No comments about 25 Apartments and Lofts Under 1000 Square Feet.

No comments about The Project of Autonomy: Politics and Architecture Within and Against Capitalism (FORuM Project Publications).

1 comments about Islamic Gardens and Landscapes (Penn Studies in Landscape Architecture).

1. This is a quite fine book on its topic, with some new things to say about a (dare I say it?) under-cultivated scholarly garden. The author rightly points out that most books on Islamic art and architecture basically stop when they hit the garden. This book could be interestingly matched up with one of the various histories of art and architecture (like the Yale volumes), as their complement. It is also interesting that the author challenges the standard view of the quadrature garden as being essentially the only pattern out there -- multiple patterns emerge. I particularly liked the discussion of the evolution of tombs and gardens together. The second half of the book is an invaluable selection of sites and site plans throughout the Islamic world.
   
   The book unavoidably carries with it the sadness evoked by the miserable fact that hardly any of the gardens he talks about survive in any fashion at all -- neglected, ignored, built over, redesigned. But we are talking gardens here, after all, so ephemeral comes with the terrain. But it is pretty grim, page after page of destruction.

5 comments about Palm Springs Weekend: The Architecture and Design of a Midcentury Oasis.

1. I almost bought this book in a book store on Balboa Island. Then my friend said to get it on Amazon - I didn't realize it could be brand new! Saved alot of money and the book is amazing. It arrived in the mail quickly, so I am now a devoted fan. If you love Palm Springs like we do, you'd love reading Palm Springs Weekend.



2. This book is largerly concerned with the historical and sociological environment that led to the creation of mid-20th century Palm Springs buildings. There is little time spent on the technical side of the sampled designs, and it could benefit from more large colour picture spreads.
   
   A good book for understanding the context of the architecture, not great for admiring the details. If you're after a "coffe table" piece, go for 'Palm Springs Modern: Houses in the California Desert' by Adele Cygelman.



3. If you're in to mid-century modern architecture, this book is a must.



4. Well worth the price...we had just returned from a weekend in Palm Springs and this book gave us interesting background and history and also great photographs.



5. This book has enough information in it to turn you into a bit of an expert on Palm Springs mid-century architecture. It has enough beautiful photography and helpful floorplans to make you want a piece of it. My sisters and I are going there in two weeks. We want to see the Alexander tract homes.
   
   The book explores each of the buildings and architects in detailed description - well enough that one can distinguish between the various styles and select a favorite or two. I fell in love with the Sinatra house by Stewart Williams and the Kaufmann house by Richard Neutra. I wished for the sake of the old Biltmore hotel that someone would restore it to it's former glory. I was disappointed to learn from another source that it was demolished in 2003, after this book's publication.
   
   I do have to admit that while the text is full of good information, it is a bit of a difficult read. Either the sentences are poorly constructed or the authors had a hard time sorting out their ideas. However, if you can focus and you really want to know about the architecture in Palm Springs, there is a lot to learn from this beautiful and informative book.

3 comments about Courtyards: Intimate Outdoor Spaces.

1. This book was recommended as a guide to developing sculpture gardens and outdoor living spaces. It is not. The photographs appear to be very dated as are the subject courtyards. It is a dull, unispired book.



2. Douglas Keister's Courtyards: Intimate Outdoor Spaces takes a rare look at the function, definition and purpose of a courtyard surveying courtyards around the world which grace both home and public establishment. Courtyards can be adapted to both large and small spaces, vary in greenery, stonework, and lighting, and are perfect additions for homeowners seeking to remodel with style. Turn a backyard into a courtyard setting or consider many options through the phone color exhibition of photographer Keister, paired with text which considers design options and successful examples.



3. The author has definitely done his homework. We are in the process of creating a courtyard in our back yard after having added a sunroom this past season. Our theme has been "New Orleans" for the sunroom ... even though we live in a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, we have visited New Orleans many times and consider it our "home away from home". There are courtyards from New Orleans featured in this book - but many from other places as well. Whatever you are looking for in courtyard ideas, you will find it here.

5 comments about 100 of the World's Best Houses (Architecture).

1. This book gives a complete perception of the houses described, because of plans and multiple views inside the houses. That is what I expected from a book like that: not only a compilation of pictures



2. I have seen almost every house in this book published before and the ones that i hadn't seen weren't anything special. In fact several of the homes are quite old by Moore Ruble, Predock, Gwathmy, etc. If you have a collection of residential books allready, pass this one over.



