1 comments about Exhibit Design: High Impact Solutions.

1. Exhibit designers have several interesting problems. In many cases the exhibit must be mobil. It travels from trade show to trade show around the country, even around the world. Then it needs to be set up, quite possibly by people who have never seen it before, and at the end of the show the exhibit has to be torn down, usually by people who have been working at the show all day, are tired, don't care where things get put, and are ready to head to a bar.
   
   Here is a book on exhibits by outstanding design companies from around the world. These are not the little ten foot square booths you see around the edges, but the kinds of booths you would expect from Mercedes-Benz.
   
   Actually only about half the book is on business/trade show exhibits. The rest of the book is on more permanent structures such as information booths or museums. All in all, this is an idea book on how to do exhibits that attract attention, show off the company and the products, and create a memorable experience for the visitor.

1 comments about Log Cabin Classics.

1. We often romanticize about the small cabin in the woods, by the lake, or atop a mountain- the home that is in tune with nature. ~Robbin Obomsawin
   
   The first time I saw a log cabin it was love at first sight. One of my best gal friends from college is always dreaming of having her brother build her a log cabin. I'm dreaming of visiting her and sipping hot chocolate by a fireplace and catching up on her travels to Russia. The wish to live in a log cabin may be inspired by a romantic weekend or a trip to a friend's house in the woods.
   
   In "Log Cabin Classics" old-world cabins are inspired by nostalgic moments, a desire to be in harmony with nature and local materials.
   
   You will find information on Cabin Fever, Building Small Cabins, Second Homes, Planning Strategies, Risks and Problems, Budgeting and Construction Contracts, Reclaiming Wood and Building with Nature.
   
   The author, Robbin Obomsawin is the construction manager and general contractor for Beaver Creek Log Homes. She has an in-depth knowledge of conventional construction and lives in Westdale, New York.
   
   Robbin displays not only a intricate knowledge of log cabin construction, she is a deft writer who displays a true love of natural surroundings and nature escapes.
   
   If you are looking for decorating ideas, there are quite a few and full-color pictures display various settings. There are house plans complete with ideas for wraparound kitchens and bedroom lofts. I love the cozy bedrooms and rocking chairs placed near fireplaces.
   
   Bonus: You can also order blueprints from Beaver Creek Log Homes. There is also a list of resources to help you plan your building project.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review

5 comments about Beautiful Built-ins: Plans for Designing with Stock Cabinets.

1. It is my own fault for not reading the entire description of this book, but it is not what I first thought it was. This book simply has different layouts for stock cabinets your could buy (for example at Home Depot). I should think that manufacturers of these cabinets could give you a book like this for free to help you decide layouts. So, you have a book of hundreds of different arrangements of cabinets, and you'll probably find 1 or 2 that you actually like or need. It does seem to leave a lot of the figuring, ie measuring to fit, to you. If not free, this book should be like $9. I gave 3 stars because if you want lots of ideas on how to arrange cabinets for all areas of the house, this book serves its purpose. However, if I really rated its value to me, I'd say 1 star, maybe half. Can I return this??



2. This book seemed meaningless to me. As others have noted, it is basically a very long sequence of rather poor line drawings and very little else. Very few low quality pictures are included; that is a pity because they could help provide some inspiration or guide your design. And fairly little know-how information is provided for do-it-yourself folks - the author recommends using professional installers. For most people, cabinet manufacturer websites and/or a visit to your local Home Depot or Lowe's kitchen design center will be much more useful than this book.



3. This book contains almost no photographs of finished projects. There are hardly any diagrams of the intermediate steps, and the instructions are minimalistic at best. This book assumes a reasonable knowledge of cabinet installation techniques; however, persons who possess such skills would largely find this book unnecessary. What you do get in this book is lots of line drawings of how to stack and arrange cabinets in different configurations, but these drawings are much like the ones you can get through the design services that are provided by Lowe's, Home Depot, and other major home supply stores.
   A better choice would be "Built-In Furniture: A Gallery of Design Ideas".



4. 500 pages of cabinet designes in line drawing format! If you get one idea from this book it is worth the price, and believe me, there are many ideas you can use. I have been designing cabinets for a year now and this book has added to my ability to generate good designs for my clients.



5. The only color photograph is on the cover. This is a big book with 500 pages, hundreds of drawings depicting many layouts and a clear list of cabinets needed along with additional materials required to complete each layout. Each of the twelve chapters focuses on a specific area such as bedrooms, baths, beverage centers, entertainment centers and utility areas. The author offers many design variations for each area.
   
   The strength of this book is the huge variety of designs shown for each project area. The author illustrates many clever ways to use stock cabinets to create a variety of custom looks. The weakness for me is the lack of any color photographs to help visualize the results in a finished projects. This is a great resource of concepts for professional designers or decorators who have the imagination to know how drawings translate to finished results.

1 comments about Residential Windows: A Guide to New Techonologies and Energy Performance, Third Edition.

1. I used the first two editions of this book to educate myself about modern windows. This knowledge was used to design and build a passive solar house at 7300' in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, where the winters are often severe. The design was successful since the heat has been left off for more than three years, yet the house stayed comfortable year round.
   
   Residential Windows is written at a semi-technical level that is ideal for builders, architects, and home owners. I have given several copies away (including this third edition) and recommended it without reservation to many others. All the issues pertaining to windowing are explained lucidly and are well illustrated. Other than a Consumers Union style review of named makes and models (which it scrupulously avoids doing), you could hardly ask for more.

4 comments about San Diego Then and Now.

1. When I received the book I ordered in Jan 2007 I was disappointed to find pages missing and holes in some pages. I complained to Bookarama but they never responded. I then complained to amazon and that got a response from Bookarama offering a refund. I returned the book in July 2007 and have not received any response from them. I guess I must complain to amazon again to see if they can get their dealer to provide a refund for a damaged book.



