Architecture & DesignCurated Directory — Courses, Videos, Books & Websites

Literally added a few $100k to the value! how landscape design can totally transform a home!

The video shows how targeted landscape interventions—front‑yard curb upgrades, strategic hardscaping (patios, walkways), professional outdoor lighting, and low‑maintenance native plantings—can collectively add several hundred thousand dollars to a property's resale value by improving curb appeal and usable outdoor square footage. It prioritizes high‑ROI moves (reworking the entry sequence and grading/drainage, defining outdoor living rooms, and choosing durable, cost‑effective materials) and recommends phasing projects to control budget while delivering immediate visual impact. With before/after examples, cost vs. value estimates, and tips for collaborating with designers and landscapers to balance aesthetics and upkeep, the video is a practical watch if you want measurable value from outdoor upgrades or are preparing to sell.

The 50 Greatest Architects

Philip Wilkinson's The 50 Greatest Architects presents concise case-based portraits that distill each architect's signature approaches—how they negotiated site, materials, structure and program—to reveal repeatable design strategies rather than mere biography. By juxtaposing diverse eras and typologies, the book surfaces practical lessons on adaptability, technological innovation, and cultural responsiveness you can apply when solving contemporary design problems or critiquing projects. If you seek a compact primer that supplies concrete examples and critical touchpoints for studio projects, client conversations, or building a personal design vocabulary, this book is a practical, actionable starting point.

Architectural Design Process Explained

The video breaks the architectural design process into actionable stages—site analysis, concept sketching, iterative massing, and construction-document workflows—clarifying when to move from hand sketches to digital modeling. It delivers hands-on Autodesk techniques for translating concepts into BIM, covering file organization, parametric modeling tricks, quick visualization/rendering shortcuts, and common modeling pitfalls that slow iterations. Example-driven tips on client presentation, decision checkpoints, and student subscription/access options let you quickly judge whether the tutorial’s practical methods and software shortcuts fit your studio workflow.

How to Read Buildings: A Crash Course in Architectural Styles

The book teaches you to visually identify major architectural styles by their defining elements—columns, cornices, rooflines, and window types—and to place buildings in their historical and stylistic context. Packed with clear illustrations, labeled diagrams, and side-by-side comparisons, it converts jargon into practical visual cues you can use while walking a neighborhood or assessing a property. As a compact, action-oriented primer with concise checklists and real-world examples, it’s ideal for enthusiasts, real-estate pros, and students who want to build confident observational skills before tackling deeper study.

The Short Story of Architecture

Susie Hodge's concise survey connects major movements—from classical and Gothic through Renaissance, Modernism and beyond—to the social, technological, and material drivers that produced distinctive forms, giving readers a clear framework to read buildings rather than memorize dates. Packed with succinct stylistic summaries and case examples, the book equips beginners with practical vocabulary and visual cues to identify key features, compare approaches, and judge how historical ideas continue to shape contemporary design decisions. If you want a brisk, approachable primer that quickly builds the analytical tools to appreciate, critique, or pursue further study in architecture without wading through academic jargon, this is a useful starting point.

7 principles for building better cities | Peter Calthorpe | TED

More than half of the world's population already lives in cities, and another 2.5 billion people are projected to move to urban areas ...

How To Be A BIM (Building Info Modeling) Engineer

I have received a lot of attention on my "A Day in the life as a BIM Engineer" video asking me "Trey, how can I be a BIM Engineer?

Sustainable Cities: Crash Course Geography #49

From towering skyscrapers covered in trees to zero carbon smart cities, there are so many ways to imagine what a sustainable city ...

The Ultimate Guide to Rustic-Modern Interior Design with Stylish Furniture, Decorative Element Ideas

Transform Your Home with Rustic-Modern Interior Design! ✨ Imagine a space where the warmth of reclaimed wood meets the ...

FREE Apps for Architects! 🤩🏠 #animation architecture #architecturestudent #sketchup

More details I generally use Ipad when I need to take some notes on site. Most of these apps are free. (I use the free tier) ...

BEST FREE CAD / 3D Modelling software 2024 - I tested them all!

I tested every $0 cost CAD program on offer in 2024 to find out which is best to design 3D models for 3D printing! There's a huge ...

How to build a sustainable house using natural building materials | Aanandaa Farms

Location: Panchkula Architect: Jitesh Malik, Studio Aureole After successfully running the Aaananda Permaculture Project near ...

Commercial Building Design 🔥

How to manage projects with lists in Slack

Slack lists make it possible for teams to manage projects and tasks right where they're already working. From action items to ...

Roman Architecture Changed Everything #linguistics #language #etymology #latin #rome #ancientrome

Inside a Landscape Architect’s Home on Top of a Hill

Architect Jason Buensalido, Chief Design Ambassador of @BuensalidoArchitects , worked with landscaper Bobby Gopiao to ...

How to draw vector illustrations in Adobe Fresco

Here's how you can draw crisp vector illustrations from your iPad, using Adobe Fresco. I absolutely love the vector brush because ...

Know What is BIM (Building Information Modeling)? | BIM series

What is BIM, or Building Information Modeling? BIM is an intelligent, model-based process for planning, designing, building, and ...

4 Must-Try Garden Design Elements to Create a Unique Garden

I've been studying old gardening books and visiting historic gardens for the past year with the idea of learning what makes these ...

Organize, track, and collaborate with Project in Microsoft Teams

See how new features such as Assigned to Me, Task History, and People view can help you and your team take collaboration on ...

QGIS Beginner Part 1: Making Your First Map

Take a look at this beginner tutorial and create your first map in QGIS. 0:00 Intro 0:43 Adding your first data 2:35 Connecting to ...

Every WORST Designed City Explained in 9 Minutes

Have you ever walked through a city and thought, "Who on earth designed this mess?" Or wondered why some places seem ...

3 AI Tools Architects Should be Using by Now

Create a free Rayon Design account here: https://rayon.design/r/showitbetter_ai_video Operative Design Book: ...

How Sustainability Is Bringing Architecture Back Down to Earth

Skylines are soaring higher and higher, and cities are awash in concrete. But world-famous Japanese architect Kengo Kuma is ...