3. Although this book has more than a handful of great contemporary homes, we get only a teasing glimpse of each of them. The author would have been better off reducing the number of houses covered, and doing a more in depth coverage of each of them. The book could have been improved by calling it, 25 or 50 of the worlds best houses, and doing a more comprehesive spread on each house. The few pictures we get of each house are of good photographic quality, but the scene selections and angles the houses are shot at, don't give the best representation of them. I have seen several of these same houses in other publications (books or magazines) and have seen them shot from better angles. Another complaint, but this one is subjective, is that, for me, there were too many "woodsy" houses in the book.
   I realize that this is only my opinion and taste, but for me, I like my contemporary homes very minimal and sleek, and with a touch of industial in the mix, with no sign of wood. There are a few like that in the book, but the majority of them are mostly wood based.
   I did purchase and keep this book, feeling it had enough fresh ideas to merit keeping it. Again everything is relative, and compared to most other contemporary architecture books, this ones a keeper.



4. This coffee-table book is massive in size. I wouldn't say that it's a cerebral book which offers much in architecture literature. The introduction is rather superficial which defines the meaning of private dwellings by Catherine Slessor, the managing editor of The Architectural Review. Her comment is simply most of the featured dwellings here are commissioned by affluent clients & they do have an impact upon the landscape, fulfillment of their lifestyle circumstances, enabling them to express themselves as much as the architects who design those dwellings. The book cut into the chase immediately with illustrations of 100 houses which span around the world. I'm pleasantly surprised that some houses in New Zealand are featured too. There are many types of houses ranging from International House to Deconstructivism to Post Expressionism to Minimalism to Intelligent House (regulating the temperature in the house by using passive means to conserve energy) & the list goes on. Should readers would like to read more about those houses, there are briefs provided at the end of the book. It would be good if there are headings given in the book but obviously, it's not done in this instance. It would be ideal if contact information for architects are provided in this book as some architecture books would have done. There are enough pictures to keep us interested and ocassionally building plans. It would be interesting if editor shares with us how she picks those houses that are featured in this book because I would like to think that preferences are rather subjective. Therefore, for what she thinks is the best 100 houses in the world, other people might not necessarily think so. Perhaps, the choice of the title of the book is questionable. Anyhow, this book does provide us with a broad view of available houses in the world. I wouldn't say that this is a definitive architecture book or a book that you should have in your collection. However, as a reference material, it shall made do. A book with enormous potential but ultimately, disappointing. By the way, many of the houses here come from the States. Is it because other places in the world are devoid of creativity or that Americans do put a lot of effort into their homes?



5. This book provides a nice selection of contemporary home design, and not just the unatainable homes often depicted in such volumes. Floor plans are included, and the photography and quality of reproduction is first-rate. Highly recommended.

4 comments about Reflections on the Pool: California Designs for Swimming.

1. Detailed analysis of a few each of several different types of pools: lap pools, "natural" pools, indoor pools, famous pools, etc., all in California. Not a construction manual, but full of details worth considering when designing a pool. A must for anyone considering getting a pool on a difficult or very special piece of land.



2. This excelent book is focused exclusively on design. Very inspiring and unique. Do not expect to find anything about maintenance, it is a book meant for designers. A must for landscape designers and architects.



3. The photography is fabulous. Many of the pools were designed by the author, but this does not detract from the book. It is well balanced. The chapters include: the natural pool, lap pools, infinity edges, indoor pools, historical pools, among others.



4. A lovely book, plenty of inspirational photography and sufficient detail to inspire the intended pool builder or professional. Coffee table interest

5 comments about Tom Lynchs Watercolor Secrets.

1. in examples of work done from beginning to end. It is filled with the artist's beautiful art work and that Mr. Lynch is a very accomplished painter is definitely not in dispute. However, I found the book tedious to read. Each picture is accompanied with an explanation why the picture had achieved oomph regarding design. Most of the paintings are of urban settings, i.e. of Paris, golf clubs, etc. and I am more of a nature and flower painter. I found the book to be not a complete waste of my money, but there are definitely books I like much better.



2. "Tom Lynch's Watercolor Secrets" is a 5-star watercolor technique book for visual learners. Alas, I am not a visual learner, and so much of the impact was lost. If you are, I strongly recommend you get this book.
   
   All lessons are displayed mainly in comparison pictures: the same scene done two ways, once without the recommended technique, and once with the recommended technique. This is the "salvage paintings" stuff that other reviewers mention. These painting comparisons are scattered throughout the book and cover all topics. The comparison pictures are very effective pictoral representations of the technique lessons described herein.
   
