5 comments about Seaside Interiors.

1. Elegantly arranged and edited architecture/design book with focus on seaside homes. Very good coverage of each featured home; excellent organization on the page, with text in English, French, German.

   What sets this book apart is its tremendous variety of taste, environment, ideas, style. Locations really run the gamut; the book is divided into continents, so Africa (for example) gets just as much attention as does Asia. The scope is fabulous: non-chic locations like a rustic cottage on the Baltic Sea, a windswept beach house on the English Channel. The north African featured homes are especially interesting. So there is a beautiful array of styles and ideas on how to highlight a special environment.

   Not a source book (no index or listings of architects and products), but an excellent style book. The photos are first-rate, with beautiful balance of detail shots and whole rooms. Quite a lot of landscaping can be seen, even if it's about "interiors", so that's a bonus.

   Need not be decorating a seaside home to be able to love and even use this book.




2. While I purchased this book on vacation in the charming town of Seaside, Florida, I had the good fortune of actually staying nearby in one of the featured homes--Matarangi. The photos in the book don't begin to do justice to the views and architecture, though in superior coffee table book manner, they do try. The book allows one to travel to far off homes and enter their beauty, while never leaving your own home. However, if the opportunity ever arises to enjoy one of these splendidly represented homes, I heartily recommend it. If not, select this book and start enjoyable seaside travel dreaming via your armchair or backyard chaise today.



3. A really beautiful book for architects, interior decorators and people who are interested in decoration. Filled with lovely pictures and not too much words. A ''must have'', collectors book. It gives you nice ideas, makes you want to redecorate your home and makes you dream of having such lovely houses. Just get it and you'll really enjoy it! It's worth every cent!!!



4. In our search for books on this topic, we came across this one, which we love because it's a great dream book. Our other favorite is Second Home, which is great for both daydreaming and planning. Second Home shows a wider variety of homes around the country (all gorgeous) but blends information on choosing a location, decorating, and so on, into the book. Seaside Interiors gives a lovely look at homes with no information on how to make your second home come true. I like both books. If you can only buy one, then I recommend Second Home instead.



5. This is a magnificent book to add to your coffee table, photography collections, decorating books, or just for the sheer pleasure of the absolutely beautiful photos. The book is a journey in itself; of lovely homes...perhaps of more unique architechture than the average home, but offering wonderful ideas on colors and at the same time showing many pictures of day-to-day living...in the most beautiful of seaside locations that one could imagine. Simply wonderful!

1 comments about Steps to Water: The Ancient Stepwells of India.

1. Outstanding, authoritative and readable text. Excellent photographs by an author who is a recognized expert on west Indian step wells. There is not a lot of material on this subject and this text will likely become the standard.

4 comments about Organic Architecture.

1. This is a gorgeous introduction to organic architecture, which paralleled, although was never as popular as, the International style, especially among architectural critics. The most famous proponent was Frank Lloyd Wright, but Hess introduces numerous other architects working in the style beginning at the turn of the 19th-20th century and continuing until the present.
   
   "Organic" architecture refers to a match between the architecture, the landscape, and all of the decoration and interior elements. To laymen, the term can reflect designs that almost seem to grow out of the earth and to follow nature. In this sense, Organic architecture often strikes me as an abstract form of Art Nouveau, with its strong lines and mixture of the natural and the machine age. Hess argues that the highly individualistic designs work very well for the particulars of the owners' personal lifestyles.
   
   The book is an introduction because it has very little text and consists almost entirely of wonderful photographs of residential buildings. The less academic among us will have no complaint about that, but others will want to follow up with items from Hess's bibliography.



2. This book offers a broad survey of American organic architecture beginning with, of course, Frank Lloyd Wright. It's chief limitation is that it skips many great architects in the organic tradition (Paolo Soleri, John Randall McDonald, Jim Hubbell, Art Dyson, etc.) and gives many others only fleeting attention. And, as an earlier reviewer pointed out, it's exclusive focus on residential designs omits great masterpieces such as Lloyd Wright's Wayfarers Chapel, Thorncrown Chapel by E. Fay Jones and Soleri's Cosanti complex. Also missing are Cuban, Indian and Hungarian architects in the organic tradition. Ideally, this should be the first of several volumes exploring the continuing relevance of Frank Lloyd Wright and organic architecture in the world of design.



