4 comments about Bungalow Details: Interior.

1. I loved the author's sense of humor... very candid about what IS acceptable for a truely historically accurate home... although my 1914 home was remodeled by not-so-accurate "carpenters." I loved the pictures (so many rooms that look like mine!). Great for ideas, but remember this is not a DIY book. Just a pretty picture book.



2. The reader might well develop a relationship with this book. Jane Powell takes you on an in-depth tour of the American bungalow. As she talks, her writing is conversational, the details are often interrupted with a pun, other humor, or an outburst revealing her biases. Readers who are looking for an academic study should go elsewhere. This is an enjoyable light-hearted "Open House" without a salesperson but rather a builder-decorator-owner. Powell knows this subject from being there and having done that. Behind her puns you find a seriousness based on an emotional bonding with bungalows. If the reader is thinking about rehabbing a bungalow this book is a necessity. If the reader has rehabbed a house meet a friend.



3. If you are interested in restoration this is a WONDERFUL book! Both of my daughters have purchased homes built around 1920-1927. They are using this book as their bible!



4. In her Bungalow books Jane Powell has come close to inventing a new genre: the architectural book that is actually fun to read. The latest (Bungalow Details:Interior)is no exception. The illustrations by Linda Svendsen are stellar, as always, but sometimes I think they distract from the best part: Ms. Powell's writing. Jane Powell manages to combine extraordinary erudition with a real sense of fun, two things that virtually never go together. Her knowledge is encyclopedic, her humor unending, her love of puns totally scandalous. She is also wise, with a real sense of what should and should not be done with old houses and the resources they represent. The writings in her Bungalow (and Linoleum) books deserve to be excerpted and presented in a smaller, less expensive edition: the Sayings of Chairman Jane, if you will, devoid of distracting pictures. I highly recommend this and all of her books.

1 comments about Strange Details (Writing Architecture).

1. There is no better argument for the reexamination of "architectural language" than this excellent book by Michael Cadwell. Writing in a tradition stemming from Kenneth Frampton's "Studies in Tectonic Culture," this volume examines four buildings by canonic figures--Carlo Scarpa, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, and Louis Kahn.
   
   Cadwell writes that, in 1999, after being granted a fellowship at the American Academy in Rome, he hoped to study the work of Carlo Scarpa, in particular the Querini Stampalia Foundation in Venice, discussed at length in the first chapter. After studying and drawing Scarpa's meticulous details at length, Cadwell discovered that "The drawings refused to cooperate. No matter how I arranged the details on the walls, they resisted an order." From this resistance emerged this book, which does not discuss the clear, perfectly articulated theories of architecture (e.g. Le Corbusier and his contemporary rationalist disciples), but rather the materials of architecture that resist explanation, a thickness of material that expands beyond its physical depth.
   
   Cadwell performs this operation again and again, tying each architect's conceptual project to the physical, material nature of their buildings. Scarpa's details flow and dissolve like the water that runs through them, Wright's Jacobs house moves in and out of his idyllic, suburban vision of the broadacre city, and Mies's Farnsworth house is revealed not as a heroic mastery of nature, but as the epitome of humility, reinserting and immersing its occupant in the surrounding environment. Cadwell has the ability to make all of these apparent at a larger level, but always zooms in and out -- the details of architecture truly become the analogue for the world around it.
   
   Finally, Cadwell's book suggests an alternate path for contemporary practice (though it never does so explicitly, a tactic that I believe carries more weight than even a manifesto). The architects discussed here are concerned with the architectural object, the physical entity of architecture. Today's image-driven architectural culture is more invested in the rendering than the building itself, the concept over the detail, architecture as graphic design--flat, flashy, and fatuous. Cadwell's analyses point toward a reevaluation of the material nature of buildings, a position that will undoubtedly be disregarded by some as hopelessly atavistic, but a position that asserts architecture in its barest, most exposed state, as the physical negotiation of the myriad worldly forces surrounding it.

