5 comments about The Arts & Crafts Cabin.

1. Beautiful pictures of a variety of houses that offer ideas for decorating for log cabins. It helps to allow thinking outside of the box. It shows that the feel of a log cabin does not just have to be the typical rustic decor.



2. I purchased The Arts & Crafts Cabin for my wife for Christmas, as we are building a new home this year. The book is chock-full of beautiful photographs by Roger Wade, who is the preeminent "log cabin" photographer, whose work graces most of the timber-frame and log-cabin oriented publications. The text is well-written but not particularly memorable. You buy this book because it looks lovely, and it is a favorite flipper on our coffee-table this summer.
   
   There are a great many more interior images than exterior elevations -- a minor disappointment because we were at least as interested in gleening good ideas for exterior design. This book has many more yellow stickies marking pages than any other in our collection, so that tells you something.



3. Great photos and alot of great info ; I don't want to blow my own horn , but, toot, toot!!!!
   I have two of my stained glass creations in this publication. I was very surprized my work was included in this great book. Thanks to all involved .
   David Fjeld . Big Sky Stained Glass Art Inc.



4. This is an incredible book! This book reminded me of my trip to the Canadian Rockies - but not because of the architecture. There, every time I drove around a curve, the scenery was more beautiful than before. The same is true about this book. Every time I turned the page, the photos were more inspiring. And it wasn't just the photos. The book itself captured the spirit of the Arts & Crafts style. The quality of the photos, the layout of the pages, the selection of fonts, even the binding of the book showed craftsman-level attention to detail.
   
   The book begins with the history and concepts of the Arts & Crafts movement and then shows and discusses new interpretations of the philosophy. The next section discusses ideas for incorporating key elements of the style such as sheltered porches, built-ins, and much more.
   
   Note that this book does differ from some of Robbin Obomsawin's other books. Most notably, she does not fully explore a single house in each chapter. You will not find floor plans of the houses discussed - something I missed but that didn't fit this layout. Also, remember this book is titled The Arts & Crafts CABIN. That does not necessarily mean log cabin. There are several examples of log homes but with a stronger focus on log-element homes with more of a timber-frame feel. But many of the ideas can work in a pure log home - at least we hope to incorporate many of them in our log home.



5. Being familiar with some of Robbin Obomsawin's other books, I bought this book expecting detailed house plans and handcrafted log architecture. After all, it's called "The Arts and Crafts ***Cabin***," right? And the picture on the front of that beautiful stained-glass door shows logs, doesn't it?
   
   Well, this book is beautiful. You'll drool over the pictures. but a planbook it's not. And a log-building book it's not. And none of the residences here would qualify as a "cabin," most are opulent estates. There's nary a plan in the entire book. And almost none of the houses shown are built with logs as a primary element. Most are timberframes; many pictures show no log elements at all!
   
   If you want to learn a bit about Arts and Crafts architecture or decorating, you may find some ideas here. But if you are designing a floorplan for a handcrafted log home and want it to have an Arts and Crafts feel, unfortunately, this isn't the right book.

4 comments about Irving J. Gill: Architect, 1870 - 1936.

1. The photographs are wonderful. Unfortunately, Mr. Rand has not done his research. He misidentified houses, their dates of construction and owners. His book is filled with works by authors already published some years ago. It is a cobbling of misinformation and script available elsewhere. It looks thrown together. There is no index. I cannot recommend this book.



2. When you look at Irving Gill's work, you can almost feel the southern california sunshine and the ocean breezes caressing your skin. I for one love his work, expecially his Art Deco white houses, they just exude cool. This book is a wonderful tribute to the man and his work. The text is highly informative and the images are crisp and vivid. If you have any interest in southern california shiek or just talented people and their art, then I believe you will not be disappointed in this work.



3. I just received this book in the mail. It is a great accompaniment to the "Architecture of Reform" book especially because this book has beautiful large color photographs! Great book!



