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50 Free Open Courseware Classes for Architects

Linda — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:54:45 +0000

Are you interested in architecture and want to learn more, but you can’t afford a full-fledged education at a college or university? Even if you are a student, you can find a myriad of Web-based resources that can add to your architectural education. These projects usually do not provide credits, but they are free. Additionally, most classes and resources are sponsored by colleges and universities (MIT offering the largest repository of architectural classes), architectural organizations and peer-based collectives.

The follow fifty free open courseware classes, resources and courses are divided into categories such as landscape architecture, engineering, math-based studies and more. Each link is listed alphabetically within those categories to show readers that we do not favor one resource over another. This list is not all-inclusive, as hundreds of Web sites exist that expound on various architectural aspects. Use the links listed in the “Resources” category to help refine your search for even more information.

Basics

American Landscape and Architectural Design 1850-1920: This study collection was gathered from the Harvard Graduate School of Design and showcases an historical view of American buildings and landscapes built during the period 1850-1920 [Library of Congress].
Berkeley Institute of Design: This research group offers information on human-computer interaction, mechanical design, education, architecture and art practice [Berkeley Institute of Design].
Exploring a Romano-African city — Thugga: This course offers a detailed investigation in the archaeology and history of a Roman North African city [The Open University].
Famous Architects: Learn from and about the masters at this site, which is devoted solely to architectural biographies. You might also enjoy the BBC Interviews with Architects [Various].
Great Buildings Collection: This is a leading architectural reference site that focuses on architecture around the world and through time [Great Buildings].
Information Competencies for Students in Design Disciplines [PDF]: Use this paper to learn more about core information literacy skills for higher learning students in disciplines such as design, architecture, architecture history, landscape architecture, planning and interior design [Art Libraries Society of North America].
Introduction to Building Technology: Students are guided through the different components, constraints and systems of a work of architecture [MIT].
Learning Tools: Take virtual tours of the Acropolis, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Waters and build a Ebryologic House through these interactive tools [Columbia University].
Two Introductory Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Courses [PDF]: Recognizing the importance of communication and cooperation among the three disciplines of civil, architectural and environmental engineering, two courses common to all three majors at Drexel University were developed in 2007, and you can view the results here [Drexel University].
Urban Planning, 1794-1918: These documents provide primary source materials on urban planning through the end of World War I [Cornell University].

Digital Design

Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D Education Curriculum: Civil 3D is a civil engineering application that implements a civil model to help build student projects with increased accuracy [OpenOCW].
Autodesk Sustainable Design Curriculum: This course introduces students to sustainable concepts and building information modeling [OpenOCW].
Digital Design: This is a graduate course designed to help students through the process of using rapid prototyping and CAD/CAM devices in a studio environment [MIT].
Digital Urban: Dr. Andrew Hudson-Smith takes aim at examination of latest techniques used to visualise the cityscape via digital media work at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis [University College London].
Introduction to Design Computing: Learn architectural design and computation through computer modeling, rendering and digital fabrication [MIT].
Revit Architecture BIM Curriculum: Utilize professionally developed lecture notes, student workbooks and datasets that integrate seamlessly to allow you to teach building information modeling and design visualization [OpenOCW].
CADD Primer: This entire site is devoted to learning CADD for architectural and engineering drawings. Be sure to delve into their library, which holds dozens of links for resources devoted to CAD education [CADD Education Center].

Architectural Math

Mathematics and Architecture: A very basic course with topical links and a research library [University of St Andrews, Scotland].
Mathematics in Art and Architecture: This module focuses on how mathematics is not just about formulas and logic, but about patterns, symmetry, structure, shape and beauty [National University of Singapore].
Polygons, Tilings, & Sacred Geometry: Study plane figures such as polygons, triangles, hexagons and more and how these figures apply to design [Drexel].
Some Mathematical Principles of Architecture: Learn about the tangible and intangible aspects of architecture, with highlights on the Golden Ratio and the use of the Fibonacci series [Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute]

