refabricating Architecture

REVIEW
refabricating Architecture, by Stephen Kieran and James Timberlake (McGraw-Hill, 2004), is subtitled "How Manufacturing Methodologies Are Poised to Transform Building Construction". In a nutshell, this book proposes that techniques of prefabrication and modularization common in other industries should be applied to the design and construction of buildings, so as to achieve less expensive, higher quality buildings that can be constructed in less time.

At its best, this book draws on the authors' own research into contemporary trends in design and manufacturing in the automobile, commercial airline, ship building, and other industries; it presents examples of the authors' attempts at applying lessons learned to their own projects; and it offers interesting insites into how the traditional organization of construction trades and suppliers inhibits innovation in project delivery methods.

Though at times the writing style seemed to this author a bit ponderous, for readers interested in innovations in project delivery methods within the design and construction industries, this book is a worthwhile read.