1 comments about 4dspace: Interactive Architecture (Architectural Design).

1. This book was recommended to me by a trusted source. However once I got it, the material in the book is a out of date remix of many existing sources already available online listed under the topic of media architecture. It may also suffer from an affliction many of these types of books have which is once they are published they are already out of date. Also, for the price I expected a more comprehensive view.

3 comments about John Pawson Works.

1. The main complaint I have with this book is that some of the photography veers towards the abstract or obscure. Frankly in an architecture book I'm not interested in the photographer's or author's artistic pretensions. Let the architect's work speak for itself - something that many authors on architecture seem reluctant to do these days. Having experienced some of the work featured in this book, there were some photographs that left me wondering if I'd been in the same building as these guys. It was great to see floorplans but some drawings or draft plans illustrating Pawson's design process would have been very welcome.



2. If readers have come across Deyan Sudjic's works before (namely, the Architecture Park), then, you have a fairly good idea of what to expect from this book. I always find Deyan's books to be hugely entertaining & informative at the same time, & I can't help but noticing that Deyan is a strong advocate of architecture, not discussing about the literati of it all but discussing about the interaction among people that are concerned in creating spaces for their consumptions. John Pawson is a superarchitect who started his career reasonably late in his thirties but thru a mixture of his talent, hard work, sheer luck in getting recognised, his stature in the architecture world is phenomena. I wouldn't rate him as one of those cerebral architects such as Stephen Holl, Steve Eisenmann, Frank Gehry, Frank Meier, etc. but what he does, he does it in his own way, & with style. Perhaps, one of the saying that depicts him succinctly would be, if it's working, why fix it. By glancing thru all his works, readers might find that they all have those quiet contemplation ambiance with a touch of Eastern Zen (not surprising considering that he spent 4 years of his life teaching in Japan), & modernism. John also applies the fundamentals of architecture by emphasising upon form, mass, & repetition. Here, we are privileged to read about the process that John went thru with his few featured high profiled clients, who inherently share his values. Some of the works are as followings: Calvin Klein, Martha Stewart, Cathay Pacific, Obumex Kitchen, Faggionato Apartment, Pawson's own house, Young Vic. Presentation of this Phaidon's book is high quality, & even though it's a nice touch by using different tones of whites & grays to give it a Pawson's feel to it, it might be difficult to read in a less than well-lit room, & some of the building plans were so small & miniscule & without the necessary aid such as magnifying glass, it's not really easy to look at the plans in detail. Labelling of the spaces would come in handy, naturally. Chronology, index, & acknowledgements at the end of the book & a potrait of John Pawson do give us a fairly good idea of his accomplishments, & about the man himself. In terms of defining John Pawson, I think this book has done just that. Enjoyable to read & as a coffee table book, it wouldn't disappoint. Highly recommended.



3. If you appreciate that "less is certainly more.."..then you'll love this book.John Pawson's works continue to demonstrate that there is beauty even in the simplest of expressions.The use of bold planes, subtle lighting and texture continue to seduce and excite.Pawson's kitchens exemplify his minimalist philosophies-they make you want to rip your own out and start all over again!

3 comments about Keeping the Cutting Edge: Setting and Sharpening Hand and Power Saws.

1. A thin book that gives you precisely and concisly everything that you want to know about saw sharpening at home. Just add experimentation and experience and you can enjoy sharp saws all the time.



2. This book pretty much covers sharpening handsaws soup to nuts with lots of illustrations and detail. Includes topic of rejuvinating old saws and creating your own handle.
   
   It also has a few pages of detail on sharpening chainsaw blades as well as standard steel blades ( which is pretty dated with carbide tablesaw blades replacing steel blades )
   
   Best book I've read on sharpening handsaws ( filing - setting - planing teeth level - etc.)



3. Payson's book is an excellent guide to sharpening all types of saws, from hand to table saw blades. Also covered are old fashioned saws for cutting down trees and bucking them. Japanese and carbide tipped blades are about the only types not covered, but that does not detract from the books utility. Clearly written and illustrated, highly recommended.

1 comments about Katsura.

1. Quite interesting book if you are fond about japanese architecture. Sensible, full of inspiration... Its pictures will make you travel to the place and time.

1 comments about Circle Houses: Yurts, Tipis and Benders (House That Jack Built).

1. I thought the book gave an excellent description of yurts and tipis from a historical perspective and present day use. Its gives case studies/examples of people who current live in these types of unique dwellings. We added a couple of yurts to our North Georgia bed and breakfast inn. We have witnessed some of the feelings first hand that our guests have had that were also mentioned in the book by yurt dwellers.

3 comments about George Washington Smith: An Architect's Scrapbook.

1. Located exact item I needed and it was promptly delivered. I am a first time user and was very satisfied with the process. I will definitely use you again.



