2 comments about Norwegian Wood: The Thoughtful Architecture of Wenche Selmer.

1. I am biased by the fact that I am so very fond of the work done by Wenche Selmer. That being said the author has done a spectacular job of showcasing Selmer's accomplishments. Beautiful photographs abound and the text is quite substantive. My only complaint is that the floor plans that are included generally have no captions or notes and often no dimensions. Those floorplans that do have notes are in norwegian and as a result I spent a fair amount of time trying to puzzle out where the photographs were taken relative to the layout of the various buildings.



2. The Norwegian contribution to mid century modern architecture is not well known - let along the contribution by a mid century woman architect. With beautiful color photographs, plans and construction details, this presentation of the work of Wenche Selmer is a visual treat and a learning experience. The collection of cabins and second homes provides an in depth look at the results of carefull attention to the details of a home environment. As we seek alternatives to big and over the top houses, the book is a must for anyone who wishes for the beauty of simplicity and anyone interested in wood architecture.

1 comments about Insulating Concrete Forms Construction : Demand, Evaluation, & Technical Practice.

1. I am having a house designed to use ICF construction, but I wanted to come up to speed on the construction methods used. This book was a good source to get that knowledge. I covers many specifics about ICF as well as general concrete construction methods.

No comments about Contemporary Seaside Houses (Evergreen Series).

2 comments about Period Rooms in The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Metropolitan Museum of Art Series).

1. In my opinion, this book is well worth having and a must for serious students of Interior Design and the Decorative Arts. Written in a scholarly fashion with beautiful photos, it is a marvelous resource affording the reader the opportunity to view period rooms in context. Arrived promptly in good condition, as described.



2. This book is one of the most helpful architecture and furniture books I have found. The met has put together a wide variety of periods and locations to let us look into the rooms of times past. The pictures are stunning and the descriptions are very informative.

4 comments about The New American House 3.

1. As with everything else from this author, it is just a collection of pretty pictures, with absolutely no detail on materials and construction techniques. There is a reason his books are so cheap.



2. Make no mistake, TNAH3 is beautiful. I loved the photos, especially of the interiors of the homes. However the floor plans are very difficult to read:

   - numbers corresponding to a legend, and not words or obvious icons (like say a table and 4 chairs to indicate a dining room) are used for each room

   - it is hard to tell with some of the larger designs what is interior or exterior, what's a wall versus a fence

   - dimensions are not provided for either the rooms or the overall structure




3. "The New American House 3: Innovations in Residential Design and Construction" is truly a monumental resource for those interested in home architecture. Editors James Grayson Trulove and Il Kim have assembled 30 case studies of homes built between 1996 and 2000. The homes range from a 2,200 square foot residence to mansions of 10,000 and 12,800 square feet. The houses come from locations all over the United States: Lovell, Maine; Duluth, Minnesota; Fayettevile, Arkansas; Seattle, Washington; Tucson, Arizona and many other places.

   Each case study includes detailed, eye-friendly floor plans, as well as many full-color photographs (both exterior and interior). Other features found in many of the case studies include cross sections, detailed elevations, axonometric drawings, site plans, and other visual supplements. Also included are descriptions of materials used in construction.

   Although the houses represent a range of design approaches, the overall flavor strikes me as modern. Some of the many highlights include the daring cantilevered elements of the Nomentana Residence; the "Y" House (shaped, unsurprisingly, like the letter "Y"); the Emerson Residence, which beautifully blends traditional-looking shingled gables with some innovative elements; the Townsend Residence, a fantastic, flowing series of interconnected circles and curves; and Ledge House, with its striking blend of rough-looking logs and stone. These are just a few of the amazing sights in this book. I recommend "NAH3" with great enthusiasm.




4. This book contains some really good work. The previous books had a few projects here and there, but this one is pretty consistent on the quality of design. I especially like the number of projects from Arizona. (Dessert architecture out there is up and coming.)

   As said before, I love these books because of the inclusion of key building details and the neccessary drawings to "see" the work past just the flashy photographs. Once again, I recommend the books in this series for someone interested in contemporary residential design, and for the designer who might need some ideas to get "un-stuck." I like to use them as visual aids to clients, also.

1 comments about New Classicists: Ken Tate (New Classicists).

1. This book includes many semi-opaque illustrated papers that are pasted or taped to the bound pages. It's a nice idea, but the paste and/or tape in my copy arrived dried out so that the inserts are loose, and the acids or oils in the glue seeped through the paper so the inserts are also blemished. I'm assuming this was a design flaw, and did not just affect my copy. Did anyone else have this problem? Aside from this disappointment, this is a pleasant and attractively laid out picture book of one architect's expensive new dwellings using classical idioms. In my opinion, best suited for fans of the types of showplaces that are favored by Architectural Digest.