Engineering and Planning

Basic Structural Theory: This course introduces the static behavior of structures and strength of materials [MIT].
Civil Engineering in Developing Countries: This course uses developing countries’ socio-cultural aspects such as roles of (consulting) engineers and contractors, local materials, techniques and knowledge and environmental issues to learn project planning and management [Delft University of Technology].
Engineering Statics: This is a sophomore-level engineering course that focuses on methods of quantifying the forces between bodies [OpenLearningInitiative].
Extreme Engineering: This long-running show may have set off your interest in engineering. Gain access to interactive tours and view all the projects used in this television show [Discovery Channel].
Sustainable Development for Engineers: Independent study of the book, Sustainable Development for Engineers, is the focus for this course [Delft University of Technology].
Uncertainty in Engineering Analysis: Learn applications of probability and statistics related to problems in civil and environmental engineering [Utah State University].

Landscape Architecture

Architecture Studio — Building in Landscapes: This is an introduction to skills required for building continuities between built and natural worlds. This is one of two 2005 courses, and a 2002 course also is featured [MIT].
Environmental Design Archives: Though the archives’ primary focus is the San Francisco Bay Area during 1890-1990, designers and projects from throughout the world are found in over 100 collections that document the built and landscaped environment [University of California, Berkeley].
Groundswell — Constructing the Contemporary Landscape: This Web site features all twenty-three projects in a 2005 exhibition that showcased reinvented and reclaimed urban public spaces [Museum of Modern Art].
I Want to be a Landscape Architect: This is a careers Web site that combines arts and sciences, design and the environment [The Landscape Institute and CABE].
Landscape Design Knowledge Base: This is a growing resource of authoritative reference materials selected from the Green Places journal [Landscape Design Trust].
Nature and the Built Environment: Open to graduate students and upper division undergraduates, this course explores the evolutionary roots of form and order in the built environment [Notre Dame].
Site/Lines: Learn about park and garden history, theory and design as well as city planning through these PDF journals [Foundation for Landscape Studies].
Water management in Urban Areas: Master course on design and planning of the urban water management system [Delft University of Technology].

Theory

Architectural Design, Level I: Perceptions and Processes: Learn about the relationship between intervention and perception, between representation and notation and between the fixed and the temporal [MIT].
C5 Theory as Product: C5 is a profit-sharing ensemble of artists and academics, based chiefly in the USA. Utilize their research papers, a freeware digital elevation model browser and more to learn theoretical models, analysis and tactical implications of “theory as product” [C5].
Cities and Media — Cultural Perspectives on Urban Identities in a Mediatized World: This page holds the proceedings from the 2006 ESF-LiU Research Conference by the same name. Not all papers from the conference are included, but an overview is provided in those instances [Linköpings universitet].
Radical Urban Theory: Read donated papers and book exerpts that touch on subjects such as urban sprawl, architectural fantasy, social interaction with architecture and open space and much more [Various].
Research into Practice Cluster: The projects in this cluster are staffed by postdoctoral researchers and include theoretical and foundational aspects of advancement in the creative and cultural industries [University of Hertfordshire].
Theory and Method in the Study of Architecture and Art: This is a graduate-level course that pursues selected methodologies and thinkers in art history [MIT].
Theory of Architecture: This is the opening to a learning process on architectural theory. Learn thematic theories and theories of synthesis through an easy-to-understand English language overview [taik.fi].

Resources

Akropolis: This is an Internet community for architecture, design and construction that showcases modules and applications [Akropolis].
AMSER — Architecture: At least six dozen Web sites pertaining to construction, math and architecture, sciences and architecture and more are listed in this database [National Science Foundation and National Science Digital Library].
archINFORM: This database includes information about over 21,000 twentieth-century built and unrealized projects from various international architects and planners [Various].
Athena Institute: This site offers software, tools, databases, projects and more to help architects, engineers and others to factor environmental considerations into the design process from the conceptual stage onward [Athena Institute].
Death by Architecture: This site contains architectural news, a plethora of links to all things architecture and current international architecture competitions [Mario Cipresso].
Intute — Architecture and Planning: Use this database to discover worldwide resources on over a dozen architectural topics.
RUDI: Featuring more than 5,000 documents and more than 9,000 images, RUDI is one of the largest Web resource dedicated to urban design and placemaking [Various Universities].
Whole Building Design Guide: This resource continues to add over two million documents per month pertaining to integrated design in various categories [Various].

