About five years ago I decided that I wanted to write a textbook on building construction. At that time it seemed like a straightforward, if lengthy, task of setting out the essential issues in the construction of buildings to a readership of architecture students and young practitioners. It would consist of information that I had regularly discussed and sketched with colleagues I had worked with over the years.

In talking to possible publishers, I put across to them a case explaining how I thought the book would fill a gap in the market, and who would read it. I felt at the time of starting the project that it would be of benefit to students to show some of the possible developments for future construction, as well as construction techniques from other industries from which architects like to draw inspiration. I wanted to include aircraft, yachts, oil production platforms and ski lifts as well as environmental issues such as the recycling of building materials and embodied energy. However, as the text developed I felt it would be more valuable for a reader to have a more focused book, without too much crusading for environmental issues or dreaming about other structures. I thought that it would do the book a disservice in the long run by appearing too quirky, and instead aimed for a balance of hard fact and inspiring images.