Detail in Contemporary Residential Architecture: Includes CD-ROM

I like this series of detail books. Some of them are not as useful as others but, overall I recommend it. Especially if you work on contemporary or modern custom design buildings that require creative solutions for specific design details.However the next one after this: "Detail in contemporary residential architecture 2" has more up to date examples and relevant designs.About the included CD: Don't count on it. You might find the related file to some projects or not. It seems to be random.

I am an architecture student who is getting close to graduation. I have started to work at a residential firm and as many others in my position could I'm sure attest, they don't prepare you for the real world very well when it comes to things like details. I have almost no builder experience and this book along with the others in the series by McLeod are really great for starting to figure out how these beautiful things we see every day on the various architecture websites actually go together. These books do a nice job of showing you the typical images that you would see in any architecture book and then presenting the details of how they were actually built using graphically pleasing and easy to read diagrams. The diagrams are well-labeled as well. Not necessarily for use in an office as some more comprehensive detailing books might be, I would nevertheless say that for those interested in contemporary details, this book is a great resource.

A while back, Architectural Record would include design details in each of their issues, albeit just one or two enlarged details, and mostly tiny floor plans. This book is similar to those Architectural Record issues, but in a nicely condensed series of 52 different residential projects with select plans, details, background information and photos, and at much larger sizes for excellent viewing.The projects are separated by types of primary materials (concrete, steel, masonry, etc) and includes a index of types of details (door, glazing, roof, etc) as well as contact/address listings for the designers/architects. The big bonus of course, is that the details are available on a disk, in .EPS and .DWG formats, which are quite spectacular for further exploration of these designers' details.It is a very well organized and complete book; I have rarely found this level of detailing and documentation in other books, and I would highly recommend this book - especially since I was able to get it for the bargain price of $20 - as a reference tool and the basis for an exploration of new ideas. If you are a detail-control-freak designer like I am, I think you would enjoy this book as well as I have.-footnote added 3/16/2010-After careful scrutiny of more details, I can tell you that there were apparently at least two different drawing editors, leading to drastically different levels of detailing and information. Further, errors in drafting and non-matching details to actual built work can be spotted in different projects, leading one to wonder about the quality control at some of these design firms. Some of the details are seemingly drawn for aesthetic sake instead of usable, working drawings; one should be careful when using these as reference material, as some - as drawn - are unusable, as if drawn by interns. Thus, I have down-ranked the book to 4 stars instead of 5.

Overall this is a fairly good detail book and well presented with nice modern houses. The level of details is more on the level of DD and SD and varies from project to project. The best CD details are only found in real construction drawings. The German's "Detail" magazine and books also shows comprehensive details. Another good detail book is "The architectural Detail, Dutch architects visualize their concepts" by Ed Melet.Well this book has less texts then the Dutch architects detail book. Also, the drawing details are on average larger. The details are also drawing in an American's standard presentation. The Dutch book is presented with European hatches and drawing standards, which are not as easy to understand. The range of details type methogolies are very good, from some what of a roof garden to cylinder metal house.At time there are too many SD overall sections and plans that take too many pages. The CD (disc) is nice and includes a lot of drawings in CAD .dwg and .eps format with no texts.

I've purchased one too many architecture books that have cool buildings with nice photos, overly self-indulgent artistic descriptions, and really not much else that is useful. Despite its title, I was expecting this book to be similar to those other ones, if only perhaps a small step forward in terms of the quality of the information.This book is a giant leap forward compared to most architecture books. It is outstanding because it presents each project completely; with photos, plans, sections, and numerous quality details. The information is much more complete than I am accustomed to seeing from these types of books, and the drawings are for the most part clear and well-noted. There's also a CD included with DWG files and EPS files of every illustration!Because the information is so complete...there's enough information there to really study the materials and assemblies, to understand both the concept and the execution of these great projects. This is the kind of book you can study over and over, and really learn from. Compared to other architecture books in my library it is outstanding. My only wish is that the author would keep going and expand her great work into numerous other architecture styles (way beyond contemporary buildings).

McLeod takes specific structures in Modern Architecture and provides sections and details about flashing, insulation, connection points. It's interesting if you understand architecture.

finally access to those modern details. my context does not allow access to these on first hand inspection. a must have for young architects honing their construction skills

Inconsistent drawing style. Vague details without notes.

As a student of the subject this helped inspire me, there is a building in here for everyone. It is simple and to the point, all facts and details through the drawings.

Nice details and nicely layout book! not sure this is of any help to UK architects! the designs are more suited to warm climates!

I like and find this book very usefull for architects. It seems to me a good buy for the people interested in architecture

Really good book and drawings.

Perfect