Chris Wilkinson – författare

Following Conversations on Religion (Continuum 2008), here is a fascinating line up of original interviews tackling one of today's most vexing issues - that of truth. These discussions explore the question of what truth is, and what role it has in private, public, political and scientific discourses. Some thinkers, see truth as something concrete and immutable, others believe that it is an essentially meaningless concept. And for many contributors it is the practical application of truth which engages them. Each fascinating chapter explores the subject from a new angle, including Nick Davies and Peter Wilby's view on truth in the media, Prof. Martin Kusch's reflections in relation to science and Mary Warnock's consideration of truth in the context of ethics and art. Other contributors include Mary Midgely, Noam Chomsky and A. C. Grayling. This is a book of quite exceptional interest and importance.

Supersheds: The Architecture of Long-Span, Large-Volume Buildings deals with large single-volume buildings known as supersheds. This book explains and catalogues the changes in modern architecture of supersheds and illustrates this with significant and important examples. This text is composed of six chapters. The first chapter gives a background of 19th century architecture that made possible great exhibition halls and long-spans of the railway era. The second chapter deals with another type of supershed: airship and aircraft hangars. In the third chapter, industrial architecture in Europe and in the U.S. during the early 20th century is examined. Examples of beautiful factories and building designs are mentioned, and the effects of World War II on the type of building constructions are also discussed. The fourth chapter traces the evolution of the well-serviced multi-use shed. The architecture of the extruded shed, the cool box, and special structures are described as well. The major influences that affected building design in the second half of the 20th century are mentioned as the machine transfer technology and computers. The fifth chapter explains the concept of ""more with less,"" where the task is to accomplish more with less material. Space structures, suspended roof structures, and air-supported structures are given as examples. The last chapter discusses the future of modern architecture along with new forms, materials, and technology, such as solid state chemistry, computers, and biotechnology. Architects, civil and construction engineers, architectural students, and the general public who has an interest in reading about large building designs and supersheds will find this book interesting.

Despite being at the forefront of high-tech innovation in architecture, Chris Wilkinson OBE RA is an architect who believes passionately in the importance of drawing by hand. Where many practices are now dominated by computer-aided design, Wilkinson still uses drawing as a way to think through ideas, to grapple with design problems and as a tool of communication. This volume brings together images selected from twenty years of Wilkinson's sketchbooks, presenting a fascinating record not just of draughtsmanship but of the creation of architectural narrative. Covering every stage of the design process, this unique insight into the working drawings of a hugely influential architect includes sketches for many of his practice's most groundbreaking works, from structures for the London Olympics to the restoration and reconstruction of the three Grade II listed gas holders in Kings Cross, London. A gazetteer also features, containing photographs of the final projects. The Sketchbooks of Chris Wilkinson is both an essential purchase for anyone interested in the development of architectural draughtsmanship and a powerful demonstration of its importance.