1 comments about Paradise by Design: Tropical Resorts and Residences by Bensley Design Studios.

1. This is a fabulous book! I just finished reading it cover to cover and I am amazed at the quality of design and how great the photos are! Well worth the money as this Mr Bensley is a true artist. The designs are inspirational and truely maxamilist....minimalisism is boring!

No comments about Architecture Now! 3 (Taschen 25th Anniversary Editions).

5 comments about Becoming an Interior Designer (A Guide to Careers in Design).

1. I bought this book because I am interested in going back to school for a 2nd degree in Interior Design. This book gives a great breakdown of the industry. It breaks down the different specialities and highlights the major points in each specialization. It also discusses education and certification. I love the Questions to Interior Designers section, because they interview practicing interior designers. I have made my final decision to go back to school and this book has helped alot in my decision making process.



2. I purchased this book for my high school aged daughter who in interested in a career in interior design. The book is ideal for someone like her. It provides a good overview of the design process, design specialties (residential, commercial, hospitality, etc), educational preparation required, where jobs are, and general business aspects of the field. A defining feature of this book is that author includes several interviews with people in the field asking practical questions such as "How did you become an interior designer?", "What is the greatest challenge of your work?", "What is the single most important skill an Interior Designer needs to be successful?", "How important is Interior Design education/Certification in today's industry?", "What do you look for in Hiring a new designer?", etc. This aspect allows the reader to hear from several real people rather than just getting a dry Occupational Outlook view. The interview responses are practical, sobering (you realize how much work it is!) and inspiring. Just right for helping someone make an informed choice.
   My only knock against this book is that at $23 it is a bit pricey for a paperback with only black and white photos. It strikes me more as a $15 book. I might look for a used copy. That said, it has been very valuable and I would buy it again.



3. Piotrowski writes about the steps on how to become an interior designer. There are several chapters describing the design process and the different types of design. There are detailed accounts of what is put into residential and commercial spaces. She takes a look at the future of the profession. There are several testimonials and showcases for active designers giving their opinions and advice on the profession. This book offers an in depth account on the profession and what is to come in the interior design field. As an aspiring interior designer, this book talked too much about current designer's experiences and not strictly about the profession. The book overall was helpful and knowledgable and I suggest those interested in the field get this book and take it to heart. This book is a fairly easy to read book; it rates only at the twelfth grade level on average. It is appropriate for those in high school and older. It helps inspire those that are looking at the profession and those already in it.



4. I recently read Becoming an Interior Designer by Christine Piotrowski, ASID, IIDA, for a critical analysis paper in my english class at OSU. After reading it, I would agree that interior design is more complex than the average person might assume. Throughout this selection, Piotrowski discusses the types of design, the changes in the profession over time, and the educational preparation to gain a better understanding of the career overall. This informative "how-to" book discusses commercial and residential areas of interior design and what is important to know in order to become successful in the rapidly growing field. In her attempt at writing an educational book, Piotrowski uses techniques, variety, and tips that ultimately reveal to readers whether this career is suitable for them. This book is best for anyone who is interested in the field and is looking for a quick light read. I found the book to be repetitive, not necessarily intellectually challenging, but a fun read that can either discourage or encourage one to follow their dream to become an interior designer. So if one has the desire to learn more about this book check out this guide to careers in design.



5. This book is an excellent source of information for those interested in becoming designers and those already studying interior design. This book explains commerical design well and gives truthful information on what potential employers will expect from a design education. If you are serious about becoming an interior designer, read this book - so you will be completely informed on this fun and dynamic profession. It is not decorating!

5 comments about Fabrics: A Guide for Interior Designers and Architects.

1. This is not an easy reference guide, but a textbook that gives lots of information that is not needed for daily design use. It is also filled with lots of pictures which would be nice if they were really helpful, but they seem to take up a lot of space and act as fluff.



