No comments about Modern Architecture, Vol. 2 (History of World Architecture).

5 comments about The Architecture Traveler: A Guide to 250 Key Twentieth-Century American Buildings, Third Edition.

1. I like this book a lot - it has guided me to many buildings I probably wouldn't have visited otherwise. But it is outdated now and a new edition has recently come out, with a number of cool new buildings, especially in LA, New York and Chicago. The new book includes 263 buildings and also gives web addresses, which is very useful. I recommend you look for the new edition instead of this older one.



2. Every time I plan a trip, I find this book gives me great ideas of buildings I can see along the way. It makes sight-seeing more manageable in large cities with many, many important buildings, like New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago, by singling out the best places to spend my time. I've also been surprised to find that the author has also included buildings in smaller cities that seem off the beaten path where architecture is concerned.

   The maps haven't failed me. The map problem mentioned by another reviewer has been corrected in the current (Norton) edition.

   The buildings are organized chronologically, so you get a good idea of the history of our country's architecture just by flipping through the book. I think it would be a nice gift for anyone interested in architecture - I don't know of any other book that gives such a helpful overview plus the information you need to experience the buildings for yourself.




3. I'm not sure who put the map index together, but they must've been dyslexic. The numbers on the maps hardly coorespond with the correct page numbers of the building. I spent over 2 hours "correcting" the book, in order to make my cross-country road trip a little more efficient.

   Do not buy this book until they release a 3rd "corrected" edition... ...unless "correcting books" is your cup-of-tea.




4. I guess that having read the reviews before I bought this book; it is totally worth it. So I wont repeat what everyone has said, but everything that they said is true! It is truly an amazing book and a must have before you travel anywhere.

   I give it 4 stars though for poor editing. The maps are wrong in places ... cant forgive that. Also it needs a severe update as far as contemporary work goes to include work by HDM, Holl et al. The author can and should also attempt a book on buildings in Europe & Asia. Will be great to have all volumes as a repertoire of the best architecture around.




5. To appreciate the life and values of a particuliar culture and time, one has to examine the literature, music and the arts. Architechture is probably king of the arts, the expense of constructing a building, you have to consider the thoughts of the persons or committee spending this money and their appreciation of the overall impression of the structure. I find that Leblanc has truly captured, from an Art Historian's point of veiw, the most significant structures and her writing leaves the reader with much significant knowledge of the most important architectural works of the 20th century. Readers of the future will be able to grasp a concept of this century in America along with a study of the other arts using this reference book as a handy guide. I consider this an indispensible reference work.

No comments about George & Edward Blum: Texture and Design in New York Apartment House Architecture.

No comments about Holocaust Memorial Berlin: Eisenman Architects.

4 comments about Guided by a Stonemason: The Cathedrals, Abbeys and Churches of Britain Unveiled.

1. Unlike so many books that I have read about churches and cathedrals, one will not need to keep an architectural dictionary or a reference book on the medieval church nearby as one reads. This will enhance both tours of the buildings and further reading. I will definitely keep this in my permanent collection.
   
   Thomas Maude is a British stone-mason, and his love for his craft and the buildings that his fellow masons produced adds to the pleasure of reading.
   
   The text is very well written, thorough and logically arranged. Maude works his way through the main structure of a cathedral, church or cloister in a way that is easy to follow and accompanied by well-chosen illustrations. He begins with Norman building styles and follows carefully through the developments in Gothic architecture. He explains the various types of building materials available in Britain, the daily offices of worship, the changing uses of various parts of the building (weddings used to be on the church porch, for example.)
   
   The photography is all in black and white, except for the cover, and is generally very good with many excellent detail shots.
   
   Extremely informative and a delight to read.



2. Even though the book is very nice and recommendable, it does not go into too much details. What I liked the most is that Mr. Maude covers some aspects in the design of the cathedrals and churches hardly to find in other books related to mediaeval architecture. I would recommend this book for someone looking for learning the basics and one who appreciates the religious lifestyle that prevailed at that time as an important factor for the design and construction of this sort of buildings. The explanations given by Mr. Maude concerning the physics used by the master builders to understand the behavior of walls, flying buttresses, arches, and other construction elements are very easy to follow. Definitely this is a book for a person who has just started into this wonderful subject of medieval construction.



3. The strength of the book is Maude's hands-on experince, which he uses to illuminate a lot of material. The book could be a bit clearer in places, and could use some labelled diagrams. He does not cover the structural aspects in detail (see the very difficult The Stone Skeleton for that) but explains a lot of stuff I haven't found elsewhere (what for instance is a 'rood'.)



4. An excellent book about the history and construction of medieval churchs,abbeys,and cathderals.

   The author , a working stone mason who has worked on the repair and restoration of these ancient buildings,gives insights into the development and technical details that went into creating these masterpieces.

