This book takes as its theme the process of choice: what the expert has to know and how decisions about the design, production, maintenance and disposal of buildings may be thought through. It is written with the conviction that by focusing on the process of choice, the range of theory and knowledge that is needed in practice becomes explicit, making the link between knowledge and practice, and between understanding and experience. Part 1 - Analysis looks at the main ares that have to be considered to check that the proposed construction will perform and can be built. The key question is: What if I do it like this? the answer comes from an understanding of how a building works and how it is built. Part 2 - Choice puts the analysis into practice, focusing on making a final choice. The context used is the housing need for the UK at the beginning of the 21st century. The chapters identify some alternative forms of house construction and run through the analysis to lead to some commonly adopted details and specifications. Establishes a comprehensive framework introducing all the key factors that determine the success of a construction solution. Explains how environments, structural behavior, production know-how, cost and social concerns - such as sustainability - can be taken into account in the choice of construction. Provides an understanding of the construction details and specification adopted for housing in the UK.

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