4. This is a beautiful book of Marvin Rand's particular photo-stylistic vision of Gill's work, although it is very limited on written information. I would also recommend the fantastic Thomas Hines "Irving Gill and the Architecture of Reform," as well as the absolutely-required Esther McCoy "Five California Architects" as compliments to Rand's photos. In the end, it's about Gill's stunningly simple and beautiful work. The images, the details, the lost masterpieces (Dodge House), etc. are all wonderfully captured here. I waited nearly a year to get this book, and I was not disappointed. That said, anything on the California modernist pioneers is generally an interesting book purchase. Recommended for fans of Richard Neutra, Gregory Ain as well as the pipe-smoking American Bungalow set.

2 comments about Civic Revolutionaries: Igniting the Passion for Change in America's Communities.

1. A decade or so ago the authors of Civic Revolutionaries: Igniting the Passion for Change in America's Communities decided to bring the art of collaboration to the field of economic development. They even called their new firm "Collaborative Economics, Inc." to the amusement of many hard core industrial recruiters. This book is a result of their experience coupled with a sense of history and an idealism that is rare to find in a profession built on the principals of competitiveness.

   The numerous examples of collaboration described by the authors go significantly beyond the details of the efforts. They are carefully woven into the Nation's revolutionary history by appropriate quotations and references to the role of collaboration as promoted by the authors of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution as well as other notables in the "American Experience."

   In addition, the illustrative examples drawn from the author's extensive and practical field experience working with collaborative efforts in all sections of the Nation over the past ten years are made particularly useful by describing not only results but discussing in detail successful collaborative processes that can be endlessly replicated in a variety of settings as well.

   Due credit is given throughout the book to their mentor, John W. Gardner, through carefully selected and placed quotations and references. For example, Gardner is quoted in the introduction as saying "...the crucial task is to design a society (and institutions) capable of continuous change, continuous renewal and continuous responsiveness," a theme that runs throughout the book.

   Henton, Melville and Walesh are optimistic about the future of collaboration and provide compelling evidence of its value in continuing the process of "dialog" which is the heart of the "American Experience." This book will be useful to anyone seeking to improve his or her community through collaboration. It will also be interesting for those with a more philosophic interest in the subject. It might even be worth the attention of hard core industrial recruiters.




2. In Grassroots Leaders for a New Economy (1997), the authors of Civic Revolutionaries identified a new type of leadership that has been emerging in regions that have been in the forefront of dealing with the problems and opportunities brought about by the new economy. They called these leaders "civic entrepreneurs." In Civic Revolutionaries: Igniting the Passion for Change in America's Communities, the authors have given us a compelling reason why this leadership model is essential in enabling regions to compete and prosper in the new economy.
   By analyzing the complex problems that regions are confronted with today through the lens of the Federalist Papers and the debates between and among our nation's founders, they paint a picture that clearly demonstrates that traditional leadership is no more adequate today than it was in 1776. The authors have brilliantly made their case for regional stewardship taking the place of the traditional, top-down, command and control leadership that still persists in myriad communities throughout the United States. By focusing on the many tensions that exist within regions, such as the conflict between trust and accountability; change and continuity; individual rights and community, they leave little doubt that times have changed and the our concept of leadership must change as well.
   I would recommend this book to anyone that is frustrated with the gridlock and inertia that still exists in many regions. A solution is at hand and it's called regional stewardship.

2 comments about Fabulous Food Shops (Interior Angles).

1. I purchased this book when I was thinking about opening a specialty food store (decided against doing so). The quality photos, well-written, its descriptions of stores and store layouts is wonderful. Even though I am not going into the retail business, I still enjoy reading this book -it's like taking a mini foodie vacation. I keep it on my coffee table for visitors to enjoy. Highly recommended!



2. There have been a lot of design books looking at boutique fashion retailing, bars, restaurants and hotels in recent years, but so far there has not been very much written about the design aspects of gourmet food retailing. This is quite an omission when you consider the increasingly elaborate, sophisticated and beautiful methods by which food is being marketed.
   
   This book looks at some of those techniques by which food is being presented to consumers as a lifestyle serving suggestion. The book uses a good cross-section of global case studies and is highlighted by great photographs. Narrowing down the case studies must have been a very difficult task but I think Peyton has finished up with a good mix of small and large scale shops.
   
   You will enjoy this book if you have an interest in retail design or if you just enjoy browsing gourmet food shops. It'd also make a great gift for that hard-to-buy-for foodie friend or relative.
   