3. As an avid collector of books on Organic architects and architecture, I attest there is relatively little available on the specific subject, aside from all that available on Frank Lloyd Wright. Organic architects continue to remain outside mainstream criticism and publications, notably magazines - maybe for good reason - yet there are dozens, if not hundreds, of exceptionally creative organic architects whose designs could be easily celebrated.
   
   I eagerly anticipated the release of this book and wasn't disappointed. Organic Architecture is perhaps among the most authoritative surveys on the Organic history and its attempt to present many seldom published or possibly forgotten worthy architects. Examples include work by Alden Dow, Paul Schweikher, Karl Kamrath, Charles Haertling, and Alfred Browning Parker. Unfortunately, because of so many architects who could have been included in this volume, this book falls far from encyclopedic.
   
   The book is not a perfect study of the subject, due mainly for space limitations. Despite its sweeping title, the author focuses solely on the history of the American Organic (since there is a European Organic to consider) since 1900 and presents only houses. It is a bit heavy on homes built between 1940 and 1960. I hoped more from the 1970's to present could have been included, as well as some significant Organic architects that did not appear at all, such as Arthur Dyson, Vernon Swaback, or Daniel Liebermann, among others. This lacking is not to take away from this book, but rather point out the extent to which this book could have explored. To Hess' credit, his narrative does offer much to be explored for forthcoming authors with more in depth books.
   
   The photographer is well known and many of Mr. Weintraub's photos are exceptional, particularly since photographing organic works of architecture can be difficult at best. However, some of the photos do seem affected from less-than-perfect conditions or timing, such as a "high sun" that casts too sharp of shadows on some of the subjects' surfaces. The photographer's interior shots are best.
   
   Overall, this is a 275-page "must purchase" book for those interested in Organic architecture because of its broad historical survey. I would encourage anyone to research further some of the architects profiled in this book, such as Alden Dow, Lloyd Wright, or Wallace Cunningham. Be advised that there are no illustrations in the book, such as plans and section drawings. In my estimate, this places this volume far from any serious critical acclaim from scholars and keeps it in the "nice coffee table" category. This book on my coffee table suits me fine.



4. I saw this book review in a magazine, and it looked to me like the book would be much better than it is. For me, I was looking for photographs and discussion about unique homes that blend seamlessly into the environment...much like the photo on the cover. However, most of the book is dedicated to homes that, in my opinion, do just the opposite. Over 3/4 of the homes discussed are older and not at all what I expected to see in this book. I was expecting much more modern construction, unique shapes, inventive use of space and light, flawless streamlining into the surrounding landscape. Very few homes in the book can be classified in this way. Perhaps it was intended more as a historical overview of how blending homes with nature has evolved. I, however, was expecting to see new and unique ideas for home construction, interesting and environmentally friendly ways to build "into" nature instead of on top of it, and simply how to camouflage your habitat into your surroundings. Many of the interior photos were beautiful, however I was not buying this book for interior design. The majority of photos were of homes that I did not find at all unique. I wish that I would have checked this book out at the library before buying it.

No comments about Public Markets (with CD-ROM) (Norton/Library of Congress Visual Sourcebooks in Architecture, Design & Engineering).

5 comments about Hip Hotels: Escape.

1. I really enjoyed this installment of Hip Hotels. As expected, the pictures are yummy enough to qualify as "gourmet eye candy". But, to me, it's Ypma's commentary that really steals the show: The writing is served up for those in-the-know and flavored with a perspective that's both witty and inviting.



2. This book profiles around 45 luxury hotels throughout the world. Some of the hotels featured include Vatulele in Fiji, Pangkor Laut in Malaysia and Soneva Fushi in the Maldives. Due to the format of the book, I found the pictures to be small. Some entries include only 4 pictures of the hotel which really is not enough. Overall, it is ok. Anyone interested in this type of book should check out The Hotel Book: Great Escapes series by Taschen. This series focuses on luxury hotels in Asia, Africa, and Europe and the pictures are outstanding.



3. Mr. Ypma is a gifted photographer and a careful writer - a rare combination. Great selection of hotels. It is the perfect coffee table version of cool new online services such as the great "tablethotels.com" which also work as a trip planner.



4. JUST THE BOOK I WAS LOOKING FOR WITH GREAT PICTURES IN THE BAHAMAS AND BALI, MUSTIQUE, ETC. THE BOOK IS A VACATION IN ITSELF. WORTH THE MONEY.



