Zurich University
of Applied Sciences

Research guide to architecture, design and civil engineering resources

Be efficient in your research and use the various databases, reference works and additional literature in the field of architecture, design and civil engineering.

Databases

We recommend that you search the databases in order to research and review up-to-date and discipline-specific content on a topic. They mostly contain references to resources as well as full text articles from journals. Depending on the database, additional types of publications such as conference reports, book chapters, pictures, videos and much more are included.

Name Content Guide
archINFORM
  • Subjects: Architecture, Civil Engineering, Surveying
  • Coverage: International, multilingual
  • Content: Information on projects and architects
  • Special Feature: Freely accessible, informal project submissions possible for everyone
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Artstor
  • Subjects: Architecture, Design, Art
  • Coverage: International, English
  • Content: Royalty-free images
  • Special Feature: Freely accessible via JSTOR, with content from the world's most important museums and archives
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Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals
  • Subjects: Archaeology, Architecture, Architectural History, Design Planning, Heritage Conservation, Design, Interior Architecture, Art History, Landscape Architecture, Urban Planning, Housing
  • Coverage: International, English
  • Content: Journal articles, interviews, book reviews, exhibition catalogues, sometimes only abstracts
 ProQuest Guide
Baugeschichtliches Archiv Stadt Zürich
  • Subjects: Architecture, Architectural Photography, Building History of the City of Zurich
  • Coverage: City of Zurich, German
  • Content: Collection of images, maps, and plans on locations and topics related to Zurich's architectural history
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Bildarchiv Winterthur
  • Subjects: Urban development and life in the city of Winterthur since the 17th century
  • Coverage: City of Winterthur, German
  • Content: Photos, printed and original graphics, portrait collection of Winterthur residents
  • Special Feature: Scans can be ordered in reproduction-quality
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Building Types Online
  • Subjects: Architecture, Building Typology, Design and Building Theory
  • Coverage: International, English
  • Content: Building plans, photographs, specialist articles
 Quick Guide
DETAIL inspiration
  • Subjects: Architecture, Building Construction, Design
  • Coverage: International, in English and German
  • Content: Project documentation of buildings featured in the journal “Detail”
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E-Periodica
  • Subjects: Interdisciplinary
  • Coverage: Switzerland, multilingual
  • Content: Digitised collection of Swiss specialist journals, historical publications from the 18th century onwards
  • Special Feature: Freely accessible
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GIS Geoportal Zürich
  • Subjects: Cantonal geodata, map catalogue
  • Coverage: Canton of Zurich, German
  • Content: Graphical display of data in map format
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Halle 180+ Raum für Wissen
  • Subjects: Architecture, Design, and Civil Engineering
  • Coverage: ZHAW Department of Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering, German
  • Content: Publications, research, student work, events, and activities of the Department
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Knovel
  • Subjects: Engineering, Applied Sciences
  • Coverage: International, English
  • Content: Handbooks, technical reference works, interactive tools for tables, equations, and diagrams
 Quick Start Guide
Materialarchiv
  • Subjects: Materials, Substances, Design, Manufacturing Technology
  • Coverage: German
  • Content: Material data, descriptions, photographs
  • Special Feature: Extensive archive with material samples and detailed information for architects and designers
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MATREC
Circular Materials
Circular Trends
  • Subjects: Materials Science, Recycling, Waste Management
  • Coverage: German and Italian
  • Content: Sustainable material use and recycling technologies in industry
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RSWB plus
  • Subjects: Construction-related topics
  • Coverage: Germany, Switzerland, Austria, German
  • Content: Journal articles, books, academic papers, research reports, standards
  • Special Feature: Contains hard-to-access grey literature, no updates from 2025 onwards
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SCHADIS
  • Subjects: Architecture, Building Damage, Renovation, Building Physics
  • Coverage: Germany, German
  • Content: Specialist articles, book chapters, conference papers, damage reports
  • Special Feature: Specialised in the analysis and documentation of building damage with practical solution proposals
Limited to one simultaneous user. 		Quick Guide

Reference works

farbige Bücher stehen in einem Regal in der Hochschulbibliothek

Not sure where to start yet? Reference works are a good first step: they provide definitions, give an overview of a topic and help you find the right search terms for your research.

You can find all reference works in ZHAW swisscovery. To help you get started quickly in your specialist area, we have put together a selection of titles below. 

General reference works can be found with the monolingual and multilingual dictionaries.

Title Additional information
A Dictionary of Construction, Surveying and Civil Engineering There are further reference works from Oxford on the topic of science and technology.
Companion to the History of Architecture -
Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and Technology -
The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture There are further reference works from Oxford on the topic of arts and architecture.

Bachelor's and master's theses

Master’s theses are located in the University Library Winterthur and are available to borrow. You will find the request form in ZHAW swisscovery.

The following pages provide an overview of the bachelor's theses: