Volume 7 of Walter Spink's monumental and still controversial study of the famous Ajanta caves considers the many connections between the Bagh caves and its "sister site", Ajanta, particularly emphasizing the leading role that Bagh plays in the crucial matter of Buddhist shrine development and the transition from the aniconic to iconic forms of worship. He also explains the relationships between certain caves and solstices, as well as changing technologies, especially in the development of the door fittings in the monks' cells.

PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION THE exhaustion of the first edition of this book, within so short a time of its publication, makes it difficult to add much new matter for the reissue now called for, or, in the light of subsequent research and experience, to revise what had already been written. Any book that seemed to show a way of meeting the present building difficulties, however partially, was fairly assured of a welcome, but the somewhat unforeseen demand for my small contribution to the great volume of literature on cottage-building is, I think, to be attributed chiefly to its description of Pise- building. Of the very large number of letters that reach me from readers of the book, quite ninety-nine out of every hundred are concerned with Pise. The other methods of building have their advocates and exponents, but it is clearly Pise that has caught the attention of the public as well as of the Press both at home and abroad, and it is to this method of construction that I have chiefly devoted my attention since the writing of the book as it first appeared. In our English climate Pise-building is a summer craft, and the small-scale experiments of one person through a single summer cannot in the nature of things add very greatly to the sum of our knowledge of what is possible with Pise and of what is not. Most of the new data have come through the building of Mr. Stracheys demonstration house, an account of which is included in the present volume. At the time of writing, various tests are being carried out with the help of the National Physical Laboratory but the results, though exceedingly encouraging, are not yet ready for publication. 1 The fact that Pise- building is essentially aDry-earth method makes necessary the creation of artificial summer conditions under which the experiments may be conducted 1 Certain of these have since been issued and will be found in Ap pendix IV. at the end of the book. 484387 Preface to Second Edition during the past winter. As a result of these researches, a considerable mass of useful data has become available for the opening of the present building season. 1 Much helpful information is also likely to come to us from the Colonies, particularly from Rhodesia and British East Africa, where there is great activity in Pise-building, and where there is no close season such as our winter us here. imposes upon It is instructive also to note that great interest in Pise- building has been aroused in Canada and in Scandinavia, the two countries that we were wont to associate particularly with timber-building. From both I have received a number of letters complaining of the lumber shortage, and discussing the advantages of Pise as compared with their traditional wood-construction. If these great timber countries are themselves feeling the pinch, the advocates of wooden houses for England may find that they are not merely barking up the wrong tree, but up a tree that is not even there. The timber famine is, - in any case, a calamity to anyone dependent on building, that is to everyone, for even a Pise house must still have a roof and floors and joinery. But to invoke the timber house as our salvation under existing conditions seems to be singularly perverse and unhelpful...

Art and Architecture in Ladakh shows how the region's cultural development has been influenced by its location across the great communications routes linking India with Tibet and Central Asia. Edited by Erberto Lo Bue and John Bray, the collection contains 17 research papers by experienced international art historians and architectural conservationists, as well as emerging scholars from Ladakh itself. Their topics range widely over time, from prehistoric rock art to mediaeval Buddhist stupas and wall paintings, as well as early modern castle architecture, the inter-regional trade in silk brocades, and the challenges of 21st century conservation. Taken together, these studies complement each other to provide a detailed view of Ladakh's varied cultural inheritance in the light of the latest research. Contributors include: Monisha Ahmed, Marjo Alafouzo, Andre Alexander, Chiara Bellini, Kristin Blancke, John Bray, Laurianne Bruneau, Andreas Catanese, Philip Denwood, Quentin Devers, Phuntsog Dorjay, Hubert Feiglstorfer, John Harrison, Neil and Kath Howard, Gerald Kozicz, Erberto Lo Bue, Filippo Lunardo, Kacho Mumtaz Ali Khan, Heinrich Poell, Tashi Ldawa Thsangspa and Martin Vernier.

BUILDING SUPERINTENDENCE FOR STEEL STRUCTURES - A PRACTICAL WORK ON THE DUTIES OF A BUILDING SUPERINTENDENT FOR STEEL-FRAME BUILDINGS AND THE PROPER METHODS OF HANDLING THE MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION by EDGAR S. BELDEN. INTRODUCTION: THE problems of superintendence of steel frame structures aie JL so different from those which arise in connection with other types of buildings that it has been necessary for men to make a specialty of building superintendence for steel buildings. The knowledge of the best types of design, the proper methods of fabrication, the tests which should be connected for quality of steel, and finally the proper methods of erecting the steel, all call for special training apart from the usual building superintendence methods. It is with the idea of giving engineer and layman the most authoritative information on this important subject that this little volume has been published. It does not attempt to go into the theory of design of steel structures, but confines itself to the problems of superintendence alone. The author is abundantly quali- fied to speak on this subject as he has erected many steel buildings for one of the biggest contracting firms in the country. He has given the reader the benefit of his experience as a superintendent by outlining the duties of this office, and making clear the engineering, legal, and practical knowledge required. Then he goes into detail regarding the inspection of the steel material in the fabrication shops and the proper method of storing it until needed. The problems of erection are all treated equipment required, foundations, the handling of the steel, riveting, and painting. The author closes the article with some adviceas to the proper organization of his force, how the superintendent should work with architect and owner and what qualities a good superintendent should possess. Altogether the article should prove a valuable addition to the technical literature in this field. Contents include: Introduction 1 Classes of structures 1 Structural steel 1 Good design 2 Divisions of work 2 General superintendence problems 5 Reconciling theory and practice 5 Value of forethought 5 Judgment in handling mistakes 5 Theories of designing engineer vs. actualities of contractor 6 Problem of handlingmen 6 Progress charts 8 Shifting character of contractors organization 8 Handling business details 9 Value of business methods with businessmen 9 Appointments Contractors payments Superintendents rulings Purchases Legal points encountered 11 Importance of legal knowledge 11 Rudiments of law 11 Field of private law 12 Contracts 12 Agency 16 Liability law 18 Building laws 18 Lien laws 18 Application of the law 19 Duties regarding drawings 20 Draftsmanship and superintendence compared 20 Knowledge of drawings important 20 Accuracy of drawings 21 Supplying workmen with drawings 21 Handling drawings 21 Classes of drawings 22 Conflict in requirements 23 Inspection of material and erection of steel work 24 Mill inspection Knowledge necessary for mill inspector Cast iron Wrought iron Steel Necessity of mill inspection 10 10 10 11 24 24 25 26 27 30 Inspection of material and erection of steel work Continued Shop inspection 30 Amount of inspection varies with work 30 Drawings in shop 31 Shop processes 31 Reports 38 Inspection and superintendence of erection 38 Kinds of structure 38 Different methods of erecting steel ...