5. I got this book as present from the owner of one the resorts featured by Ypma. Its true that a picture can paint a thousand word. This book is a beautiful compilation of some of the most breathtaking locations in the world. Some of the visuals also provide interior-decorating ideas. After all, the writer is founder of the award-winning Interior Architecture and creator of the best-selling World Design series. If I'm an owner of a resort, I'd want him to feature my property the way he does it here. The places featured may offer 'out-of-this -world luxury' but ONLY if one can afford it. If paradise is the aim in every respect, there are many more beautiful and 'Highly Individual Places' that are more accessible. I would not recommend this book as the ultimate vacation guide, only the perfect coffee-table item.

2 comments about Green Development: Integrating Ecology and Real Estate.

1. An excellent overview of the evolving movement towards green development. The book is somewhat dated and lacks in-depth coverage in some areas. Regardless effectively gets you into the space.



2. This book throughly presents sustainable real estate development. It answers the basic questions of how, what, when, why and who with text and photos illustrating numerous case studies.

   It is written for a wide and concerned audience, composed of real estate professionals, financiers and designers. This book is not technical. It is a conceptual book and guides the reader toward sustainable solutions.

   This subject is very large and this book is necessarily a summary, which includes recent projects.

   This book does not "preach to the choir". It addresses difficult obstacles to the sustainable development paradigm and provides workable solutions.

2 comments about Parking Structures: Planning, Design, Construction, Maintenance and Repair.

1. I would agree with everything the previous reviewer said about the book with the exception of the last sentences regarding architects and engineers. This type of comment is ridiculous and does not belong on Amazon. The reviewer should take up his grudge on some other forum. Besides, why would anyone trust the words of someone who cannot even spell amateurs!



2. This book is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive and authoritative guide to all the important issues involved in parking today. There is no other publication for parking structures in the markert place today that comes in a close secom If you think the design of parking structures is simple and straightforward -- think again! Only those who have never designed a parking structure (or did a mediocre, botched job of one) would think that it's easy. Don't kid yourself. The issues are numerous and difficult in all areas: architectural, structural, maintenance, restoration and functional. The book delves in depth in many of these areas. The true value of the book lies in its ability to prepare you to ask intellegent questions. You will be in position to participate in the planning process of a new parking structure and you will understand criteria that go into design decision making. Reading this book will NOT make you an expert. Only years of practical experience will do that for you. Architects, engineers and various other kinds of consultants who "dabble" in parking structures are RANK AMATURES and should be avoided by anyone considering professional services for parking structures.

1 comments about Construction Business Management: A Guide to Contracting for Business Success.

1. Upon graduation from Georgia Tech's building construction program in 1982, I went to work for Nick Ganaway. One of the many reasons I selected his company was his obvious knowledge of business. Even more, I appreciated the motivation he placed in us (and himself) to always become better as contractors and as businessmen. We met frequently to "log in" new discoveries, efficiencies, risks, and methods of profitability that he had wisely accumulated for us. As I "ventured out" into the world and developed my own business with very little experience, I quickly noticed that although I was a "great" project manager that running a construction company was an entirely different issue. For example, do you understand the unique requirements of the construction firm owner? Terms in the project owner's construction agreement that can unfairly shift major risk onto your plate and what to do about them? How to ensure that you get paid for change orders? What to do when hard times suddenly strike (and they will)? After 25 years of experience in operating a commercial construction company, Mr. Ganaway explains chapter-by-chapter these and every other risk area you must manage if you are going to survive in construction. I know these explanations well as they ring in my mind from discussions with Mr. Ganaway concerning my very first projects and through calling for help with running my own construction business. You will feel like you're having these same discussions with him as you read this book. Every contractor, project manager, and construction student should read it. Today I use this very text to teach our students at Georgia Tech's building construction program how to run a business, as well as consulting in the same area. His principles work!
   
   An added bonus to this text is the final chapter, where Mr. Ganaway makes the case for specializing in chain store construction. To "outsiders" who have not reviewed this market segment, I think you will be surprised at the benefits. If you are not already specializing in a niche market, this chapter is sure to start you thinking about it.

No comments about Today's Beach Houses (Today's).

No comments about Frank Lloyd Wright at a Glance: Californian Textile Block (Frank Lloyd Wright At A Glance).