2. Well-organized and informative general reference on textiles for home or commercial use. Also has a great references section. Pictures are helpful, but I'd also recommend having a "hands-on" source in order to get a better understanding of all of the terminology and descriptions.



3. A very nice book, quite in depth.
   Covers natural and man made fibers, types of weaves, production and fabric finishes. Many color plate examples to illustrate the information.
   This book was shipped quickly by Amason at half the price I paid at the campus bookstore! Needless to say, I returned the book purchased at the campus bookstore.



4. book was in excellent condition, just as the seller specified! no torns, no highlights, no wear! arrived promptly!



5. I waited 6 weeks and Amazon never sent the book so I cancelled the order and gave up.

5 comments about Theoretical Anxiety and Design Strategies in the Work of Eight Contemporary Architects.

1. In this deceptively thick volume, Moneo presents a compilation of lectures he gave during the early 90's while at Harvard's GSD. Digging into his archives, he reassembles slides and text specific to the work of eight individuals that Moneo believes to be among the most influential contemporary architects of the late 20th century.
   
   Don't let the title intimidate you. Moneo is simply referring to the mechanisms, operational strategies, formal devices and procedures that architects utilize in their design process and their unwillingness to reveal those systematic theories of design. Rather, he believes that the current architectural discourse assumes a more reflective or critical posture rather than revolving around the process of design.
   
   Moneo manages to reveal to varying extents the working process of each architect by analyzing a body of work over the course of their career, identifying key changes in strategies. As an architect, learning the working process of such significant architectural figures is quite useful, allowing one to locate themselves (or others) within the greater architectural sphere. Here, connections begin to reveal themselves and linkages to architects past and present become evident.
   
   The project images are often a bit too small to be incredibly useful especially since Moneo often refers to specific features within the drawings and photos to explain his thoughts. However, this remains an excellent and recommended read.



2. In architecture, everyone at one point fantasizes about becoming a well known architect. Rafael Moneo challenges the current leaders method of praticing. He investigates each architect individually, delivering insight to their logic in practicing. Moneo constantly refers back to each architect he discusses and compares the diversity of architecture logic in practice. Although I believe he was attempting to expose the potential failures or faults in most successful architects, whom we usually appraciate but hardly challenge.



3. I purchased this book because I was interested in only
   two architects. One was Siza and the other H+Dm. Going over again
   Stirling/ Venturi/ Rossi was just too much and I wasn't interested in the rest of three architects. But thanks to Moneo's great writing, I was able to read all of the architects with great interest and enthusiasm. Reading Siza was like reading a poetry. Moneo constructs that mood by comparing Siza with a Poet Pesoa. Due to their contemporaneity, analysis on H+Dm is still on going. But Moneo explains well on the foundation of H+dM's work. Like the comparison of Siza to Pesoa, it is interesting to read H+Dm's relationship/influence with conceptual artists such as Joseph Beuys. In terms of Venturi and Rossi, unlike crash courses in architectural history, Moneo delves into more on their individual projects than on the theoretical manifestos of their books. I gained most reading Koolhaas and Eisenman. I never liked their writings (one being too sarcastically light and the other being too narcissistically heavy) and I hated their buildings. Moneo actually helps overcome these misreading. Overall, the book really stimulates thinking in that every line in architecture has a meaning. Moreover, it helps to see the landscape of contemporary architecture. As the title suggests, the book really is a theoretical anxieties. And like all anxieties do, I guarantee that this book will stir the stagnation of your spirit; as it did mine.



