WOOD IN THE LANDSCAPE: DECKS PART II

Last week, Part I of this series discussed the origins of wood decks and basic framing systems. This week our five part series continues with the fundamentals of foundations.

WOOD IN THE LANDSCAPE: DECKS PART I

"Wood brings us back to roots of our building heritage," says Seattle landscape architect Daniel Winterbottom. "The differing grains, colors, and expressions inherent in the material give wood a warm lively quality found in few other materials."

HIGH-TECH WINDOWS COULD SAVE ENERGY

A window is one of the most complex components in a building. It gives us light, views, fresh air, and the sun's warmth. Yet at times trying to balance these benefits works against the goals of comfort and energy savings. Having too few windows deprives workers of psychologically important vistas and increases the need for electric lighting. But too much direct sunlight can cause glare and increase the cooling load. And the delicate balance among all these factors changes throughout the day and year.

IRISH STONE WALLS

The Irish countryside is a patchwork of over 250,000 miles (400,000 kilometers) of stone walls. Built from local stone according to the style of each region, these walls are an intrinsic part of the landscape. Patrick McAfee, a consultant and expert stonemason, reveals the history of this ancient tradition and gives illustrated examples of the care and restoration of stone walls of all types.

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