The industry-standard guide to designing well-performing buildings

Aesthetics are a vital part of good design. Great design emerges from a deep understanding of the functionality and constructability of details. Good details provide clear, complete, and correct information to the wide variety of users that need them. Architects guide a project from design idea to buildable reality by working with other building industry professionals and creating a set of details that show how things are put together.

Architectural Detailing systematically describes the principles for designing good architectural details. Using patterns that demonstrate best practices and consistent approaches to design detailing, this book teaches why detailing is important, what factors shape detailing issues, and how to detail a building that meets or exceeds performance requirements. Extensive illustrations demonstrate how to design building details that will not leak water or air, will control the flow of heat and water vapor, will adjust to all kinds of movement, and will be easy to construct.

This fourth edition has been updated to conform to the latest International Building Codes and International Energy Conservation Code requirements and incorporates current knowledge about new material and construction technology, including:

• Expanded patterns for sustainability, high performance architecture, and resilience


• Examples using panelized or modularized prefabricated building assemblies


• Complex case studies demonstrating the detailing design process for energy efficient structures


• Design detailing for maintenance and management of sensitive or weak spots in a building assembly

Architectural Detailing helps you bring a building together with a well detailed design that communicates effectively at all levels of the construction process.