1 comments about Fire Outdoors: Fireplaces, Fire Pits, Wood Fired Ovens & Cook Centers.

1. If you are looking for inspiration before you start creating your backyard dream, this book is it! Lots of great photos that will give you ideas of what can work in your outdoor space. Fireplaces, wood-burning ovens,outdoor kitchens and much more.

5 comments about Casa California: Spanish-Style Houses From Santa Barbara to San Clemente.

1. This book is a stunning historical account of the rise of the Spanish Mission architectural style in California. The pictures are vibrant and beautiful and the commentary is interesting and appropriate, but limited in order to let the pictures speak for themselves. A lovely coffee-table book.



2. For design ideas, this book will cater to mostly high-end clients but lets face it; most people who do any real custom homes are high-end clients, regardless of the architectural style.
   
   The photographs are beautiful and the book covers a broad array of Spanish influenced interpretations. I would liked to have seen more examples of wrought iron work and additional close-up photos of some of the design details but overall, this is a fantastic book and an exceptional bargain at Amazon's price.



3. This book is a very useful handbook for any Architectural or interior designer, it contains a lot of ideas a lot of which (in my openion) are easy to be implemented and does not cost so much.
   
   Best Regards
   Tareq Azzam



4. Ideal for learning about the architecture and decortating styles of Spanish style homes. The photgraphs are beautiful. I will rely on this book when I design my new home.



5. Great book! The minute I opened it I knew it was going to be a thrilling trip to another time in California history. Beautiful pictures of grand homes, grounds, and other structures built with Spanish and Mexican influence. If you want just one book covering this subject, this would be the one to buy. Highly recommend.

No comments about Form Based Codes: A Guide for Planners, Urban Designers, Municipalities, and Developers.

1 comments about The Art of Small Things.

1. The Art of Small Things by John Mack
   Reviewed by Laurel Hunter [...]
   
   It is no small thing to read through this book. Every time I picked up The Art of Small Things, I became totally absorbed in the beautiful color photographs that illustrate the book - the objects shown are incredibly varied and engaging, and the photography and printing exceptional. I found myself running to the internet to search for more pictures of ganjifa cards or historical chessmen, netsuke and brass weights. The text itself, of course, has information, but I needed more pictures to satisfy my curiosity. It is hardly a flaw for an art book to have pictures that are too beautiful. So perhaps it is a flaw of this reviewer that cannot resist miniature eye candy.
   
   Another difficulty in finishing the book is the density of its prose. Written by the Professor of World Art Studies at the University of East Anglia, this is most definitely more academic text than page-turner. How did I read all that theory and criticism in graduate school? Discipline at last prevailed. I did not read the chapters in order, but I read them all!
   
   Truthfully, the book is a bit dry. However, it is thick with knowledge of many, many cultures and their art and artifacts. It is no small feat to link figurative Aztec jade figures with Italian micro-mosaics with Japanese woodblock prints. However, I did find myself skimming, at times, the lengthy paragraphs that describe technical process. How the Ghanaians cast objects in brass or gold is not quite as interesting to me as the objects they chose and the way that they are arranged to imply meaning. Mack gets to all of this, of course, and the strength of this book lies in the incredible breadth and details of cultural information. For sure the prevailing message is the power of the miniature object to far outweigh its physical presence. Not just the intimacy that we often associate with small works of art, where one is required to move close to the work to engage with it fully. Mack takes on the secrecy of small objects and the power that comes from being hidden, ranging from the religious to the romantic. He also takes his discussion far beyond analysis of the objects and into the cultures that produce them. For example, in a chapter called "Small Bodies" he talks about dollhouses and toys, as well as a cultural fascination with dwarves and a culture of child marriage. In another chapter we learn why brass weights from the Asante culture used for measuring gold take on such a variety of forms - and these are truly amazing casts of birds, men drumming, horses, etc.
   
   What is made especially clear in this book is how small objects are necessarily attentive to details, and therefore venues for fascinating conceptual messages. The variety of objects explored in The Art of Small Things is astounding and the author's knowledge broad, if the means of conveyance a tad academic. And there are, of course, the beautiful reproductions, which are the reason this book stays by my bed at the top of the stack.

2 comments about Hacienda Courtyards (Mexican Design Books).

1. Although there are plenty of photographs, they were of the same few properties over and over. I had expected more variety.



2. This book is the bible for Interior Designers who wish to follow through with interior spaces and make the patios and gardens beckon their clients to enjoy equally their outside spaces. This book is a must in every designers library.

5 comments about How to Build Small Barns & Outbuildings.

1. Although all the details are there I don't think this is a beginner's book. There are a lot of terms and language that is not familiar to someone not in the construction industry. For a beginner I think there should have been more pictures and diagrams and maybe more explanation of the terms used. It's not unclear but I had to do some digging to understand everything.



2. Clear writing, accompanied by excellent illustrations for all the steps. Everything is included: planning, foundation, material, tools, foundation, windows, wiring and finishing. If you're a newbie, you're not wasting your money by buying this.



3. This book is written with simple jargon, clear illustrations and concise instructions. A great spring-board book for those new to construction.



4. I never built a building before, I did help build a deck.
   I bought this book to build a small music studio (16'x24')
   and it was easy to read. It had everything I needed in it to build the building and the project came out great. After reading this book you will think it is easy to build small buildings.