   My only "complaint" is that I would have liked to have seen even more - the KaDeWe food hall in Berlin, the Ostermalm Saluhall in Stockholm, jonesthegrocer or the Sydney Fish Markets in Sydney, Prahran Market in Melbourne, City Super in Hong Kong, Cordurouy + Finch in Singapore, Stockmanns in Tallinn - there are certainly enough options for a Fabulous Food Shops Volume 2!

5 comments about Authentic Small Houses of the Twenties: Illustrations and Floor Plans of 254 Characteristic Homes (Dover Books on Architecture).

1. This is a Dover reprint of SMALL HOMES OF ARCHITECTURAL DISTINCTION: A BOOK OF SUGGESTED PLANS DESIGNED BY THE ARCHITECTS' SMALL HOUSE SERVICE BUREAU, INC., originally published by Harper & Brothers Publishers, New York and London, in 1929. Yes, it was a long title, but Dover is doing a disservice to old book collectors by changing the titles. That said, it is a good collection of examples that could be easily adapted for today's living, especially for those who want a not-so-big house. The cover says that there are 254 houses and each are shown with floor plans, including the second floor where applicable, and a view of the exterior, either a rendering or a black & white photo. In some examples, details are also presented with sketches or photos. This is highly recommended for all interested in traditional residential architecture.



2. If you like houses of this period, this book contains a good range of architectural styles and layouts.
   The houses are small even by the standards of the time, generally with 6 rooms. Most have comfortably cozy dimensions, and some are downright dinky. How did they arrange furniture in a bedroom only 8 feet square (and that isn't the smallest)?
   While the photos are good illustrations, I really like the drawings best. These also cover a range of styles. Art students, whether concentrating in freehand or technical drawing, would probably find these useful exercises to help them develop a technique that is comfortable for them.



3. Whenever I'm out driving through my neighborhood, inevitably another charming older home catches my eye and I race home to grab my copy of this great book. It's turned out to be a wonderful resource for my husband and me as we search for our first home. We already have an idea of the floor plan before we walk through the door. Also gives a lot of information about original fixtures/features that tend to change as homes are renovated through the years.



4. As all of history is cyclical, so is home architecture in America. Authentic Small Houses of the Twenties shows wonderful possibilities for houses that capture the "Not so Big House" ideal, a movement gaining momentum in this day of the McMansion. The product of a joint venture by the U. S. Dept. of Commerce and the American Institute of Architects after WWI, these house plans show marvelous use of interior space, detailing and economy. Although the house plans with sketches or photos of each shown are not available, as far as I know, in blueprint form for purchase, they furnish tremendous grist for the creative future home owner. A treasure!



5. I enjoy looking at architecture from the late 1800's to the early 1900's in America. It is possible to see how families of the past lived by viewing the floor plans in this book. Many of them would be very livable for today (updated with modern mechanics and appliances, of course!) for young families and retirees. My personal goal is to select one (the hardest part of all!) to build for my wife and myself to retire to (in about 15-20 years).

2 comments about The Stadium: Architecture for the New Global Culture.

1. If you're looking for an architectural book that includes drawings such as floor plans, sections and elevations then you're in the right place.
   
   This book offers a lot of pictures for 18 different stadiums including the Wembley Stadium in London.. i would have given it five stars but unfortunately most of the drawings are too small to be read or understood professionally.. i think they should have added a CD just like most architectural books now a days with full size images to help you view it in details.



2. Very good book on some spectacular sports stadiums. The text is very informative and the images are first rate. It is such a relief that stadiums are back to having style and not just totally utilitarian, like my beloved Astrodome. It is so sad to me that the Astrodome ushered in the multisport stadium, that type of stadium is almost extinct and the few that still stand like Houston's so called "Eighth Wonder of the World", linger like some sort of bad experiment that went horribly wrong. To appreciate how far stadium architecture has come, just look at Relient Stadium, which is profiled in this book, and compare it to the old grey lady next to her...the afore mentioned Astrodome....sic transic gloria.

3 comments about California Bungalows of the Twenties.

