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Architecture and Landscape Architecture

A range of links to library and information resources for architecture and landscape architecture. These include local collections, networked services and external websites.

Library News and Events

Information about Library news, training, events and service updates.

Academic Support Librarian for ESALA

Race and Decolonial Studies Guide and Diversifying Toolkit guide

The Academic Support Librarian team have created two new subject guides giving advice on resources relating to race studies, diversifying and decolonising the curriculum, and matters relating to EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion).

You can access the Diversifying Toolkit here.

This guide assists with the work of diversifying resources used in teaching. Designed to help academic staff begin assessing the readings they already use to make their curriculum more inclusive.

You can find the Race and Decolonial Studies subject guide here.

Main Library

Keep up-to-date with the Library!

Feedback

Researching the University Estate

Are you an architecture student conducting research about one of the University buildings? The University Estates department can help with that!  Estates hold a drawing for each and every building within The University of Edinburgh estate. These drawings cover each floor and outline every room within a specific building. For more information about how to request a plan or drawing of a building go to the Estates information page here.

The Estates Helpdesk can be contacted at estates.helpdesk@ed.ac.uk 

Databases for ESALA

Bloomsbury Architecture Library is a leading digital resource for the study of architecture, urbanism, and interior design. Its dynamic digital platform offers access to wide-ranging collections of text and image content, from architectural history to cutting-edge design guidance. The platform is comprised of multiple collections, including the newly updated ebook edition of Bannister Fletcher’s Global History of Architecture, 21st edition.

For a complete list of architecture, landscape architecture, and architectural history-related databases please go to this webpage 

Architecture, landscape architecture, and architectural history collections

Main Library

Standard and short loan books are shelved, together with reference books for the subject, at Library or Congress (LC) classification shelfmarks N and NA.

Older standard and short loan books are located at Dewey shelfmark .72 onwards.

The following link gives full details of the locations of all of the Main Library's collections:

Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) Library

The ECA collection consists of some 65,000 books and 300 periodical subscriptions along with DVDs, maps, slides and artists' books. ECA Library supports learning, teaching and research in architecture, landscape architecture, architectural history, history of art, and art and design.

Art and Architecture Library

Contains books on architectural design, architectural theory and practice, architectural history, construction, planning and urban design, technical books, landscape architecture and landscape history, professional practice, presentation techniques, CAAD and digital media.

About 80 current journal titles and CDs, student dissertations and work placement reports are held in the Art & Architecture Library.

Internet resources for Architecture

AATA Online: Abstracts of International Conservation Literature

AATA Online

CABE Case Studies

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) library of England's best buildings and spaces.

Google Earth

Provides access to virtual geographical information.

Landscape Institute Library

The Landscape Institute Library holds Europe's largest specialist collection of books, journals, and publications relating to landscape architecture. The catalogue includes journal articles as well as references to relevant contents / chapters in individual books.

Multimedia resources for Teaching

A guide highighting a selection of resources - some available on the internet, others through a University subscription - with multimedia content that is copyright cleared or labelled with a Creative Commons licence permitting its re-use.

RIAS Directory of Architect's Practices

From the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).

RIBA Library

The catalogue of the Royal Incorporation of British Architects (RIBA) British Architectural Library functions as an index to over 300 architectural journals.

The catalogue also contains details of books and audio visual materials held by the RIBA Library.

Search Tip: To restrict your search to journal articles only, make sure that collections is set to Journals.

Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland

The Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) is the regulatory and support body for architects in Ireland. Use the link below to access the RIAI Register of Architects and to download their official journal, Architecture Ireland

Products & materials:

Barbour product search

Searchable database of building products and suppliers, including images, case studies, technical data, catalogues, news and project data.

 

SpecifiedBy

SpecifiedBy was created in Edinburgh to help specifiers find and research building products and materials through modern search, comparison and information management tools. By providing well-structured, open data for thousands of products, the service aims to provide the most comprehensive database of products and materials in the UK and save construction professionals time in the process. You can sign up for free.

 

ESI info

ESI's online product information service covering external works, building products, interior design and building services.

 

External Works

A leading UK resource for landscape architects and architects involved in landscaping projects.

 

Dutch registration-based service providing free access to information on thousands of materials.

 

RIBA product selector

A leading resource on building products, NBS (National Building Specification) information and RIBA (Royal Incorporation of British Architects) CPD with free access to product catalogues, technical documents and contact information of over 10,000 UK manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, trade associations and construction service providers.

 

Stylepark

German registration-based service providing free access to information on thousands of design products and materials.

 

TRADA: Timber Research & Development Association

For "All you wanted to know about timber ..." in the construction industry.

Students and staff can register for free student membership: Membership

 

Planning & regulations:

DiscoverEd

Course resource lists

Referencing

Avoiding plagiarism

Looking for images?

Looking for theses and dissertations?

We have various databases dedicated to searching for theses and dissertations.

SBCC online

The University Library has an agreement with the Scottish Building Contracts Committee (SBCC) to allow matriculated students and also University staff free access to the SBCC contracts online service. SBCC provides contractual documentation you would need for your building and construction work in Scotland.

Access is by username and password. To see these, go to the EASE password-protected "Electronic Resources Usernames and Passwords" library webpage

Please note – we do have the right to free access to this resource so IGNORE stated costs and simply proceed to create a document by clicking the “Download Contract for Educational Use” link. If you have problems accessing this resource please contact your Academic Support Librarian or email IS.Helpline@ed.ac.uk