Top 50 Construction Blogs

Linda — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:43:24 +0000

Are you a construction business owner, or are you a home owner who seeks advice on rebuilding or remodeling? Or, perhaps you’re a designer who likes to stay on top of architectural or landscape architecture news. If so, the following list of top 50 construction blogs might whet your appetite to build, rearrange or redesign your surroundings.

The following list has been categorized for construction businesses, consumers, green construction, architecture and design and landscape design and construction. The links within those categorized alphabetically to show readers that we do not value one blog over another. All blogs have been updated within the past month, so you can read the latest information from each source.

For Construction Businesses

Best Practices Construction Law: Matthew J. DeVries from Smith Cashion and Orr, PLC focuses on best practices within the construction industry.
CELOG: CELOG stands for Construction Equipment [B]log, a site that brings the construction equipment industry news from throughout the world to readers who love construction equipment.
Collaborative Construction Blog: This blog provides information that helps stakeholders in the construction industry take advantage of collaborative agreements, Building Information Modeling (BIM) software and technologies and Lean Construction techniques.
Construction Informer: This blog provides readers with construction resources, news, commentary and discussion through blog entries, podcasts, downloads and marketing tools.
Construction Marketing Ideas: Mark Buckshon specializes in marketing for construction, and he offers tips and ideas to construction business owners on this blog.
Construction News: This blog, produced by Science Daily, is for construction business workers as well as for the general public. News, new developments and videos help keep readers up-to-date on construction trends.
Federal Construction Contracting Blog: This blog, produced by Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman, provides readers with legal information and resources for federal construction contracts.
Midwest Construction Law Blog: This blog is produced by Dave at Spencer Fane Britt & Brown, LLC in Missouri. Posts include information about green building laws, licensing issues, economic news and more.
Safety & Health in Construction: VPPAC.org is a non-profit organization that is singularly focused on safety and health issues in the construction industry, and this blog provides insight into their activities.
The Construction Contractor’s Digest: Follow this blog for advice, project listings and more, all directed to construction executives.

For Consumers

100K House: Although this blog began as a record of one team’s attempt to build a LEED Platinyum home for $100k, it has become a broader project that covers current work, insights, ramblings and more that is both entertaining and educational.
Handyman and Home Repair Professionals: Although not filled with fancy photos, this blog provides a professional perspective on handyman stories, instructions and more for any home owner who is serious about home remedies and DIY.
Home Building, Renovation and Eco-friendly Blog: Learn about home building, renovation and eco-friendly choices from the Canadian family as they build a home in Calgary.
Home Construction and Improvement: Todd Fratzel is a full-time principal engineer for a large design-build construction firm. his goal with this blog is to create a home improvement and construction blog that provides accurate and reliable information for any home owner.
Homeowner’s Blog: Follow this blogger as he rebuilds a run-down ranch house located in the southeastern Catskill Mountains of New York State. You’ll learn many do-it-yourself projects, learn which projects best left to pros and more.
Let’s Blog Construction: Learn more about landscaping, rebuilding, building and all the tools and tips you’ll need to do it yourself.
New Construction Advice: Learn more about building a new home, from buying a piece of land to dealing with your general contractor and his staff. You also can ask questions about everything from buying land to taking care of a brand new home.
One Project Closer: Every home owner knows that the list of home and community projects never ends. This blog looks at a variety of projects and solutions that can help your tasks become easier and more enjoyable.
Tiny House Blog: Learn how to build and live in a tiny house. And, we mean tiny. Kent Griswold brings his love of small spaces to small space advocates.
Young House Love: These Richmond homeowners are young, and the house is “old enough” be be a parent to this couple. While not quite a ‘this old house’ blog, it is a place where you can learn how to upkeep, change or rebuild your house.

