Every building is composed of parts, or components, that may be organized in various ways. For example, there are different ways to configure walls so that they perform their primary functions – bearing, dividing, and sheltering – in an optimal manner. This book presents the most common load-bearing systems, such as plate, massive, and skeleton construction, and describes their impact on the structure as a whole. It explains how spaces can be vertically or horizontally connected and assembled into larger wholes. The individual elements, such as floor slabs, roofs, openings, and foundations, are described together with their functions and the various possibilities for connecting them. The book goes beyond the wealth of possible detail to demonstrate the basic principles of detailing. Numerous specially prepared drawings set forth the principles of components and then illustrate them with reference to realized projects.