1 comments about Cathedrals of the World.

1. I love this book, as it shows amazing cathedrals all around the world. The photos are clear and in color. It's a great book!

No comments about Proceed and Be Bold: Rural Studio After Samuel Mockbee.

5 comments about Handmade Houses: A Guide to the Woodbutcher's Art.

1. I just sold probably the only copy of this book I'll ever find, so even though I'm a seller on Amazon I don't think it's a conflict of interest for me to review it now.
   
   I'm kind of sorry, now, that I sold it; if I'd looked at it more closely I might have decided to keep it! It is just a very cool trip back into the 70's, but the really good part of the 70's, the craftsmanship and whimsical attitudes, and so on. The return to basics, I guess is part of what I mean. Briefly, in this country, we really did have a resurgence of people wanting to reclaim roots. It was a doomed effort in many ways, I guess, but no less admirable because of being doomed. This art, as shown in this book, stands by itself as a unique expression of what I think is a very interesting period in our recent history.



2. 
   It was in the 1970's when I first encountered this book and the memory has stayed with me since then. Had actually forgotten the correct title in my quest to obtain a used copy of the book. Then someone on a Yahoo group I am on told me the correct title and I quickly found a used copy here on Amazon.com and I am so very, very happy.
   
   The interesting thing about the book now thirty years old, is how it has such usable ideas for 2006 and beyond. Guess one could say it was a 'green' book before 'green' was the in thing. And the unique home made homes use recycled items from windows, doors, to bath tubs and sinks. And are all one of a kind.
   
   Just goes to show that what was old is new again.



3. Like one of the other reviewers, I too had the pleasure of living near and visiting several of the hand-made homes in this book.
   
   I lived up in the Pygmy Forest above Mendocino off of Comptche Road and some of my neighbors' beautiful homes are pictured in this book. I lived there during 1970 and watched many of these fantastic homes (and outhouses) being crafted using bartered and recycled windows, lumber and plumbing.
   
   One of the most beautiful houses was one with tall wood framed windows arranged in a wide half circle over-looking a dense fern covered hillside where wild purple irises would bloom. It was absolutely stunning to walk in through the hand-made front door into a warm and cozy kitchen and then walk to the left and out to the soaring living area. The kids had a loft that hung part way up the tall walls and the parents had the highest loft with a diamond cut out under their bed, so that they could just sweep the dust and dirt "through" the floor and then out the front door! Since they lacked electricity, it seemed like a workable way to keep their house clean.
   
   Finding this book many, many years after I had moved away, was like stepping back in time...a real pleasure to read!



4. In 1973 I bought a hardback copy of this book and it changed the entire way I thought about houses and architecture. That original book has been lost somewhere along the way and the many moves throughout the years, but the images are still fresh and inspiring (so I'm buying another copy!). These are houses built with joie de vivre, imagination and insouciance - and mainly outside the constraints of standard building codes. I was hooked on architecture already, but this little book openned my mind to SOOOO many possibilities not even thought of by the Architectural Record or Architectural Digest. Low tech, many recycled materials, personal, and light years ahead of their time.



5. I just reviewed some of my reviews, including this book (2 years ago) and realized that 2 things were amiss: originally, I didn't give this book the 5 star rating it deserves and I might have committed a 2nd faux pas' by hinting the general area where many of the photos were taken, thereby failing to heed a note from Barry Shapiro at the end of this book ("A Word"), which in part, relates that some of the people who owned the featured houses wish to remain "annonymous". My hint stated which 'haystack' that 'needle' is in, but nothing specific- my apologies, anyway! That said, I'll explain the 'deja vu' in my review title.
   
   In the late summer of 1970, I was on a journey that passed through the region where many of the featured houses are located and was blessed with the aquaintance of many people who owned and/or built these homes. My intention was to travel to Washington State as quickly as possible, but I was so blown away by the beautifully hand crafted houses and the nice people who owned them, that I stayed in the area for a few months partaking of the generous hospitality they offered. I have helped build houses, designed and built furniture, but I was awed by the craftsmanship and love poured into these homes. The title of the book is "Handmade Houses" and let me emphasize that title by saying that many of these structures were put together with material hand hewn (no power tools) from the immediate area and in some cases, homes were built without one nail pounded- wood joints only.
   