Green Construction

Building Green: Katie Zemtseff, environmental reporter at Seattle’s Daily Journal of Commerce blogs about green building issues in Seattle, the Pacific Northwest, and anywhere that might interest you.
BuildingGreen.com: This blog, which is part of a larger venue on green building, provides real-time event coverage, news and opinion on the latest news in the green building world.
Earth Architecture: Some green, some architecture, a lot of construction going on in this blog that focuses on architecture and construction from around the world.
Green Building and Environmental Trends: Richard Cartlidge is a third-year student at Stetson University College of Law and a LEED AP interested in the areas of real estate development, land use and environmental law. Follow his insights in this frequently updated blog.
Green Building Law Update: Learn more about green building codes, regulations, legal developments and trends through this blog provided by Chris Cheatham, a construction attorney and a LEED-Accredited professional.
Green Goddess: Tanya Stock is the principal of Vida Verde, LLC, a green consultant who focuses on residential remodeling for consumers and trade professionals who want to build green.
Greenconstructionuk’s Blog: This blog is about green construction, eco homes, low energy building and sustainable construction efforts.
Jetson Green: This popular green magazine/blog is obsessed with green building and everything related to green construction including sustainable architecture, good design, green prefab and more.
LEED Pro: A LEED consulting service provides tips, advice and news about the LEED-certified building industry.
The Green Building Inspector: Sure, you can build green – but what if you want to buy green? This inspector has gained an appreciation for sustainable construction and offers tips on how to find this rare construction. Let Gary Smith educate you on all aspects of green living and construction.

Architecture and Design

A Daily Dose of Architecture: If you want a daily architectural musing and image or both from New York City, this is your blog.
A456: Enrique Ramirez uses this blog as a place to post thoughts about architecture and a wide variety of design- and built environment-related ideas.
anArchitecture: This is an Austrian-based but internationally-focused blog related to architecture and architectural thinking aimed to broaden the horizons that belong to current architectural design.
Archinect: The goal that drives this blog is to make architecture more connected and open-minded by bringing designers together from around the world to introduct new ideas from all disciplines.
BLDGBLOG: Geoff Manaugh writes about architectural conjecture, urban speculation and landscape futures as he tackles various design issues.
Build Blog: Join this blog’s discussion on modern design from the Northwest. The team at Build LLC authors this blog, which includes popular posts such as the “Construction Cost Cheat-Sheet.”
Inhabitat: What construction or design blog list would be complete without this site? Inhabitat brings the latest in architecture, interiors, products, technology, energy and more to readers on a daily basis.
Interactive Architecture: Learn more about emerging architecture and artistic practices where digital technologies and virtual spaces merge with tangible and physical spatial experiences. This is a blog filled with constant flux!
Life Without Buildings: This blog’s focus is architecture out of context, along with observations on the built environment. The leaning here is toward pop culture, and it’s a focus for Jimmy Stamp, a designer and freelance writer based in San Fransisco.
Super Colossal: This blog is written and maintained by an architecture office in Sydney, Australia. They offer readers a look at projects, news and off-the-wall architectural images.

Landscape Design/Construction

Garden History Girl: Have you ever met someone with a degree in Garden History? If not, visit Arcady and her blog, where she focuses on recent and historic garden spaces and objects of interest.
Landezine: This hot little contemporary landscape blog covers diverse topics such as cemeteries, memorials, gardens, green roofs and walls and much more.
Landscape Architeck: Learn more about the world of landscape architecture and the interdisciplinary fields of architecutre, urban design, city planning and more from this landscape architecture student.
Landscape+Urbanism Blog: Join Jason King, landscape architect, as he focuses on landscape architecture, sustainable urbanism, vegetated architecture, living walls, green roofs and more from Portland, Oregon.
Places and Spaces: Stayon top of comments and news about environmental planning and design in the landscape industry, including environmental geomatics, environmental planning and landscape architecture.
Pruned: From photographs of odd objects to signage to soil samples, this site brings a plethora of information to its readers.
The Dirt: This blog is produced by the American society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), which is a national professional association that represents landscape architects.
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: This blog is for anyone who is passionate about green technologies, green roofs and rooftop gardens, urban farming, sustainable living, vertical gardens and more.
Veg.itecture: This blog is a spin-off site from Landscape+Urbanism (see above). The focus here is on green roofs, living walls and vertical farming solutions from around the world.
World Landscape Architect: This blog is for landscape architects who view themselves as planners, urbanists, managers and engineers. This site brings the latest landscape news, events and information from around the world.