5. This is a great general building reference book. I pull it out whenever I'm starting something new or if I want a refresher. This book has helpful detailed information on all phases of building design and construction. This includes: 1. Foundation design layout and pouring for slabs, piers, & footings of all sorts; 2. Framing design & construction-- whether pole or platform framing, roof trusses or rafters; 3. Siding & roofing options, design & construction details for each; 4. Wiring details from power to the service panel to switches, lighting and outlets; 5.Plumbing from the well to the septic leach field.

   It also has over 20 plans for various buildings ranging from pole barns and equipment sheds to guest houses, garages and studios. I have built several sheds from plans in this book and plan to build more.

No comments about Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery.

5 comments about Building with Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs): Strength and Energy Efficiency Through Structural Panel Construction (For Pros By Pros).

1. This book is a good primer for anyone who has doesn't know much about SIP's, but I found it quite basic. Also, there are passages in the book that show just how badly it is in need of an update. For instance, in the first chapter, it says something to the effect of "...with energy costs being relatively low, builders have a hard time selling energy efficiency and sacrificing the two story fake stone arch...' If this technology is to get a solid foothold in the building industry, MANY books should be written to provide builders with the resources they need to handle both high-end custom homes and affordable homes as well.
   
   In short, if you are just trying to get up to speed on what SIP's are, this is probably worthwhile. Otherwise, spend some time on the phone and visiting with your SIP dealer, talk to contractors who have used them, and look around online. I think you will find more detailed and specific (and UP TO DATE) information.



2. Excellent overview of SIPs construction basics and techniques. Author explains in ordinary terms so any layman can understand. Anyone considering SIPs construction should buy this book. It would be nice if a newer version (this one is 2002)were available to discuss the latest products.



3. Good book to explain the fundamentals and ideas behind why Structural Insulated Panels area a good building medium. Unfortunately, the solid information on estimating the costs or tricks to design that the interested party are looking for are not there.
   
   I look for someone to write the next book in the series.



4. this book provides a thorough and well detailed look at SIP anatomy and construction techniques. information on this construction type is extremely difficult to find from sources other than (possibly biased or glossed-over) information from SIP manufacturers. the content covers so many details of its construction that it could concievably be used as a primer/manual/textbook for contractors or others interested in using this construction type. any information needed to supplement the information found here will most likely be so specific that it will be material related to a particular manufacturer's product or information gleaned directly from materials testing reports. i have looked extensively, and not been able to find, any materials on SIPs that could compare to the value of this source.



5. Just a quick note on this book. My wife and I are looking to build an energy-efficient home. We are both engineers and very detail-oriented people. As part of our due diligence, we picked up this book after seeing a demonstration house built with SIPS as part of the 2005 Smithsonian Folk Life Festival (this was part of the US Forest Service pavilion - sustainable building approaches area). As noted in an earlier review, this book does have a bit of a promotional feel. However, it could simply be the author's enthusiasm for what appears to be a very good product. The book is also somewhat light in treating potential problems with SIPS. The failures of mutliple SIP roofing systems in Juneau, Alaska should have been addressed. In fairness though, these failures seem to largely be installation problems on the part of a small number of builders unfamiliar with the product. Overall, this book is a very useful and fairly detailed introduction to SIPS building. We would love to see a follow-up title that goes into much more technical detail on designing for SIPs use, as well as further exploration of lessons-learned from using SIPs in various settings and climates.

1 comments about Tricia Guild Flower Sense: The Art of Decorating with Flowers.

1. .... well... ANOTHER AMAZING BOOK FROM TRICIA GUILD!!! Priceless under my eyes! LOVE LOOOVE IT! The use of paper, layout and photography are stunning!!!! Thnx Tricia!!!!!!!

5 comments about Architecture Now 5.

1. This is a nice little coffee table styled book on architecture and artwork, showcasing about 92 architects and a few of their works. Its small size makes it easy to take along with you wherever you go.
   
   Each architect gets two pages devoted to them, comprising a brief biography highlighting some of their notable works, as well as photos and/or sketches showcasing one or two of their works.
   
   Some of the architects and works featured include Alberto Campo Baeza (Center for innovative technologies in Majorca), Will Bruder (Byrne residence in Arizona), Frank Gehry (Experience Music Project in Seattle), Arata Isokazi (Shizuoka convention and arts center in Shizuoka), Polshek Partnership (the very space age Rose center for earth & science in New York), and Richard Rogers (Law courts in Bordeaux, and Millennium Dome in London).
   
   A good book.



2. Valuable book according to price. However there is a small binding problem in my copy...
   Yagmur TOPRAKLI



3. The author of this book has done a fine job of showcasing recent modern architectural projects of interest to the general population, as well as to architects and structural engineers working in the profession. I am a structural engineer, and I purchased the book because two of my friends, and one of their projects, are featured in the book. I also happened to work on that paticular project, and was interested in having a published record of the project along with my own project files. The book is well written, has wonderful photographs, and is a fine addition to the genre of "coffee table architecture books". Mr. Jodidio is to be commended for writing this book.



4. Despite of being on of the most interesting book which gather many architects and many styles, this fourth version is not as good as the other 3, although it reflect the kind of architecture being used at this moment all over the world.



5. I ordered this book on 6/30/2006, and here we are 1 month later, and still nothing. I have been notified twice to "update my order". which basically meant to approve yet another delay for my package. I love Taschen books, I would love it even more if i could get the darn thing.