2. This is a fascinating book on a singular talent. It was so interesting to see images and articles, gathered from the era in which Mr. Smith practiced. The photos are wonderful and the text is highly informative. George Washington Smith was the foremost master of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and this book honors him. I highly recommend it to anyone with any interest whatsoever in this style of architecure, you wont be disappointed, it is a long awaited tribute to one of the finest American residental architects of the 20th century.



3. This is truely is a must have book for anyone remotely interested in Santa Barbara architecture. Beautiful images and sketches of the historic work of George Washington Smith make up this coffee table treasure. Highly reccommended.

1 comments about Mastering Tradition: The Residential Architecture of John Russell Pope (American Architects).

1. This is a very well executed book. The pictures chosen are perfect and the authors do a commendable job with the research. The book gives an exhaustive cross section of Mr. Popes work and one gets a real appreciation of his talent. The book publisher deserves credit for creating such a finely made book, one never doubts they are perusing an expensive book. The only qualm I have with the book is that they didn't do like the authors of the book on Delano and Aldrich and include some fine current color pictures to compliment the wonderful vintage B&W photos, that would have made it perfect, but this is close enough. Congradulations to the authors for this fine piece of work.

1 comments about Architecture of Truth.

1. This gorgeous book flawlessly demonstrates the architecture of the Cistercians, the photographs conveying the principles of asceticism which governed their monastic spaces. The continuity of pages filled with black and white photos, alongside which black text communicates wisdom from some of the greatest religious personages, is broken only by the red lettering delineating the beginning of a new section, each of which is named for the canonical hours--mirroring the shift that would have occurred in the monks' day as the bells of terce or nones called them to prayer. Throughout, Hervé's photographs marvelously capture the spirit of light so important to the aesthetic of Cistercian architecture, making it apparent that he truly understands and respects its principles. The essence of L'Abbaye du Thoronet permeates the pages, making me feel (in a way no other book has) as though I am again standing in its cloister, the scent of boxwood in the air, a specific and marked tranquility throughout...
   I believe that this is a volume of which St. Bernard himself would approve.

No comments about Colonial Homes: 165 Plans with American Style (American Collection) (American Collection).

4 comments about Sustainable Homes: 26 Designs that Respect the Earth.

1. Sustainability is something that seems to defy definition at this time. Personally, I believe that part of it has to do with lifestyle. I think it is terrific that when pallacial homes are built they bring efficiencies into play. There are many good ideas in this book. Some of them have already been incorporated into projects I am building. That does not make them "Designs that Respect the Earth". Most of these structures are not what I would call sustainable. I would, however say that they are more effecient than they could have been.
   
   Dont get me wrong, I am glad that these are being built the way they are. It is just that the title makes a bold claim I call to question.
   
   They are, in some cases beautiful and as I said, some of the ideas are being incorporated into current projects of Eco-Con Building Systems, Inc.



2. This is a book of sumptuous photos and graceful, though scant, commentary. Featured are sophisticated homes in beautiful, sometimes dramatic settings. Yet contrasting with the title, the brief description of each house seems more to emphasize aesthetics than "sustainability." Dennis Wedlick's forward succinctly lists a few elements like super-insulation, and non-toxic materials; but too little along these lines is discussed in Trulove's text in relation to the specific houses. Occasional fundamental or innovative details of construction, siting, or materials do show up, but more often the discussion is about traditional architectural concerns (like interior space and extensive windows) and stylistic considerations (like exterior cladding, and interior paneling). Besides the photos, the floor plans and roof-line illustrations are informative (though small). And occasionally the text and the photos come together nicely to reveal an interesting design feature - as when an extensive overhanging roof used in an especially sunny climate provides shade for windows (presumably reducing air-conditioning needs). But this book is nowhere near as intensive in its investigation of its featured homes, nor of sustainabile-home concepts or tech, as numerous other available books on the same topic (such as David Pearson's The Natural House).



3. James Grayson Truelove rides the gravytrain of bait-and-switch coffee table fare. His chosen form lures the reader in with promises of topics we long to LEARN about, and a few succulent photographs, only to find the actual product, when delivered, bereft of content...frustrating, unsatisfying calories for an audience truly hungry for information and knowledge. read the reviews for all of his books and you will notice a recurring theme...we've seen most of these houses (even the same shots) in magazines before...readers were hoping for more detail...many people seem really ready for information about how to buck the degrading tide of mainstream housing, how to do it artfully, efficiently, and affordably. it seems almost cruel to cheat such a group of eager, open-minded, ahead-of-the-bellcurve people whose attempts to thwart the destructive housing industry are going to provide answers for the future. what a wasted opportunity. I think Mr. Truelove has the ABILITY, and he obviously has the resources, to do much better.



4. I love to collect books of house plans and blueprints and I especially like those that are environmentally friendly. Some day my family wants to afford to build such a nice house so these give us ideas. However, that only really works if we have full information -- like what types of materials are used, layouts of the floors that we can read, etc. Several, about 40% of the designs in this book lacked understandable or complete basic blueprints for the structure. Only a page or two about the building and the philosophy behind it were included. Primarily this is a pretty picture book and for $30 it should be more.