1 comments about Architectural Inspiration: Styles, Details and Sources.

1. This book is an outstanding display of custom idea's for the entire home. The photo's bring to life 1000's of interior and exterior shots, that give you idea's from all over North America. Different styles, materials, concepts, roof lines, sidings and unique designs are fully explored throughout the book. If you want idea's while building a custom home, that are state of the art, and displayed with beautiful photographic pictures that you can build from, this is an excellent book to have. The text fully explains the use of materials and explain sections of the pictures that I would not generally have seen. I have only just received my copy of Architectural Inspirational and have received some excellent feedback from my friends and neighbours whom I have shared my recent purchase.

1 comments about Theory and Design in the First Machine Age.

1. This book has held up well over time, as Banham explores Modern Architecture with a critical eye. First published in 1960, Theory and Design has had numerous editions but the themes remain the same. Banham looks at the major figures in European Modern Architecture through a series of penetrating sections.

   He begins with the "Predisposing Causes," the academic and constructive traditions of the later 19th and early 20th century. Of particular note is the relation between the English Arts and Crafts Movement and the Deutscher Werkbund through Hermann Muthesius. He follows with a section on the "Italian Futurists," whose work was widely misunderstood at the time and now widely emulated, as many of the their principles of design have been absorbed by the Deconstructivists. Next is a section on Holland and "The Legacy of Berlage and De Stijl." This is a particularly interesting chapter as he notes the influences of Frank Lloyd Wright and Cubism on this Dutch abstract movement. He also describes how De Stijl went international, influencing many other movements in Europe. The fourth section describes "The World of Art and Le Corbusier" in Paris. Here he gets into his fullest exploration of the role Cubism had in shaping architecture. Cubism had had an influence on Futurism and De Stijl, but it was the analytical branch of Cubism, led by the Duchamp brother, that would have the most impact as Le Corbusier absorbed many of these ideas into his work, evolving Cubo-Futurism into what he and Ozenfant called "Purism." The last section charts the course of the Bauhaus in "The Victory of the New Style." This is where all the separate strains came together in an international school which would have a profound influence on the shape of architecture in the 20th century.

   It is a tremendously insightful and well-presented study, which is a must for anyone hoping to gain a better understanding of the ideas which underlie the various strains of Modern Architecture. The focus is on Europe before WWII, with only mention of the influence American architects like Frank Lloyd Wright had on European architecture.

2 comments about Small Lofts (Evergreen Series).

1. Good book for dreaming and for ideas to adapt to your home. Since these are small lofts instead of cavernous spaces, you can get some great ideas for small space living, whether in a loft, an apartment or condo, or a small house. A treat for the eyes, too.



2. I am remodeling my small loft, and this book has photos of many cool ideas. A lot of them are expensive and many more would never pass code in most U.S. cities, but the concepts helped me visualize how different materials, colors, and techniques might look in my space. I wish it had more floor plans and information about costs.

4 comments about The Medieval Castle (Classic History).

1. This is a great book. Easy to read. Covering most aspects of castle life. I would highly recomend it, and may purchase it again (it will make an exelent gift for friends that are intrested in either history or castles).



2. Philip Warner was lecturer at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, England and is the author of a numerous of books.
   In this work, he gives you the need for the Castle, why it came into being, how it developed. He show the strict structure of the Castle society - inside and out, the lives of the people running it and those serving in it, even down to what they are and worse. He even cover medieval recreation!!

   He breathes live into the subject, giving a fresh new look instead of tired impressions.

   Excellent work for people wish to see Castle life as it was or for Writers of Historical works.

   Highly recommended.




3. This beautifully illustrated book explains how and why castles were built in the middle ages and why they were such a dominant influence on medieval life, especially in times of war. Philip Warner recreates a complete picture of daily life in a medieval castle: how peasants and nobles lived; how men fought in tournaments and trained for combat; how castles were sited, designed, managed, attacked and defended; and what the the people who lived in them ate, drank, and wore. This book will also go a long ways toward breaking up some of the preconceived notions that people have about castles. One learns that the castle was not primarily a refuge. The object of the castle wasn't to retreat from conflict, but to control it. The Medieval castle was a dynamic integral part of medieval society and Philip Warner does brilliant work in showing this. Whether you're a medieval history buff or just a curious layman read this book. It will take a little effort to find it, but it's worth the time.



4. If you only read two books on castles, make it Gies' Life in a Medieval Castle and this one. The two books are very similar in layout and readablity, but Warner's is a bit more detailed and in depth. It also has very nice illustrations. As much as I love Francis Gies' book, I think this one just edges it out.

3 comments about Victorian City and Country Houses: Plans and Details.

1. From Basement to Attic this book gives the reader full coverage on the structures it covers. All floors and all sides Plus.
   
   A must have for any interested in the homes of this period.
   
   No library of the subject of Victorian architecture is complete with out it.



2. "Victorian City and Country Houses: Plans and Details," by Geo. E. Woodward, is a visually rich window into the architecture of the late 19th century. This book is an unabridged reprint of a volume originally published in 1877 under the title "Woodward's National Architect, Vol. II."

   This book contains floor plans and elevations (both front and side) for both row houses and stand-alone houses. One fascinating aspect of this book is the inclusion of plans for the basements and attics, in addition to those for the primary floors. Also included are designs for gazebos and other structures.

   You will see many of your favorite Victorian era architectural elements in this book: towers, covered porches, mansard roofs, and more. A series of detail pages focus on some specific decorative elements: dormer windows, balusters, finials, roof cresting, etc. Overall, an excellent book.




3. has led me to this facinating and compelling book. Although I'm certain there are simmilar books out on the market, this was the one that I first picked up. Prior to this time, I had been looking at home planning magazines in a vain attempt for needed inspiration. Even if you do not own a home or are planning in the near future, this book is too good to pass up.

No comments about Defect-Free Buildings (McGraw-Hill Construction Series) (McGraw-Hill Construction).

No comments about Sustainable Healthcare Architecture.

No comments about Office Buildings: A Design Manual.

1 comments about Wood: Contemporary Houses in Wood.

1. This was my favorite of the modernist wood architecture books that I have bought so far. There is nothing revlutionary but the projects are, for the most part, excellent and the photography beautiful. A good source of ideas for using wood in contemporary projects.

3 comments about The Arts and Crafts Movement in the Pacific Northwest.

1. This is a very well-done and informative book about the Arts and Crafts Movement in the Pacific Northwest. I live in a new version of a Craftsman style house and found this book of great interest. Recommend!



2. Seattle, Portland, Spokane, and other areas of the Pacific Northwest step out of the shadows of history in this incredibly well-researched, thorough book. The authors' writing is simultaneously accessible and commanding, and the photographs of historic buildings, antiques, and unearthed "treasures" are wonderful to peruse. It is a top-notch publication that informs those interested in this geographical locale, as well as those interested in the overall Arts and Crafts movement.



3. I went to the Seattle Bungalow Fair the last weekend in September 2007. I met both authors and talked to them about their book. They spent lots of time researching the book and are very knowledgeable about the Arts and Crafts movement. I have been able to peruse it but have not had a chance to read it from cover to cover. It is a great book to just look at the pictures and captions. I am looking forward to learning more about the movement here in the Northwest. They have captured the true essence of the Northwest Arts and Crafts Movement. I would highly recommend that if you are in to Arts and Crafts, Bungalows, Mission, etc. that this is a must have book.
   Paula