   Other featured houses were artfully assembled from materials salvaged from torn down buildings. I helped out in procuring some of the materials and was amazed by the careful procedures to safley dismantle the structures and process them for inclusion on "new" buildings. Mismatched windows, doors, etc., made for some neat eclectic blendings. Tree branches, metal sculptings, plumbing/lighting, etc., were also artfully blended in.
   
   OK, NOW here comes the 'deja vu'. In 1977, I was perusing a book shop and saw this book upside-down. On the backcover is photo of a beautifully crafted outhouse and I immediately recognized it. "Man, I've been here before!" It's on one of the many properties I visited and stayed at. The front window/door looks out over a beautiful valley with a river running through it- what a view! Page after page has photos of many of the houses I was lucky enough to visit and many more, so this book has been a beautiful reminder of that experience- thanks to Art Boericke and Barry Shapiro for putting this beautiful photojourney together- I've been enjoying it for years!
   
   The color photos are first rate and give both inside and outside views. This is not a how-to book and has no floor plans- that would detract somewhat from the artsy, eclectic format, anyway.
   
   The book forward is by the famous eco-architect, Sim Van der Ryn of Sausalito, California- a heck of craftsman/architect/ecologist himself and the author of such books as "The Toilet Papers: Recycling Waste and Conserving Water"- a great over-view of the history and current methods of waste mitigation and water conservation. Included in this book are methods of ecologically sound waste disposal for homes that want to do on-sight waste biodegration. This ties right in with some of those remote locations such as are found in "Handmade Houses".

No comments about New Asian Home,The.

5 comments about Romanesque: Architecture, Sculpture, Painting.

1. This is a beautiful coffee table art book for sure, but it's also a terrific post-trip debriefing source that explains in greater depth what you've seen as a traveler and maybe didn't totally absorb at the time. This has been true, at least, for my family. While the text can be a little academic at times, it is wonderfully comprehensive on architectural history for the Romanesque periods of Germany, Belgium, France, Italy and Spain. While the odds are that you won't find every beautiful church you saw on your trip and considered "comment worthy," most of the great Romanesque buildings are included in this work. The photos are also beautifully reproduced.
   
   If you're simply a student of architecture, this is a great addition to your library.



2. This is the first volume of an originally German series about European art and architecture, covering the entire period from AD 1000 to the first half of the 19th century.
   
   "Romanesque" deals with the High Middle Ages (minus the Gothic, covered in a separate volume), but it also digs deeper into the past, and mentions both the Carolingian and Ottonian periods in Germany, and some other pre-Romanesque styles eleswhere. Areas covered are Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Britain. (Scandinavia and Bohemia are mentioned only in passing.)
   
   Most of the chapters deal with church arcitechture, hardly surprising since most Romanesque architecture *is* church architecture. There is also an extensive section on Romanesque art, including sculpture, painting, books, reliquaries and (of course) the Bayoux tapestry. As usual, everything is lavishly illustrated with full-color photographs.
   
   Not being an art historian, I can't really judge the texts, but some of them seem to contain questionable interpretations about "medieval death cults" or "22 million people killed in the crusades" (sic).
   
   The text may be hard to follow for the general reader, but the photos and the low price makes the book worth buying anyway, certainly if you're interested in the Middle Ages. Somehow, Romanesque rather than Gothic feels like the "real" Middle Ages!
   
   Recommended. ;-)



3. Excellent, a trully work of art. This book digs down into the core of the post-classic period of the plastic arts. A delightful and resourceful acquisition of any scholar artist or architect with interest in the origins of building forms, natural lighting, and a three-dimensional space.



4. As the holidays approach and you find yourself entertaining more at home, it's time to start thinking about a new book to add to your coffee table, or to toss under the tree of a fellow Italiaphile. "Romanesque" is not only a substantial book with beautiful pictures it's also a complete resource for understanding the building style most representative of the Middle Ages. As Romanesque architecture, art and sculpture is not restricted to Italy, this book also extends to show examples of this style from Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Great Britan, and even Scandinavia!