1. I have been thinking of redoing my present home that is only 12 years old..after opening this book, it was like a step back in time, to homes that always had that warm feeling of welcome. It has sparked a number of ideals for some changes inside and out...Two other books that I found helpful are:
   
   "Outside the Bungalow" for gardening
   "Inside the Bungalow" for decorating



2. California Bungalows of the Twenties is one of a series of reproductions published by Dover, of house plans. These books are actually exact reprints of original plan books from the turn of the century (1880-1925, roughly). Dover adds little or no modern explanations, just presenting the catalog as it was. So when one looks to review these books, one isn't really judging the modern-day publisher, or editing, or writing. The only modern element is the accuracy of reproduction- in some cases, if pages in the originals that Dover found are damaged or torn, that page is reproduced in the original with the tear, smudge, blot, or hole showing. So to judge the books, one has to compare each one to others of its kind, and then to decide whether the material in it is thorough and complete according to the standards of its time. Since there are several dozen of these catalogs published by Dover, we have the basis for such a comparison.

   "California Bungalows" was originally titles "Wilson's California Bungalow." The book starts with a description of what all stock plans include, how much it costs to get duplicates, etc. There's not much about the philosophy of the architect, as in some books. (For example, Radford's Artistic Bungalows says quite a lot about how they went to great lengths to hire architects experienced in the design of small-and-medium sized houses, and about how costs can or cannot be estimated in advance, and so on. This book doesn't have that.) On the other hand, with each individual house, there is description of some of the features of the house, ones that wouldn't necessarily be visible right away, such as that a mantel is made of brick, or the dining room built-in buffet has glass doors and a plate mirror. That's a nice touch. Each description has an estimate of what it would cost to build the house.

   The illustrations of each house vary widely - some are photos of finished houses, some are detailed drawings/paintings, and some are just sketches/line drawings. So one doesn't get the same level of information about the appearance of every house. Some of the illustrations are face-on, meaning we see only the front of the house, and can only imagine the sides from the floor plans. On the other hand, for many of the houses, a second illustration is included, of at least one room of the interior. Fully-furnished living rooms are shown; or an illustration of a "typical bathroom" showing what types of fixtures are expected; there's a full-page illustration of "Wilson's Buffet Kitchen" with cut-away view of the cabinets, and complete with a maid in an apron working at the stove. There are several pages showing what styles of dining room buffets, or sideboards, are available, and a section showing doors and locksets you can actually order.

   Almost all the floor plans are large and readable, although a few are quite cluttered; with every closet described as broom closet or linen closet, the lettering outstretches the space available. There's also a disconcerting habit, at least to my modern eyes, of referring to the inside chimney as a "thimble" - maybe that was a contemporary usage, but I can't recall seeing it in any other catalog.

   In sum: good plans, lots of details on interiors, good ideas on how such houses were furnished; poorer aspect is that some houses are presented only with a sketch. Overall, a good book, one that can give a beginner a good introduction to plan books and to the lifestyles of the period. And the price is great for what you get.




3. This is a reprint of a 1920's bungalow catalogue. This slim (120 page) volume contains plans for some seventy houses. Most examples contain an exterior phot or perspective rendering and a floor plan. Some examples contain interior views. There is also a section on interior components such as dors, hardware, buitl-ins. This part would be a good resource for the person interested in an authentic restoration of a bungalow. I found the floor plans to be the most valuable part of this book, since most current books on bungalows do not contain plans. It is not a great single-source book, howver for the low price it is an excellent complimentrary resource.

5 comments about Palm Springs Modern: Houses in the California Desert.

1. Nice book on architecture in the desert.
   It showcases my favorite city perfectly.



2. What I love about Palm Springs Modern is the variety of architects and styles featured. There are great photographs, including houses by John Lautner, Richard Neutra, Craig Ellwood, and Albert Frey among others. A particularly pleasant surprise is the section on the Maslon house by Neutra which was foolishly demolished a few years ago. Love this book!



3. Palm Springs Modern provides a superb photo tour of a handful of landmark homes that defined the 'modern' style in the 1950s and '60s. Because wealthy businessmen and celebrities could afford edgier architecture, the authors focus on these homes -- with a welcome chapter on the talented William Cody in between. If you want a scholarly treatise on modernism in architecture, buy another book. If you want a tantalizing sample of some of the best work, PSM is fine. By the time modernism made its way into mass production homes, it lost much of its inventiveness and aesthetic. Those familiar with the Palm Springs area will notice that the Alexanders' ubiquitous 'butterfly' rooflines have become almost cliche, while the Loewy house and most of the PSM subjects remain exotic.

