1 comments about The Prefabricated Home.

1. As an architect interested in the idea of prefabrication I approached this book with the hope of learning as well as being instructed and entertained.
   The author succeeded on all counts.
   This book is extremely readable without losing any weight in content.
   I recommend it to anyone looking for both a historical and a social history of prefabricated building techniques.
   My only criticism is that the book skimmed over the huge prefab industry in Asia and Japan in particular to focus on Europe and North America. A small gripe concerning an excellent and rewarding read.

5 comments about Creative Rubber Stamping Techniques.

1. I have loved all of the MaryJo McGraw stamping books that I've read. This is most likely my favorite. It is very creative. My favorite part about her books is that the cards actually look pretty, like something I'd want to duplicate myself. With other stamping books I didn't like the cards, and there was no way I wanted to use them as a guide even if their tecniques worked. Also the writing is fun and interesting, and not dull or preachy. My one problem with it is that to be able to make the cards you have to buy a lot of supplies. Overall the book in itself is very inspiring and worthwhile although it asks you to use many different supplies.



2. Tips on using different types of media like velllum, using wax stamps and embossing powders, making antique finishes. using metallic papers, and an especially fun one - using brayers and bleach - these (and more) are all in this book - really lots to inspire plus good instructions.



3. I have just started making craft projects and this book was a lifesaver. Besides offering very creative projects, this book provides all the basic techniques of stamping. The author earns my gratitude by showing each method in a step-by-step manner, with photos at every step. However, this book also will satisfy the more experienced stamper.

   In the first chapter, the author gives a detailed list of helpful tools and materials, a small library of quirky images, and the basics of inking and cleaning stamps.

   In the second chapter on embossing, the author first lists basic materials and tips. Then, she gives "receipes" and instructions for particular projects. Some are more complicated than others. Finally, the author gives an "endless possibility" section that provides instructions without the step-by-step photos. This is because these projects all build on the basic tecniques so it would be redundant to include them. My favorite project in this chapter is the Deco-Roman-looking flute player superimposed over sheet music.

   The third chapter follows the format of the second chapter in how it is set up, but all the projects involve embedded stamps. This method is "a bit tricky" as the author says, because it involves heat, but looks impressive. It gives a 3-D effect to the stamped image.

   The fourth chapter describes how to add vellum to your projects. This chapter also has basic techniques and tips upon which are built more, but do-able, projects. I like the use of tassles with the vellum.

   Chapters five and eight describe embellishments and how to combine previously mentioned techniques. Chapter five focusses on beading and sealing wax. Chapter eight titled ornaments does not describe stamping Christmas-like ornaments, but rather how to make clay ornamentation. I would have liked to see more variety in the embellishments in the two chapters, but there are still some nice ideas. I especially liked the heartstrings card in chapter five.

   Chapters six, seven, and nine describe ways to add a finish to your project. The chapters present the methods of antiquing, paper metallics, and brayers, respectively. Antiquing is easier than I thought it would be with the author's simple instructions, but adding a metal finish is another tricky method that involves heat. Chapter nine describes how to change the appearance of your project using watercolors, bleaching, textures(like bubble wrap), and a brayer.

   In the last section the author gives useful information. She provides a list of stamp companies and publications. Thankfully, she also provides a list by page number of all the stamps, and the companies that make them, used in the projects.

   I look forward to trying all the projects, and would recommend this book to crafters at all experience levels.




4. I was really inspired by this book. Maryjo shows us several unique techniques that are more than just basic cards. If you are looking for great artsy projects, you need to get this book. Maryjo shows us all how to look at our stamping supplies in a different way. If you want to create stunning one of a kind works of art, this is the book for you!



5. Great pictures of elegant projects will give you lots of creative ideas. Very nice and quite artistic - nothing too "cute." Step by step instructions make it easy for anyone, though I think this book is most useful for advanced-beginners and up. A good book and worth the price.

5 comments about Architectural Lighting Design, 2nd Edition.

1. I was given this book as a gift just after I started working in the lighting industry, and at the time it gave me a very good overview of various lighting topics. The author spends a good deal of time on the "soft" issues of lighting design: those that tend to be more subjective and perception-based rather than technical.
   
   If you are very new to lighting design, or if you come from an interior design background, I would recommend this book. Other volumes, such as "Lighting Engineering: Applied Calculations" and the IESNA handbook are more appropriate if you deal with the technical/engineering side.



