Ideal for anyone interested in buildings and for all types of building professionals,Building Structuresdescribes and explains the behaviour of structures in straightforward no-nonsense terms without calculations. Over 1000 user-friendly diagrams guide the user from first principles and a brief history of structural design, through all the essential concepts needed for understanding the buildings around us and the processes involved in their design and construction. In-depth case studies show the reader how these concepts can be applied to real buildings from Durham Cathedral to the Bank of China. Finally, the book shows how a simple approach can be taken to mathematical calculations, enabling deeper understanding to be accessible to all.