   Do you need to own PSM before buying or designing a home for the California desert? Clearly the answer is NO. But if you want a virtual tour of some of the most inspired homes of the genre, PSM belongs on your coffee table. And yes, if you live in the Midwest or Northeast you would do yourself a service by putting this away in a closet somewhere during the winter.




4. A classic. If you've never been to Palm Springs, you'll be catching the next flight after leafing thru this fine book. Gorgeous photos of simply incredible buildings. Palm Springs has a quality and character unlike any other "resort" town. The fabulous architecture of the mid-century building boom and a renewed appreciation of the designs of that period has revitalized (again) the Palm Springs area. If you can't visit Palm Springs personally, then pour a martini, sit back and enjoy this book. It's almost like being there!



5. Palm Springs Modern illustrates (in photos) a collection of homes by designers who tested design concepts in the harsh desert environment that complimented, and indeed enhanced the outcome. Those of us who seek inspiration and documentation of the modernist period will find this volumn satisfying. It is not a scholarly book, nor is the text particularly deep in theory of architectural modernism. And it doesn't matter that some of the homeowners were celebrities. What really matters is that there are so many fine examples of modernist architecture and in such close proximity.

1 comments about 21st Century Office.

1. This was a visually impressive book on modern office fit-outs. The book did however lack evaluative criticism of the workspaces. Working in the industry myself I continuously have to deal with defective fit-outs, so an evaluation of the space with feedback from staff would have been great. Having said this though, the book shows some stunning designs and talks about the process behind the artistic decisions. A pity there are not many Asian/Pacific offices looked at.

   Definitely one of the best office design books. Great for the office or coffee table.

4 comments about Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing the American Landscape (Universe Architecture Series).

1. This book is beautifully photographed and shows a range of Olmsted's work, from Central Park and other parks, to Biltmore and other homes. It even includes photos of Olmsteds own garden. Highly recommended!



2. Really a nice book on the work of the singular Frederick Law Olmsted. The book has well presented images and the text is highly informative. Olmsted was a pioneer in the field of landscape architecture and people in this profession today own him a huge debt of gratitude, as do we all, because he popularized the idea of the great urban neighborhood of the automobile age with it's windening streets and statigically planted trees and shrubs. Olmsted really understood the concept of vista's and how people interact with nature, all you need to do is walk through his Central Park in New York, or one the neighborhood designs he influenced, like Beverly Hills, River Oaks, Grosse Pointe, or Highland Park, these are some of the most saught after neighborhoods in America. His influence is shown in the park designs of Hermann Park in Houston, Audubon Park and City Park in New Orleans, and Golden Gate Park in San Fransisco, just to name of a few, his importance to the field of landscape architecture cannot be overstated. This book does a fine job of illustrating this and I highly recommend it.



3. Frederick Law Olmstead (1822 - 1903) ranks among the most important landscape architects of his time, and indeed of history. His most famous accomplishment was his design and execution of the multifaceted magnificence of New York City's Central Park, presented here in this fine book with many of the details that today go unnoticed.
   
   Charles Beveridge has written extensively about Olmstead but here his knowledge of Olmstead's genius is enhanced by numerous drawings and maps of layout as well as the beautiful photography by Paul Rocheleau. The entire volume is edited and designed by David Larkin in a manner that not only brings out the scholarly aspects of this book but lays out the various areas in both Central Park and in some of the other Olmstead works (Brooklyn's Prospect Park, the U.S. Capitol grounds, the Biltmore Estate among others) in a fashion that makes this a true art book.
   
   There may be many reasons to place this book in the library, but one that is certain to appeal to everyone is the importance of the myriad details of the great Central Park presented here with more majesty than in any other volume. Recommended. Grady Harp, May 06



4. I have been a great fan of Olmstead's design and outlook. This book provides a wonderful overview of his style, his vision and his ideas about how to create beauty out of the natural enivironment. Architects will benefit from his approach to design and construction and his ideas should be a model for those of us new to the field.