3 comments about Hampton Court: A Social and Architectural History.

1. As a source for factual information in an historiacl context, I highly recommend this book. In researching the Elizabethan era, I found the information most helpful in reaching a greater understanding of Elizabeth Tudor and her times.
   The excellent combination of photographs and period illustrations in the book help in drawing/writing a clearer picture of the place where so much vital history took place.



2. I have to admit a weakness for coffee-table books about palaces, stately homes etc, but this sumptuous, oversize volume is among the better ones of the genre. It is a detailed history of Hampton Court Palace - its origins, construction, additions, renovations, decoration and gardens, but also it touches on the lives and motivations of its people - builders and architects, kings and princes, bureaucrats and functionaries, tenants and visitors.
   
   Richly illustrated with floor plans, drawings, paintings, prints, portraits, and photographs, this account of Hampton Court brings the story of the famous palace up to the 21st century.
   
   When I last visited Hampton Court a quarter century ago, both house and gardens were looking decidedly shabby and, apparently, it got much worse before it got better. Tourists were passing it up in droves. Scandalous mismanagement, including a 3 million pound contractor fraud, dismantled fire detectors and gateways too narrow for fire engines, led up to a disastrous fire in 1986 and resulted in 2 deaths.
   
   Although this is a serious work, one (unintentionally?) hilarious episode described in the book is the comic-opera visit to view the fire damage by the then Secretary of State for the Environment (& the man ultimately responsible for Hampton Court), Nicolas Ridley. Ridley, a chain smoker, his wife who was claustrophobic and ten other dignitaries were descending in the lift when it jammed between floors; the emergency manual door-opening device failed to function; the elevator maintenance man could not be located. Two hours later the Fire Brigade forced the doors open with a hydraulic jack. Heads rolled afterward - if only metaphorically.
   
   New schemes have since been put in place for restoration and refurbishment, for improved property management and to enhance the attractions of the historic old palace for new generations of visitors.



3. Britain does not possess a Versailles or a Caserta, but Hampton Court is about the close as it gets. Hampton Court is really two palaces, one built for Cardinal Wolsey, stolen by the gluttonous Henry VIII and finished in magnificent style by Sir Christopher Wren. Its history is really more interesting than the building itself. Hampton Court, though spectacular in many ways, will make nobody forget Fountainbleu or the Lourve. This book has wonderful images and the text is sholarly and enlightening. I highly recommend this book to anyone with any interest in British history, or storied structures.

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.

1 comments about Lighthouses of the Great Lakes: Your Ultimate Guide to the Region's Historic Lighthouses (Pictorial Discovery Guide).

1. Lighthouses Of The Great Lakes is a simply fantastic showcase of historic lighthouses of the Great Lakes region. Full color photographs by Daniel E. Dempster of virtually every structure combined with Todd R. Berger's informative text revealing remarkable true stories behind each fill this amazing tour through history. A treat for lighthouse aficionados, and a joy to page through for virtually everyone else, Lighthouses Of The Great Lakes is the next best thing to driving for hours to see each great, life-saving lighthouse personally.

5 comments about Cottage: America's Favorite Home Inside and Out.

1. Book in excellent condition...I guess I like this book a lot (after I received it, I noticed I already owned it!



2. If you are looking for small scale, cozy cottages you will be disappointed. For example, at page 37 there is a very comtemporary box style, three story structure, perhaps 2,800 square feet; the facade is deceptively board and batten, painted barn red. The living/dining/kitchen is one big open room, perhaps 36' by 14' with a 16' high ceiling. One outside wall, 36 by 16, is glass, which is impressive, but not conducive to an intimate, cozy milieu.
   
   At page 77 there is a three story prefab 'art moderne' structure that makes an impressive architectural statement, but it is by no stretch a "cottage".
   
   At page 187 is a remodeled barn: it's three stories, all open inside, ceilings 16 feet or more high, with a wall of glass. It's certainly not a cottage. It doesn't even look much like a barn anymore.
   
   
   The book cover suggests "each of the cottages is intimately scaled, seamlessly linked to the landscape...", which is just merchandising, promotional nonsense. For the most part these structures are just large houses, ego statements for the owner and architect. The authors are revisionists, changing the meaning of 'cottage' to include whatever they wished to put in their book.



3. I love cottage style and have a nice collection of books. Based on consumer reviews I bought it and boy was I disappointed. It was, to say the least, a snooze as far as the photos go. Since I cannot afford to buy a home presently, I love to get lost in the photos of a wonderfully photographed book. This is NOT one of them.



4. A sampling of cottages from across the country - backgrounds on the owners of the cottages, beautiful interior and exterior pictures and floor plans. I thoroughly enjoyed reading and looking at the pictures - very inspirational.



5. Excellent book, great ideas for people that have lake homes and are looking for ideas for building and decorating. Highly recommend it.