquake resistant- buildings, treating seismic design as a central architectural issue. A non-mathematical and practical approach emphasizing graphical presentation of problems and solutions makes it equally accessible to architectural and engineering professionals.The book will be invaluable for practicing engineers, architects, students and researches. .More than 500 illustrations/photographs and numerous case studies. Seismic Architecture covers: • Earthquake effects on structures • Seismic force resisting systems • Advanced systems for seismic protection • Architectural/structural configuration and its influence on seismic response • Contemporary architecture in seismic regions • Seismic response of nonstructural elements • Seismic retrofit and rehabilitation of existing buildings • Seismic architecture.

Local communities have adapted for centuries to challenging surroundings, resulting from unforeseen natural hazards. Vernacular architecture often reveals very intelligent responses attuned to the environment. Therefore, the question that emerged was: how did local populations prepare their dwellings to face frequent earthquakes? It was to respond to this gap in knowledge, that the SEISMIC-V research project was instigated, and this interdisciplinary international publication was prepared. The research revealed the existence of a local seismic culture, in terms of reactive or preventive seismic resistant measures, able to survive, if properly maintained, in areas with frequent earthquakes. The fundamental contribution and aims of the publication were to enhance: -The disciplinary interest in vernacular architecture; -Its contribution to risk mitigation in responding to natural hazards; -To encourage academic and scientific research collaboration among different disciplines; -To contribute to the improvement of vernacular dwellings, which half of the world’s population still inhabits nowadays. Fifty international researchers and experts presented case studies from Latin America, the Mediterranean, Eastern and Central Asia and the Himalayas region, with reference to 20 countries, i.e. Algeria, Bolivia, Bhutan, Chile, China, Egypt, El Salvador, Greece, Haiti, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Peru, Romania, Taiwan, Turkey and a closer detailed analysis of Portugal. This publication brings together 43 contributions, with new perspectives on seismic retrofitting techniques and relevant data, addressing vernacular architecture; an amazing source of knowledge, and to this day, home to 4 billion people.

Seismic isolation offers the highest degree of earthquake protection to buildings and their inhabitants. Modern applications of the technology are less than 50 years old and uptake in seismically active regions continues to soar. Seismic Isolation for Architects is a comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice in this field. Based on the latest research findings and the authors’ extensive experience, coverage includes the application, effectiveness, benefits, and limitations of seismic isolation, as well as the architectural form, design aspects, retrofitting, economics, construction, and maintenance related to this method. The book is written for an international audience: the authors review codes and practices from a number of countries and draw on examples from eleven territories including the US, Chile, Argentina, Italy, Japan, and New Zealand. Aimed at readers without prior knowledge of structural engineering, the book provides an accessible, non-technical approach without using equations or calculations, instead using over 200 drawings, diagrams and images to support the text. This book is key reading for students on architecture and civil engineering courses looking for a clear introduction to seismic-resistant design, as well as architects and engineers working in seismically active regions.

“The first history of seismic engineering in San Francisco . . . spiced with survivor and eyewitness accounts. ”—Midwest Book Review For the past one hundred and fifty years, architects and engineers have quietly been learning from each quake and designing newer earthquake-resistant building techniques and applying them in an ongoing effort to save San Francisco. Bracing for Disaster is a fresh appraisal of a city responding to repeated devastation. In the language of a skilled teacher, Tobriner examines what really happened during the city’s earthquakes—which buildings were damaged, which survived, and who were the unsung heroes. Filled with more than two hundred photographs, diagrams, and illustrations, this is a revealing look at the history of buildings by a true expert, and it offers lessons not just for San Francisco but for any city beset by natural disasters. “The real saga is how a fast-growing city grapples with the reality that it has more to worry about than fires and fog. The core of the story is fairly technical, rooted in the crude intuitive ways in which builders reacted to a seismic threat they could neither measure nor define. But Tobriner crafts the story well.”—SFGate