4. There are Architects who write eloquently about Architecture, but whose built works disappoint, then there are those whose buildings inspire and yet seem unable to communicate clearly about their ideas, but Rafael Moneo is the rare architect who appears in easy command of both realms. A colleague who studied under him said that Moneo could look at a project and tell exactly how it was designed, and this book seems to substantiate this ability to understand both method and reason behind the work of some of the most important Architects of the last third or the 20th century. Moneo's prose is informal, yet studied, and this book serves as a once in a lifetime conversation with a master Architect.
   His ideas seem better defined when dealing with James Stirling and Aldo Rossi, and more speculative when dealing with relative newcomers like Koolhaas, and Herzhogg+DeMeuron, but the book is always insightful. Moneo comes across as someone who loves his profession and who, despite earning international renown, approaches the work of his colleagues with the same fascination of a brilliant student. This fascination is contagious, and the book is a worthy addition to the library of anyone who loves contemporary architecture.



5. This collection of essays on contemporary architects reminds me of why I love great contemporary architecture, and why I will continue to work as an architect. The text demonstrates the wonderful diversity of the times we live in and the recent history which has formed these times. Read these essays and you will recognize the lineage of form and theory which has led to any building built or published today, from any suburban house to the Freedom Tower.
   
   A reflection on 50 years of history, this book could only have come together now. Moneo's observations of his peers are dead on and written with the clarity of a historical text while still managing to to provide the insight of a work of architectural criticism. This is the book I wish I had as a student in the 1980's but know that in the throes of theoretical debate at the time that the history was too fresh for hindsight. As a direct result of the debate around "modernism", more than at any other time in history we are able to recognize how theory affects our design strategies. In collecting these transcripts of lectures and essays on these architects Moneo codifies what we know we knew about how we got here, but had not yet put all together.
   
   I only wish I could have been there to hear his lectures. At times the text seems to stradle the grammatical form of essay and transcript of a discussion on a particular slide. But perhaps it is that sometimes awkward format which energizes and saves the book from becoming "text"book. To actually see slides and drawings rather than the somewhat small and at times poor black and white images that dot the text would be of great benefit. As a result this is probably not a book for the casual reader of architecture not familiar with the work of these architects and who does not have the time to look for better images. Mr. Moneo has in this book nthe raw material for what could be a very powerful multimedia publication, either CD or web based.
   
   I recommend that every student of architecture today read this book. It offers the critical tools to recognize where from what you do comes and in doing so opens the possibilities of where you can take your work.

No comments about Fashionable Technology: The Intersection of Design, Fashion, Science, and Technology.

2 comments about Beach Homes (Best of Fine Homebuilding).

1. As with all Fine Hombuillding boks, Beach Homes is a valuable reference
   book.



2. Good short book with a number of high quality photo's and good of ideas for renovating, or building from scratch.

5 comments about The Green Studio Handbook: Environmental Strategies for Schematic Design.

1. The book does a decent job of listing many of the green approaches to building. However, I found it lacking more of the details that would have made it more useful from my perspective. I am not an architect. Maybe those details are less necessary for someone with that background. As a future owner of what I hope to be a green home, this is a decent book. However, "Your Green Home" by Alex Wilson is probably a better introduction to the field.



2. I love this book, it is very detailed and easy to read. It is organized very well and is really helpful. It covers a lot of the basics of sustainable design. I do wish that it went more in-depth with a few things, but it is more of an overview type book.



3. This is a great book for anyone interested in designing sustainable buildings. There are 7 sections - envelope, lighting, heating, cooling, energy production, water and waste and case studies- with different strategies in each. The sections are very clear and explain what each strategy is, how it's achieved, the problems and design considerations for each. Also there are lots of diagrams, charts and real-world examples. I would highly recommend this book it is very easy to read and it makes what may seem like complicated sustainable systems, easy to implement into your own designs.



4. As an architecture student, I have found this to be an ideal source for helping me incorporate green design strategies into studio projects. Time is always valuable during the design process and having all this data under one cover is sure to save you bundles of it. Filled with top-notch photos, written descriptions, and evocative sketches and illustrations, I can't recommend this book enough.



5. This is a great book, thats easy to use, clear and consise and even looks great on the coffee table (colour photos). This book is a helpful resource for those who are practitioners as well as those who need a guide to more informatively converse in green design strategy with their contractors/architects.