2. For those looking for lighting basics that covers lamping, and the psychology of lighting, "Architectural Lighting Design" serves this purpose with flying colors. However if you are looking for creative solutions to lighting problems this is not the book. "ALD" though still has some helpful tid bits even for those more advanced in lighting design. The section on specifications is very helpful, and very complete, and the section on filling a space with light is an inteligent and thoughtful approach to lighting. Personally I would enjoy a section which covers a few areas that I felt got overlooked; Lighting controls, Green considerations, and the foot candle method, but overall it's good book to have in a person's library and might have answers to the questions you are looking for.



3. If you're an interior designer and want to expand your lighting horizons - this is the book to buy. It's very accessible for those who might think lighting is all about wiring. This book gives great instruction on lighting design and well as product. A must have in any designer's library.



4. I had to purchase this book for my Lighting Design Course as a part of my M. Arch program, and this book has done more to confuse me than to help me. The editing is excruciatingly bad, all of the chapters ramble on and repeat themselves constantly, and it is missing at least one crucial element--an explanation of how to diagram lighting layouts and control systems. Do yourself a favor, and find a different book.



5. This is an excellent book. The reasons are these: the process of lighting design is explained with a thoroughness and clarity unseen in other books; the most important points are always accompanied by examples taken from real projects-the author's own or others; the voice of the author is immediate, conversational, and easy to learn from; and, the balance between technical detail and the practical business of getting the (lighting) job done is admirably struck.

   Steffy explains the lighting design process in its proper order and with the proper emphasis. He begins by defining the lighting design problem as one grounded in vision-explaining just enough of that fabulously complex process to make the designer aware of the mechanisms by which we visually apprehend the world. How that world is to be seen is defined by the programming phase of a project. In this long section, Steffy shows how psychology, architecture, the requirements of visual work, and many other factors are brought together to define the goals of the lighting project. Each of these aspects is discussed from the designer's perspective and accompanied by unambiguous examples. This first third of the book is probably its strongest section-by the author's design evidently, since it is far more common to plunge into "picking equipment," rather than pause and ruminate about the purposes and goals of lighting for a project.

   But the very beginning of the book does not provide much technical underpinning; and so perhaps its only weakness is that the fundamentals are treated at the start with a brevity that may not sufficiently develop a readers' understanding. On the other hand, we are spared the usual inane drawings of candles and spheres, and the often-erroneous analogies trotted out to "explain" things.

   The middle third of the book deals with the more technical issues of lighting design: schematic design, daylighting, lamps, luminaires, controls, and design tools. Steffy has chosen members of the architecture and design community for his audience. As such, mathematics has a useful but circumscribed role in the process, and detailed issues managed by electrical engineers are left to those registered professionals. Given that, the coverage is thorough and sufficiently detailed for the reader to leave the text with useful information. The long chapter on lamps is up to date and more than just a recitation of data and characteristics-rather, there is always advice given and experience shared about how different lamps can or should be used. The same can be said of the section devoted to luminaires.

   The rest of the book is devoted to the process of getting the lighting design specified, purchased, on the job, and installed. This includes an elaborate explanation of equipment pricing, contract documents, and the practical matters of getting the right equipment to the project. There is no more extensive or thorough an explanation of these important aspects of lighting design in print.

   One of the books strongest points is the abundance of examples; there is at least one used to clarify each important point. Absent are the usual hedges and unhelpful generalities about "design;" rather, one finds a bracing, thought-provoking specificity: "do this, not this;" and, marvelous to read, there is nothing imperious about this, for reasons are always given. The examples are particularly important and helpful in the long sections that explain programming and construction documents. In each of these two cases, Steffy offers specific and detailed examples from his own projects. The annotation is extensive and adds the detail that often brings home the point.

   Steffy writes in a direct, conversational style that draws the reader into the topic. (The first word in his preface is "Yikes!") The effect is that of being in the presence of someone willing to help, willing to explain things, and who knows what they're doing. This is very important point, since it is a good bet that the book will be used most often for self-study. The modernity of the process by which we learn is acknowledged in the book: there is a continuous sprinkling of Internet addresses where one can find more information. The style, detailed examples, and mechanical layout of the material promote direct understanding. There are none of the usual unsupported recipes and vague injunctions. The directness of Steffy's conversation with the reader helps convey what he knows and how he has applied it to lighting design. And Steffy knows a great deal-he is an internationally recognized lighting designer.

