Metric Handbook: Planning and Design Data
by Pamela Buxton · Routledge
Reference book compiling dimensional and spatial planning data for buildings, organised by building type such as housing, schools, offices, healthcare and sport, with general sections on human dimensions, accessibility and circulation. Designers use it to size rooms, spaces and circulation during early design.
This link may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure
More resources on Architecture Practice
Black Spectacles
The go-to YouTube channel for US architects preparing for the ARE licensing exam — Revit tutorials, SketchUp walkthroughs, and professional development content.
30X40 Design Workshop
Practising Maine architect Eric Reinholdt covers the full residential design process — site analysis to construction documentation — with methodical clarity. Includes the most honest 'How to Become an Architect' overview on YouTube.
RIBA Plan of Work 2020
Defines the eight stages of an architectural project (Strategic Definition through to Use) — the framework every UK architect works within. Understanding it is not optional; it is the language the profession speaks.
Designing Buildings Wiki
A comprehensive encyclopaedia of the built environment — definitions of terms, procurement routes, building regulations, contract structures, and professional roles. The reference to check when you encounter any unfamiliar term in architectural practice.
Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the 2018 International Building Code
Illustrated guide to the 2018 International Building Code, explaining how the code is organised and applied to occupancy classification, allowable heights and areas, fire-resistive construction, means of egress, accessibility and structural provisions. Architects learn to read and apply the requirements that shape design decisions.
Architect's Legal Handbook (10th edition, Routledge)
Covers the legal dimensions of practice in England, Wales, and Scotland — contracts, liability, planning, and professional obligations. Essential for any architect practising in the UK.