4 comments about Chartres Cathedral.

1. This is a superbly executed book on the famous Chartres cathedral, a gothic masterpiece which sits some 50 miles to the south west of Paris. Its reputation and geographic proximity to Paris assure its place as a frequent "day trip" for visitors and tourists to Paris who wish to see one of the apogees of gothic development. If you have the opportunity to visit Chartres, you most certainly will find Miller's text right in Chartres' own bookstore, as the book is truly a work worthy to be sold "on site." That fact alone speaks to the quality of this volume.
   
   Miller's text provides a short introduction to the gothic movement, as well as the background of Chartres cathedral itself. But the focus on this book is the stained glass found in the cathedral, with a window-by-window detail of the glass, its date, and the allusions each window makes to the outside world. As such, this makes the book a valuable reference work, because one can follow the story from window to window in a way that would be difficult on-site without many days of time to do so (and using binoculars to help out!). The choice of focusing on the stained glass, rather than other features present in gothic cathedrals is justified: Chartres has some of the oldest and most-intact original stained glass of any cathedral in France, and is perhaps the single item among many others for which the structure is famous. Chartres is what is called a "dark cathedral," meaning that the available light inside the edifice is relatively low, making the interior a difficult place to see the architectural elements. But in such a setting, the stained glass takes on a "glowing" characteristic that is visually dramatic. To have a book so carefully lay out the windows for review is quite an achievement.
   
   This is a paperback book done on large-size paper, but the covers and individual pages are of extremely high quality, durable, and glossy finish. The photographic reproductions are first-rate, and the graphic artwork used to present the material is also professionally developed. One flip through the volume and you'll be glad you added it to your library.



2. No one in the world (and I state that with full confidence) knows more about Chartres Cathedral than Malcolm Miller. What more needs to be said?



3. No visit to Chartres is complete without taking the tour of the Cathedral's walking encyclopedia Malcolm Miller. Miller's books are fantastic and give a tremendous insight into the history of Chartres and its Cathedral.



4. Malcolm Miller is the foremost English authority on the cathedral of Chartres. He divides his time between the town of Chartres, where he personally conducts tours, and the rest of the world where he lectures and makes films and videos of the subject. He opens his tours and lectures by commenting that the cathedral is like a library--and we don't just say, "We're going to go to the library today and read all the books". Each tour or lecture consists of a general introduction and focuses on a small part of the stained glass and statuary. The core of the book is a review of the iconography of a selection of the windows and sculpture. In this manner, you learn how to "read the books" in the cathedral, and gain an understanding of the world that produced them. Once you have toured Chartres, either in person or through that other medieval miracle, printing, you will want to return again and again.

1 comments about Antebellum Homes of Georgia.

1. Well it seems Sherman could not burn all of Georgia. This is a wonderful book on a very deserving subject, Gleasons books are always well done and the photography just pops off the page. Georgia is graced with many grand plantation homes and this books does a credible job of capturing the most beautiful. If you are someone the least bit interested in Georgia or the Old South, then I believe you will be pleased with this book, it is an excellent companion to Gleasons books on the plantations of Louisiana, Virginia,and the Antebellum homes of Natchez.

No comments about The Floor Plan Book: Veterinary Hospital and Boarding Kennel Planning and Design.

1 comments about Classic House-Windy Hill: Ken Tate Architect (The Classic House).

1. Ken Tate's firm designs new houses along classical lines - this one is a French inspired estate built in a small Mississippi town. The photos are nice and include images of the house inside and out as well as the grounds. Numerous photos show small details of the design and workmanship. Simple floor plans as well as elevations of the house and details are included. Credits are provided for craftsmen and companies that did much of the work. I'ts nice to see that someone still cares about the details and craftsmen are still arround to build something like this even in an out of the way location.

No comments about Airport Interiors: Design for Business.

No comments about Beach Hotels (Designpocket).

No comments about Eat. Work. Shop.: New Japanese Design.

2 comments about Cathedrals.

1. Having recently re-read Follett's _Pillars of the Earth,_ I've been reacquainting myself with the details of medieval cathedral-building. Being an historian, but not an architect, I've been interested especially in heavily pictorial volumes, and this is a pretty good one, by a British academic specialist in medieval architecture. Following two informative chapters on the ecclesiastical evolution of the cathedral and the construction process, the main body of the book is geographical in organization: the British Isles, French and Spanish-speaking Europe, the Germanic countries, a whole chapter on Italy, and a closing chapter on non-European cathedrals. The volume is oversized so most of the high-quality photos show plenty of detail, both exterior and interior. Etchings and engineering drawings are scattered throughout, as are quotations from monastic contemporaries. I especially like being able to turn pages and compare one west front to another, one sanctuary to another, and note the evolution of styles. And even though this is mostly a "picture book," there's a great deal of useful text.



2. I bought this book because Professor Oggins was a favorite of mine at SUNY-Binghamton. I was certainly not let down by this book. The text is clear and concise. It is laid out into introductory chapters explaning the evolution of the cathedral and its place in the life of the population of the times. This is followed by chapters reviewing prominent cathedrals, grouped geographically. These descriptions note historic as well as contemporary items of interest, for example the English cathedrals damaged by the Nazi blitz. Very well written and easy to read. The photography is exceptional, with both external and internal views, along with items of architectural interest. All in all an asset to anyone interested in medieval history, cathedrals, architecture, or just a well written book with good pictures. A plus is the geographic maps and the internal floor plans supplied with some of the cathedral descriptions.

2 comments about Rooms Outside the House: From Gazebos to Garden Rooms.

1. What beautiful photos and illustrations! There are many unusual ideas...saunas and studios as well as pool houses. I have a vivid imagination, so I had no trouble envisioning a lower budget version of these ideas. I think the visions are inspiring and can be adapted to fit your budget with a little ingenuity. If you don't have the space for 1000 square foot structure, adapt to 500 square feet! The pictures alone are worth the purchase of this book. Of particular interest to me was the music room...perfect for an artistic retreat!



2. If you are planning to entertain a cast of thousands (or at least a few hundred), own at least ten acres of land, and have unlimited funds (including hefty fees for architects and engineers), then this book offers a few good ideas. Unfortunately, I was looking for something more down to earth, such as ideas for a modest gazebo or shelter that would blend nicely into the back of my modest half acre piece of land - a place for thinking or reading or conversing with a few god friends, a place to escape the rain, or a place for star gazing. This book didn't even come close to my expectations.

1 comments about Werner Hegemann and the Search for Universal Urbanism.

1. Little is known about Werner Hegemann, even among urban planners and historians. But he's really one of the more profound and original thinkers about urbanization that you will find anywhere. Christiane Crasemann Collins' book is destined to be the standard work on Hegemann's life and thought. Anyone with an interest in the history of 20th century urban planning theory--or even intellectual history in general--should read this book.