   Steffy's book can be recommended without reservation to those who are serious about learning the technology, craft, and process of lighting design-reading it is a close approximation to an extended conversation with a successful and seasoned expert who is willing and capable of sharing what he knows.

5 comments about The Creative Business Guide to Running a Graphic Design Business.

1. This book has a lot of examples and is a keeper. This was a required text in one of my college courses and was a fun easy read. It is structured by common mistakes others have made so it allows you to learn quickly by example.



2. This book is very dry and hard to read. There is some great information enclosed yet it is really hard to access. I also didn't appreciate that at every moment possible the author seems to downgrade the ability of the self employed, multiple times it is suggested that under no circumstances should you chose to be a sole proprietor, which for me seems to disregard those that are starting out on a smaller part time basis.



3. This book was a perfect tool to benchmark my design studio. After 14 years of business I found that Foote's advice, assumptions and calculations were right on the mark ... even for a business in New Zealand. Highly recommended.



4. This is not for me. It is pretty good for interesting reading, but not made for freelancers like me.



5. 
   This book is divided into four sections: organization, personnel, marketing, and operations. It also has four appendices. I really liked this book very much. I'm a volunteer SCORE counselor who regularly counsels SCORE clients on starting their own small businesses. I highly recommend the instant book to people similarly situated to my clients since it will help them better grasp and understand what is involved in starting a business.
   
   If you want to put together a business plan (and you should if you want to start a business), then use this book to help you by looking at the following chapters:
   
   1. A Solid Foundation
   2. Structure and Facilities
   4. Organizing
   9. Positioning
   10. Promoting
   12. Pricing Your Services
   15. Financial Issues
   
   After you prepare your business plan and have your business up and running, then you'll be able to:
   
   14. Grow the Business
   16. Personal Issues (Cash Out).
   
   I particularly liked the Case Study #6 in Appendix 2 (Failing to Institutionalize the Company). And Appendix 3 (A Designer's Short Course on Marketing) was very well done. Chapter 10 on "Promoting" was very well done given the amount of pages devoted to it.
   
   I was a bit disappointed with the Sample Business Plan Form included in Appendix 4. But the book is not exactly set up to cater to people trying to write a business plan. So I can't be too critical here.
   
   This book is packed full of content regarding the business of graphic design (and small business, in general). It will be well worth your time in reading it if you have any interest in small business. 5 stars!

5 comments about Maine: The Home Place.

1. When I opened Maine: The Home Place, I didn't know how much I was opening up. I looked through it, then I realized I needed to look into it: I did so at two pages a day until I went through the book. I especially love two of the pictures (although each page and picture looked more like a composition in a painting than a camera capturing a scene): The Androscoggin at Bethel, November and North Pond, Greenwood, October. There is a disarming directness in the simple presentation that drew me into the pictures, and into myself. The captions reminded me these places are here, in this world. What I found myself doing since I opened Maine: The Home Place is seeing myself and the world around me differently. Cezanne says that "Art is a harmony parallel to nature." I am wonderfully confused by Murad's presentation of nature and art that has gotten into my heart through my eyes. What more can you ask from a book than to make the world and yourself more alive? Maine: The Home Place is a book that will do that year after year, picture after picture. Great job, Murad Sayen.



2. The thing that strikes you as you turn the lush pages--the land and seascapes, the faces--is the surface sense of calm. And yet, below those surfaces there is always a suggestion of great energy, of processes being carried out. In the cover photo, for instance: a country church, maple trees in their October regalia, a cemetery, the cornstubble foreground--lies the hint that things are in motion, even there below the ground. The world is moving toward a new incarnation.

   This dualism--or energy and calm--kept me turning pages, forward and back, over a period of many days, looking closely at colors, faces, cloud formations, ice crystals on a pond, dawn sunlight on a lighthouse.

   At first I quibbled that Sayen has confined his camera to so few regions of the state; and yet, in truth, this only reminds us that art, in order to be universal, must be local. To develop the kind of intimacy that Sayen (a confessed "outsider") obviously has with his subject, it is necessary to keep it focused.

   With "Maine: The Home Place", Murad Sayen has created a masterful book, far more than another of the garishly colored "coffee table" books that publishers seem to crank out each year. This is a book that bears repeated readings, and which, for me, continues to offer fresh discoveries. In addition to the photographs, there is a series of elegantly written essays and photographer's notes. For anyone looking to be delighted and deeply moved by the complexity within simplicity, "Maine: The Home Place" is a volume that will do that.