   For myself, I don't like landscapes and I wasn't particularly impressed by the author's painting style. Still, this book has a lot of useful advice on painting technique. You might also consider Painting What You Want to See (Practical Art Books), which is the best watercolor technique book I've found.



3. When you get into reading this book to learn his "secrets," some of the information is really thin. It has some really great parts that give insight, like his section on color. It opened my eyes to new ways of painting -- outside of the box! With many of the pictures, a few step by step "in progress" points would have been super helpful -- that's where it just misses. If you have a lot of skill, you may be able to read "the picture" and see things from other chapters and get the deeper concept. I, being new, can NOT even begin to do that yet, so it is a great read and gives good insight, but it is a book to read after reading some of the conceptual walk-you-through-it books that exist. So, not allllll of his secrets really are revealed. :-)



4. A great concept with wonderful illustrations by Tom Lynch but lacking descriptions of the techniques and pigment use employed. Like the other reviewer I found the secrets still secrets and not revealing enough information. This publishers books seem to follow this pattern as with Alvaro Castagnet book Watercolor Painting with Passion (beautiful and inspiring illustrations by Castagnet but lacking decent text of the techniques and use of pigments used).

   However, aside from the lacking technical information, Lynch's work is wonderful and inspiring.




5. THIS BOOK NEEDS MORE DETAIL AND TECHNIQUE IN MUCH BETTER FORM. I APPRECIATE GOOD ART BOOKS AND THIS ONE COULD BE A LOT BETTER..

No comments about Proceed and Be Bold: Rural Studio After Samuel Mockbee.

5 comments about Japanese Homes and Their Surroundings (Tuttle Classics).

1. Several years ago I bought a reprint of Dr. Morse book and it has become not only a treasured Clasic but a Bible of information. Although there are no pictures, none are needed with Dr. Morse drawings and detail descriptions.
   E L Smith



2. I bought this book about 3 years ago from Amazon. So you'd think that it would be old hat by now. Yet I find myself picking it up at least once every few months to either refer to it for a construction detail or just to look for something new. What a wonderful resource for traditional Japanese design this book is.
   
   Trained as a Zoologist, Morse put his scientific powers of observation and systematic description to work during the 1880's in producing the sketches and text that describes a world of everyday Japanese design right before it was swamped with Western influence and largely disappeared. There are plenty of books that can show you pictures of ancient Japanese temples and teahouses, but what about the method of constructing the roof of an ordinary 19th century Tokyo home? This was stuff that few people thought was worth recording for posterity. Which is why Morse's book is so unique and valuable to us.
   
   Anyone with more than a passing interest in the way that things are built or designed would do well to put this book on their shelf. Interior decorators, architects, DIY types (such as myself), finish carpenters, contractors and furniture makers should all have a tattered, dog-eared copy of 'Japanese Homes and Their Surroundings' within easy reach. It is a constant source of inspiration.



3. "Japanese Homes and Their Surroundings" is a great book. If you've any interest in traditional Japanese architecture, get this book. Edward Morse was an American who went to Japan in 1877 to study brachiopods. He ended up recording a vanishing way of life instead. He tells you how Japanese homes were built and why they were built that way. Not much escapes his eye. In serviceable prose and clear drawings, he tells us about carpenters and their tools, houses, furnishings, privies, fences and gateways, water supplies and gardens. Most of it he compares favorably to American and European counterparts.
   
   Best of all, it's a Dover book and cheap.



4. I picked up the Dover paperback edition at a library book sale and was charmed by the author's detailed drawings as much as the description of domestic life in 19th century Japan. Morse originally published this in 1885, barely 30 years after Perry's expedition, and traveled around Japan documenting as many houses and styles as possible (including those of the Aino culture). There are no photographs, but the intricate line drawings and intimate descriptions of functional households -- kitchens and cooking utensils, washing areas, sleeping quarters -- are minutely detailed and thoroughly described in the text. Not just a book for those interested in architecture but history as well.



5. I purchased this book simply to get a quick overview of Japanese domestic architecture. The price is always right with Dover books so I just ordered it without any research. What a pleasant surprise to find myself reading a definitive work on the subject a few days later. The text is thoughtfully written and the illustrations skillfully done. As with any well written and illustrated book, color pictures are not overly missed. As a result of this book I find myself much more interested in Japanese architecture than I ever intended to be and heartily recommend it to anyone with an interest in home or interior design.