5. Although I am no great architectural authority, I love the Romanesque and have had the pleasure of visiting many churches while travelling in rural France. Like a 12th century pilgrim, I even made the journey to Compostela in Spain. This book, however, made me feel like I only scratched the surface -- what amazing (and uncelebrated) Romanesque buildings there are ALL OVER Europe! I am newly amazed at how diverse the Romanesque style can be. The author and photographer undertook a daunting project, documenting hundreds of structures (practically every building of note, it seems). The quality of this book is staggering -- you would think it should sell for a lot. But as detailed as some of the academic articles can be, the book is never dull or pedantic -- partly because the photography is so terrific and compelling. This book is magical. A GREAT bargain, a great gift, and highly recommended.

5 comments about The Elements of Style: A Practical Encyclopedia of Interior Architectural Details from 1485 to the Present.

1. It tastes delicious, but leaves you hungry.
   
   the book is stunning. the pictures are inspiring. the information is rich. it covers a lot of time
   
   now i want a book just as thick for each of the particular styles that are covered so i can actually learn and delve.
   
   
   still, its a great start.



2. When this turned up on my doorstep, I got a real shock! I bought it as a reference book, something to "look things up in" from time to time, as needed. But, I found myself going through it, page after page after page. I couldn't put it down. It is jam packed with information, excellent drawings, photographs, text. I have nothing bad to say about it. The book is well bound, the paper excellent quality. Worth every cent.



3. As an Architectural Illustrator in black and white media, this book has been an invaluable reference tool. As a Librarian, no Library should be without this book. The only thing that one could wish for is that it was a multi-volume set with many more pages to peruse, like a novel you don't want to end.



4. EVERY STYLE IS FIRST DESCRIBED IN TEXT + PICTURES, FOLLOWED BY DETAILED DRAWINGS + PICTURES FOR WALLS, CEILINGS, DOORS, WINDOWS, FLOORS, FIREPLACES, STAIRCASES, BUILT-IN FURNITURE, LICHTING, WOODWORK, METALWORK AND SERVICES (STOVES, BATHTUBS ETC.) A MUST HAVE FOR EVERY INTERIOR DESIGN STUDENT - CUTS YOUR RESEARCH TIME IN HALF - A GREAT DESIGN TOOL TO USE FOREVER - A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE - INCL. AN EXTENSIVE DIRECTORY OF SUPPLIERS AND USEFUL ADDRESSES, TERMS - EVEN SHORT BIOGRAPHIES OF ARCHITECTS/DESIGNERS THRU THE AGES. GREAT BUY FOR THE MONEY!



5. This book will save the theatrical designer a lot of time. It provides just the right amount of detail to get you going on the right track. This book is the first thing you should open when designing a period piece. My research time has been cut drastically. This is perfect for the junior high or high school teacher who doesn't have the time to spend hours and hours at the library. The drawings are wonderful. This book is worth its weight in gold.

5 comments about Basilica: The Splendor and the Scandal: Building St. Peter's.

1. Excelent reading for all those interested in the Italian High reinassance, reads like a novel.



2. I am very disappointed in the quality of research and of the prose.
   I found it almost impossible to keep myself engaged.



3. As long as you don't approach the book expecting a definitive summary of 150 years of church history, it's an entertaining and fascinating read. I enjoyed the personal portraits of the characters in the book. It's the first book I read in Kindle, and I suspect I might have enjoyed the printed diagrams of the basilica more than the digital version, which I found difficult to read and impossible to enlarge.



4. This book was more than I had hoped for, and it made a very easy read. I couldn't put it down and hated for it to end. I will buy more books from this author.



5. I am disappointed in this book. The author's scattershot presentation of a subject that should be fascinating leaves this reader longing for either a scholarly approach or a personal one. This book tries to mix the two.

No comments about Hotels (Architectural Interiors).

1 comments about New Shops & Boutiques.

1. This book shares many images with both "Ultimate Shop Design" & "The New Boutique: Fashion And Design" (both of which are likely recommended on the page you are looking at). Despite the common images, there is different information contained within this book than the others.
   
   I highly recommend this book and the others mentioned as sources of inspiration if you are in the process of design a retail store you would like to separate from the pack.

No comments about Gothic Arches, Latin Crosses: Anti-Catholicism and American Church Designs in the Nineteenth Century.