3. Maine The Home Place by Murad Sayen is an especially appealing photography book. Not only is this book visually pleasing as you view beautiful scenes in Maine, but it also is very emotive as you also "feel" Maine. The quality of the photos is superior and most of them look as much like paintings as photos. If you are ever fortunate enough to look through this book, go directly to page 28 ( one of my favorites)and enjoy the compostion of hands. There have been numerous artists who have highlighted hands in their composition but never with the unique approach that this one does. I have only had this book on my coffee table for one month, and have already "sold" 5 copies. People's responses were so positive that 5 lucky people will be getting this book for Christmas. Maybe you could be lucky also. If Maine was ever your home, I think you will enjoy having this book around as much as I have, and Maine was never my home.



4. Murad Sayen shows us in his amazing pictoral that Maine is more than a magnificent coastline dotted with harbors and lighthouses. His photographs and essays capture the essence and beauty of Maine that those of us who are fortunate to live here can now share with the rest of the world.

   He is masterful in his use of lighting. The effect is mystical and invokes a strong emotional response to his work. For all those who want an unlimited opportunity to escape to Maine, whenever the spirit moves you, I highly recommend Maine: The Home Place.....the way life is!




5. This is a magnificent, beautiful book. We left it open on the kitchen table, and everyone who passed by turned to a new, exquisite image. I've now snatched it back to my office and expect to browse repeatedly when I have a chance for a cup of coffee and a brief get-away moment. It is truly a gift.

2 comments about Le Corbusier (World of Art).

1. ISBN: 0671206923 and ISBN: 0500580049 ONLY! This mostly black & white - and comprising almost exclusively of 98 illustrations - survey of 16 major works from 1929 to 1964 on only 136 pages hardcover 10.25" x 8" (26 cm x 20 cm) was published in English in 1970 by Simon & Schuster in US (Thames & Huston, London in Masters of Modern Architecture series) following the first edition in Japan in 1967 by Bijutsu Shuppan-sha, Tokyo. An introductory part on 12 pages by Martin Pawley is followed by 98 pages with photos, hard line plans and sections. At the end of book, on several pages, there are a list of works, biographical notes, and a bibliography. Of 98 illustrations 75 are photos - 64 in B&W and 11 in color of an excellent quality, well balanced, crisp and legible by Yukio Futagawa. Like all from the Library of Contemporary Architects/Masters of MODERN Architecture series, it is very good among architectural monographs, and superior to the Masters of WORLD Architecture/Makers of Contemporary Architecture series (ISBN: 08076*), or Studio Paperback series published by Birkhauser Verlag under ISBN: 37643* (Basel)/08176* (Boston) or Artemis Verlag under ISBN: 37608* (Zurich)/18740* (London).
   CONTENTS:
   Introduction 7
   The Plates 21
   Notes on the plates 123
   Chronological list: projects and events 131
   Select bibliography 133
   Index 135



2. ISBN: 0671206923 and ISBN: 0500580049 ONLY! This mostly black & white - and comprising almost exclusively of 98 illustrations - survey of 16 major works from 1929 to 1964 on only 136 pages hardcover 10.25" x 8" (26 cm x 20 cm) was published in English in 1970 by Simon & Schuster in US (Thames & Huston, London in Masters of Modern Architecture series) following the first edition in Japan in 1967 by Bijutsu Shuppan-sha, Tokyo. An introductory part on 12 pages by Martin Pawley is followed by 98 pages with photos, hard line plans and sections. At the end of book, on several pages, there are a list of works, biographical notes, and a bibliography. Of 98 illustrations 75 are photos - 64 in B&W and 11 in color of an excellent quality, well balanced, crisp and legible by Yukio Futagawa. Like all from the Library of Contemporary Architects/Masters of MODERN Architecture series, it is very good among architectural monographs, and superior to the Masters of WORLD Architecture/Makers of Contemporary Architecture series (ISBN: 08076*), or Studio Paperback series published by Birkhauser Verlag under ISBN: 37643* (Basel)/08176* (Boston) or Artemis Verlag under ISBN: 37608* (Zurich)/18740* (London).
   CONTENTS:
   Introduction 7
   The Plates 21
   Notes on the plates 123
   Chronological list: projects and events 131
   Select bibliography 133
   Index 135

2 comments about Architecture: Choice or Fate: Travel Size Series.