2. This is one of two San Diego photo books I purchased for my husbands birthday. Absolutly beautiful! The black and white photography really captures some of the details that are lost in color photos.



3. This book lacks color and detail. The real San Diego book was done by photographer George Ross Jezek. This is a knockoff of his ideas. Shame on you



4. It's facinating to see the way the city has changed, the author has some good history and trivia throughout the pages as well.
   
   If you are from San Diego or have ever lived here, this makes a great coffee table book.

4 comments about The New American House: Innovations in Residential Design and Construction (New American).

1. All the books in these series are wonderful! They have great photographs and drawings with very little writing. This book was great for stirring up the imagination while in school studying architecture. Just shows wonderful examples of how architecture is changing and where it is headed. Definitely recommend these books!



2. Several million dollar plus homes. Mainly photos with a few construction drawings, when they're available, mostly illegible. Commentary is minimal, but a nice touch is the summary list of specifics: external siding material, etc., that spares you having to read through meaningless commentary.



3. This series of books are quite useful. I used this book a lot when I was in school and got stuck trying to figure out a design solution. Now, it comes in handy when I need a visual aid to talk to a client when starting a project. The photographs are really rich and the inclusion of the construction drawings are heaven sent. The students and designers that are looking for excellent "custom" solutions should take a look at this book, and the other books in the series.



4. I've bought the set of books in this series; All provide great pictures with details that include location, architect, construction materials, as well as floor plans and other drawings.

5 comments about Architectural Graphic Standards for Architects, Engineers, Decorators, Builders and Draftsmen.

1. Through 3 years I had this book while in school, it was an invaluable resource. As many of you know, the work done in arch. school is very design/idea based, and not necessarily rooted in a feasible final product. However, I strived to include as many true-to-life elements in my design, and this book got it done for me. Many standards and sizes, etc. that had my classmates scrambling around on the internet or looking through dozens of books to find were easily found in the index of this book. It eventually became a class resource for a couple semesters until people bought their own.
   
   As a professional, many people's firms have a specialty or three. For instance, I work for a healthcare firm at the moment. However, as a student, you can run the whole gamut of different building types. Despite how far-out some of my designs were, the fact that they were rooted in current, workable building methods and systems that were detailed out helped me immensely when applying for jobs. Knowing the details and showing them in your design is not only good for your reputation, but good for ability as an architect.
   
   I'd recommend this to many arch students if the price is right for you. I happened upon it at a time with the book (no CD) was around $80 or $90. Of the dozens of textbooks I still have, this is one resource book I know I'll be consulting for a while.



2. Great book. Really Highlights the shortcomings of the modern addition of this book. I highly recomend this book for students and practicing architects.



3. For over 70 years, architects have been using a valuable reference book, "Architectural Graphic Standards."
   
   "Architectural Graphic Standards" is organized roughly per the CSI Masterformat divisions, including general planning and design data, sitework, concrete, masonry, metals, wood, thermal and moisture protection, doors and windows, finishes, specialties, equipment, furnishings, special construction, conveying systems, mechanical, electrical, sports, energy, history preservation, etc.
   
   "Architectural Graphic Standards" has 1072 pages (9.6 x 11.8 inches large format) and numerous line drawings. This new edition has expanded and new content covering contemporary issues. It is a must-have for architects, landscape architects and urban planners, interior designers, engineers or any other building-related design professionals.



4. I got this book for my cousin who just became an Architect in Ecuador. The cover was a bit damaged, but he was able to fix it my "making" a new cover. He is very pleased with the book. For the price paid, it was worth it.



5. The reprsentation was not clear this is a reproduction of a 1935 published book. This is not usefull in todays building enviroment.

No comments about Stoneview: How to Build an Eco-Friendly Little Guesthouse.

5 comments about HVAC Equations, Data and Rules of Thumb.

1. This is a handy desktop information tool. I use it frequently while designing HVAC and other mechanical systems.



2. This book is filled with alot of information that will come in handy for an entry level HVAC designer because it contains all sorts of fundamental equations as well as rules of thumbs that the industry uses. It's also great when you're not sure of something and it's there for a quick look up. The book is nicely laid out for convience.



3. In my opinion it's a good book for aquiring knowledge about the Design, Common Systems, codes.... For students as well as for designers also it's helpful for adopting the systems and requirements in the fast growing world.



4. I am a recent grad and working in a engineering firm where I am constantly looking for rules of thumb, helpful design guidelines, and data pertaining to my projects. This book offers a wealth of hvac information that is organized and extremely valuable for entry hvac engineers.



5. This book did not live up to my expectations, yet over the years I have used it on occasion. Typically, for conversions, steam tables, general rules of thumb. If you have studied for the PE exam, you probably have most of what this book has to offer.

2 comments about Bridges: Three Thousand Years of Defying Nature.

1. I purchased this as a gift for a very dear friend. She was absolutely over the moon when she saw it. She had been wanting it, but hadn't been able to get it for herself. She has been enjoying it ever since and is absolutely delighted with it.



2. This covers every possible aspect of bridge building that a layperson could think of. Except for one thing. It hardly mentions the laborers who are responsible for the work that made these bridges possible. Yes, a bridge is made from concrete, brick, steel, timber, cable, iron, and whatnot, but what about the blood, sweat, and tears? The book goes into the construction of piers, the methods used to erect various parts of the bridge, and so forth. But it stops short of mentioning how the laborers were organized, who they were, where they came from, and how many of them died building these works of art.
   
   So, although the book filled me with knowledge, I finished it feeling a little bit empty, as if I had seen the surface of all the seas and oceans of the world, but never a whale or fish.