5 comments about The New Family Home: Creating the Perfect Home for Today and Tomorrow.

1. A good book to help you see what really is important to have in a home.



2. I first checked this book out of the library, then liked it so much that I bought it. With 24 homes in it this book was a bit overwhelming at first. It took me a week to carefully read. I agree with the reviewer who said that the floor plans were disappointing. I believe that was intentional so that people don't "steal" the architect's designs. The descriptions at times were too brief and frustrating in their lack of citing sources for materials. The book, though, does what it set out to do very well; promote the concept of flowing and multi-use space as the new design for modern living. Some of the ways that these families customized their homes to their lifestyle are amazing. Everyone should have a custom home because they have a custom lifestyle and preferences. Some of these families made the trade-off of a smaller house to own a custom house that they could afford. These people and their homes are inspiring.



3. No no no. This book should be titled "The New Family Home for the New Economy", since practically all of the example homes described could only be afforded by folks who cashed in their dotcom stock options in March of 2000. I hate to bash a book with Jim Tolpin's name on it, but it's hard to believe that this was written by the same guy who brought us "The New Cottage Home" and "Built in Furniture". The idea is right on: homes should be able to adapt to our needs as our needs change. But there are more creative ways of achieving this goal than building a separate room for every activity (a media room, a game room, a home office, an exercise room, and on and on and on, all of which, presto-change-o, turn into something else when we decide little Billy needs a PlayStation room or mommy needs a yoga room), not to mention "Great Rooms" scaled to Jolly Greeen Giant proportions. I would recommend "More Small Houses" or "Building the Not So Big House" (as well as Tolpin's other books mentioned above) as better alternatives. Even if you really do need a bigger house, these books show how small spaces can accommodate more -- more stuff, more activity, more living -- and nothing could be more important in this day of starter-McMansions and astronomical building costs.



4. We are in the pre-beginning stages of building...writing down ideas, concepts, before hiring an architect to design. This book is great for its general ideas in regard to family houses. The ideas of combined kitchen/living space, children's "quarters", importance of master suites and ensuring the house will fit changing needs as children grow are great. I've taken notes on the concepts I like and would like to incorporate in our home.



5. We just finished building our first family home in 1999 and I wish I had this book before we began! We looked at 10,000 floorplans and now live in a craftsman style, family friendly home in the woods. What a gift is a well-designed, well-built house. But the heart of the family is not the building, but the love and commitment which grows between family members by God's grace.

   For another book published in April 2000 on the family home, take a look at THE FAMILY CLOISTER: BENEDICTINE WISDOM FOR THE HOME, by David Robinson (New York: Crossroad, 2000).

2 comments about Experimental Houses.

1. Here are the most modern and unconventional examples in such categories as prefab, ecologically sustainable (beware, some of the examples are not pretty), or apartment housing, described by a very well-read and articulate author. A few truly are experimental, for example an engineering exercise in solar heating, or the Swedish IKEA houses, but many are just impractical novelties done for fashion's sake.



2. Great photos but ponderous writing. Page 83 excerpt, "The architects clearly enjoyed the possibilities of this experimental architectural archeology whereby a fundamentalist concept of authenticity is replaced by an inclusive and imaginative view of historical processes."

5 comments about Loft.

1. I just purchased 4 books on lofts and this one had the widest range and most current pictures of well-designed lofts. Mostly pictoral--many creative ideas and approaches to this unique type of living space.



2. Short on words, but long on inspiration, this book is fabulous. If you want a book on lofts, this is it. From stark minimilism to chic downtown habitats, this book is for those that love lofts. You will love it!



3. Some of the best examples of innovative design and material usage in loft construction/renovation.



4. The best book published on loft spaces in Manhattan! Rus is the Vreeland of the interior design world!



5. This book focuses on the architectural realm of the loft apartment. Unfortunately it does not contain many pictures of different lofts that are lived in. Instead it focuses on the architectural design, which is quite interesting if you own or are interested in this living environment.

No comments about The Elusive City (Icon Editions).

No comments about Connections: Studies in Building Assembly.

3 comments about Historic American Covered Bridges.

1. This book was beautifully illistrated, and informational. Each photographed bridge holds part of our past, and an oppertunity to understand a part of our history. Once inside the pages you are transported back into a time that others have forgotten. I recommand this book to all who have been in love with the Covered Bridge for a long time, and to thoes like me who have just fallen in love with this beautiful part of our history.



2. What a wonderful book. It's a series of great photos of significant covered bridges, with descriptions that include building methods and styles, dates, history and best yet... driving directions! I find myself itching to go out and visit some nearby ones. An enjoyable, easy read that I know I will refer to over and over.



3. Brian's book is filled with some of the most breathtaking photographs you will ever see of Covered Bridges. If a bridge had a soul, he certainly knows how to capture it with his photographs. The historical and technical information is wonderful as well. It is a magnificent book!

No comments about The Willard Hotel: An Illustrated History.

No comments about The Craces.

No comments about Woodworking Projects for the Home Workshop.

No comments about Another Modern: The Post-War Architecture and Urbanism of Candilis-Josic-Woods.