1. This book is good in some ways (thus three stars): he is attempting a long overdue challenge to Modernism. The myriad of often humorous drawings point out well the concepts he is discussing. However, the strange construction of the book makes it harder to follow. It is like Krier could not focus for a coherent thought and broke everything up into tiny snippets. There is no "essay" longer than one page. More tragic is when he attempt to wade into theory. For example, he suggests that Kant's Categorical Imperatives are some sort of guideline, that by following that notion, that we build as if what we are building is a general principle; but of course that is exactly what the Moderns thought they were doing. FINALLY, I DO NOT AT ALL RECOMMEND THE TINY TRAVEL SIZE. IT IS TOO SMALL AND IMPOSSIBLE TO READ WITHOUT A MAGNIFYING GLASS. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?



2. Leon Krier is one the two or three greatest architects and urbanists of our time. In this book, he outlines a profound and at the same time sensible approach to the built environment. Krier is the winner of the Richard Driehaus Prize for Classical and Traditional Architecture (the equivalent prize to the Pritzker, but meant for buildings fit for human beings and human sensibilities). I doubt that anyone -- from layperson, to beginning architecture student, to practicing architect hardened by years of practice -- will not be moved by its message, and will not immediately react by a sudden comprehension of what architecture and urbanism are really about.
   
   After reading this book, any architect can begin to move towards creating a humane built environment. Krier gives the essentials that everyone can develop further. Once his philosophy (and it is a philosophy of universal respect for human sensibilities) is understood, then its application is straightforward. The only problem is the numerous obstacles that have been put into place by the architectural establishment.
   
   At the same time, Krier's message is bound to bring an almost violent reaction at the massive brainwashing that society has been subjected to in order to promote a small group of anti-architects. How could we have ignored methods of building structures that make our lives more pleasant and more human, in order to support arrogant and unworkable dreams? Furthermore, in something very much akin to a Ponzi pyramid scheme, unworkable buildings have been propped up by increasingly convoluted pseudo-philosophical jargon (not to mention prestigious prizes). Krier cuts through all of that nonsense like VIM cuts through kitchen grease.
   
   There are some indications that we are due for a massive, revolutionary change in architectural paradigm. Like octogenarian dictators due to meet their well-deserved date with the afterworld, the architecture of bizzarre images is overdue for a collapse. Leon Krier's book is one of the pillars of the new architecture that will replace the old and worn-out deceptions.

1 comments about Painting the Allure of Nature.

1. 
   I've always been captivated by the beautiful realism of nature art, but the majority of books I read that covered detail-style nature painting focused mostly on opaque media, particularly oils and acrylics. While I do enjoy both of these media, I've longed for a good book that captured the meticulous detail and inherent beauty of nature, in watercolor. This book is exactly what I was longing for.
   
   If you love meticulous detail and realism in nature painting, and the soft, flowing feel of watercolor, but never envisioned putting them together, hold on to your paintbrushes! Susan D. Bourdet captures the incredible details and textures of nature with watercolor, while also embracing the soft, free-flowing beauty unique to this amazing medium. Better yet, in Painting the Allure of Nature, she shares her mastery of both subject and medium, to take the reader on a step-by-step journey through various techniques and breathtaking projects, one right after another.
   
   The chapters in this book include:
   - Materials, Preparations and Choosing Pigments;
   - Ideas from Nature;
   - Background Techniques for Nature Painters;
   - Painting Flowers and Leaves;
   - Painting Birds;
   - Painting Nature's Textures; and
   - Putting it All Together, Step by Step.
   
   I found the chapters on backgrounds and textures to be particularly enjoyable as they really show the uniqueness of the medium, and how it can be harnessed to create incredible, realistic nature paintings. If you're interested in capturing the realism of nature with watercolor, this is the book you've been looking for. It is definitely one of the better books on the subject. I can't recommend it enough.

No comments about BIM and Construction Management: Proven Tools, Methods, and Workflows.

1 comments about Architecture Exam Review, Solved Problems: Multiple-Choice Divisions.

1. I just started reading and already found two wrong quiz answers and two questionable ones. Unfortunately it may reflect actual ARE experience, but for a learner it may be just a time lost. There are better sources for ARE preparation. I recommend ALS/Kaplan courses and The Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice instead. No errata for this book is published at the publisher's webpage http://ppi2pass.com. No way to report errors, simply because there is no such a book on the expandable list at http://ppi2pass.com/ppi/PPIInfo_pg_Errata-errataform.html.