   The author's admiration for these builders is reflected in his discussion of the problems they encountered and how they arrived at solutions to create these masterpieces which have been handed down to our modern generation.

   In additon, he also gives valuable insights into the history of the ancients times based on his intimate knowledge of the work undertaken by the builders.

   The book is well illustrated with discriptive captions and is easily understood by the layman reader. I would highly recommend this book to any one who is interested in the medieval churchs and cathedrals of Britain.

No comments about Houses: Space, Volume, and Texture.

1 comments about The Library of Congress: An Architectural Alphabet.

1. The stunning, mostly color photographs in this splendid book facilitate a highly rewarding vicarious visit to one of the world's truly great Beaux Arts settings, the interior of the 1896 Library Of Congress, located just behind the U.S. Capital. What's more, punctuating the glimpses of the library's grand entrance hall, dazzling white and colored marbles, majestic staircases and wide, open balconies, arches, columns, carved relief work, painted murals and the huge, lavishly ornamented dome towering above the octagonal main reading room, is an alphabetically arranged glossary of architectural terms. Each photo provides a visual of description of the term cited. The colorful, often fantastic typography used for the alphabet letters themselves is an unexpected bonus in this nifty bargain-priced volume.

No comments about John Simpson: The Queen's Gallery.

2 comments about A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Western North Carolina (Richard Hampton Jenrette Series in Architecture and the Decorative Arts).

1. As with the other titles in this series by Bishir, they just don't get any better. The three books together offer a complete survey of historic architecture in North Carolina. There are many small black and white photographs included, good maps, essays that place the structures in historical context, addresses and precise dating, all grouped by county and organized around the principal towns in each. Many an AIA guide attempts this format and falls far short.
   
   I liked this series so much I bought it twice--one to save and one to use.



2. This is a book of wonder and revelation, illuminating the history and splendor of one of America's most magical regions. It will make you want to learn more and more and then drive the Blue Ridge Parkway.

5 comments about Complete Book Of Cordwood Masonry Housebuilding: The Earthwood Method.

1. I have read this book front to back and really enjoyed the multitude of information contained within. Parts of it are so detailed that you can get a complete picture of the entire home building process.
   
   I have come to the conclusion that cordwood is one of the most underrated construction techniques in America today. While Strawbale has gotten a lot of attention in the media, Cordwood is still a buider's secret weapon when it comes to cost and ease of construction.
   
   One of the biggest downfalls of traditional Cordwood masonry is radial shrinkage. This can easily be fixed by plastering one side of the wall. But of course this will cover up some of the beauty of the log ends...
   
   Rob Roy is one of the authorities of this construction method and this book is a must read if you are interested in alternative building methods. The traditional frame construction method is an ecological desaster when you look at the whole picture. Yes, it is fast... But, you are building a home that was stored piece by piece in a warehouse, instead of organically built from the land!



2. This is a wonderful, inspiring book for the alternative minded owner builder. Lots of useful information.



3. Rob and Jaki Roy have done a nice job of organizing their cordwood manual into useful chapters for the differnet stages of owner built cordwood house construction. The included photos of other cordwood houses was both exciting and informative. The best part of the book is how they tell you what products and methods they recommend highly, those they don't, and those others have tried. A must have practical manual for anyone considering building their own cordwood house!



4. This book is a great read on an excellent method of alternative house building.The author has written a series of books on cordwood construction and in doing so has arived at what could be called the final word on this method.The book is well laid out and illustrated but watch out for important tidbits of info. that are sometimes buried in the text . When read cover to cover , the reader gains both valuable information and confidence and I highly reccomend this one to owner/builders everywhere.



5. This is an excellent book on the construction of a house using cordwood (firewood) "bricks". If you have the inclination and minor construction skills to seriously considering self-constructing a unique house or structure, you should look at this book. Lots of pictures and examples of houses constructed by students of the author and others, a candid walkthrough of the evolution of the author's house, and (best of all) a step-by-step illustrated guide to the construction of a cordwood house. On the down side, two minor points: 1) The book does not have sufficent engineering details on load calculations for my county building inspectors; You will need "official" building plans to meet code; and 2) The book is dated with respect to mortar additives; Several are available now which retard moisture loss and retain elasticity. Minor points.

   The most amazing part of this construction is the asthetic beauty of the houses. If you're picturing a pile of firewood slathered in cement and a pole roof with room for just one cot, the Colman, and the dog, outhouse close by, think again. These houses are as sophisticated as you care to make them with a unique, personnal "fingerprint" to each one.

   This is an excellent read, extremely informative, and you can successfully build your house using this book.