Top 10 DIY Home Repair Reference Sites

admin — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:58:19 +0000

DIY means do it yourself. Most people nowadays are being encouraged to take up an active role in the maintenance of things around them. One of the crucial things that need to be repaired is our homes. Home repair is not necessarily a difficult task and most of the times; it is just a matter of finding out which tools to use and for what particular purpose. Some are quite difficult to do e.g. fixing a broken roof and they require an expert. However, some home repairs like fixing loose boards and painting are easy and can be managed by any family member with the right tools and of course the right information.

Some websites have been created to provide you with guidelines and steps to follow when performing house repairs. Remember that not all the information you get is useful or accurate and thus it is important to crosscheck information from more than one site. Some of the best reference websites include doityourself.com which is a very detailed site on things like home repair. It covers everything from electrical appliances, energy saving to concrete and woodworking.

The better homesandgardens.com is another great tool that will enable you to handle house repair projects in a systematic manner. The site contains well illustrated, step-by-step instructions in a handy and printable format which is good for reference purposes. Amazon.com home Page contains various suggestions and numerous ideas on making home improvements. The hgtv.com is another very useful resource site that gives tips on repair, refinishing and restoring furniture whether its your first effort or not. Ehow.com is an interesting resource center for gardeners and those who are keen on maintaining gardens. The resource site contains details on how to grow and maintain a garden in your home without extra muscle. You also get to learn how to trim and manicure lawns and hedges.

The askthebuilder.com is also a reliable DIY online that is very resourceful on matters involving do-it-yourself home improvement, repair and decoration. All the details that you need are adequately illustrated in the encyclopedia thus it is very reliable. It also has tips on gardening. The gardenweb.com does not just give you a guide on home repairs and improvements; it gives you links to important home related magazines and online shops where you can get the latest trends.

Want more, then log into thisoldhouse.com. This is another interesting resource that enables you to access 25 different home repair and improvement topics in its How-To center. You will definitely find it user-friendly. repairclinic.com is actually a nationwide resource team that is formed by home improvement experts who have joined to make a more successful home-reconstruction and re-modeling process for home owners and the service providers. It gives you a detailed guide on home improvement projects.

Besides the above there is bobvila.com which is a reliable popular online resource that enables you to decide how you would like to re-model and repair your house to make it more comfortable. It also has nice tips on decoration and the colors to use. All these sites are insightful and will make home repair an entertaining activity for you.

Online Construction Management Degree

admin — Thu, 28 May 2009 07:11:24 +0000

Construction industry is among the leading industries accounting more than 10 percent of the gross national product constructors are the key players. In order to manage design plan this huge industry constructors are required to have the skills and knowledge which can only be acquired through education and experience.

There are three type of top construction management in construction programmes in the field. Construction degree can be archived through traditional full-time study part-time study, or online study. There is associate degree can be earned in two years term while bachelor degree ca be earned in four years. Post graduate usually takes two years while doctorate demand extensive research in construction and management field before acquiring one. Associate degree distinctions in building construction technology are the programmes centered on production and management skills instead of design and craft skills.
The students majoring in bachelor degree in construction usually get a Bachelor of Science degree and acquire management position in the field. There are various scholarship chances available which mostly are granted by the colleges or the some major companies and organization though some of the scholarships are not directly subjected to a single field some national construction companies like (ABC) Association Builders and constructor award scholarship specifically for the management students.
By the time of college completion graduate end up understanding basic business principle and acquire broad knowledge in both technical and operational aspects of the construction industry. Students are able to fit well. Degree graduates are prepared for entry-level positions in varying construction management roles for contractors in both home office and project office/field situations. In some colleges management concentration supports the students desiring career in renovations maintenance decommissioning or operation of existing facilities. Upon the completion of degree students can expect excellent starting salaries new graduates mostly begin employment with construction firms as either assistant project managers or assistant estimator among others before climbing up the ladder