No comments about The Dimensions of Parking.

5 comments about Authentic Small Houses of the Twenties: Illustrations and Floor Plans of 254 Characteristic Homes (Dover Books on Architecture).

1. This is a Dover reprint of SMALL HOMES OF ARCHITECTURAL DISTINCTION: A BOOK OF SUGGESTED PLANS DESIGNED BY THE ARCHITECTS' SMALL HOUSE SERVICE BUREAU, INC., originally published by Harper & Brothers Publishers, New York and London, in 1929. Yes, it was a long title, but Dover is doing a disservice to old book collectors by changing the titles. That said, it is a good collection of examples that could be easily adapted for today's living, especially for those who want a not-so-big house. The cover says that there are 254 houses and each are shown with floor plans, including the second floor where applicable, and a view of the exterior, either a rendering or a black & white photo. In some examples, details are also presented with sketches or photos. This is highly recommended for all interested in traditional residential architecture.



2. If you like houses of this period, this book contains a good range of architectural styles and layouts.
   The houses are small even by the standards of the time, generally with 6 rooms. Most have comfortably cozy dimensions, and some are downright dinky. How did they arrange furniture in a bedroom only 8 feet square (and that isn't the smallest)?
   While the photos are good illustrations, I really like the drawings best. These also cover a range of styles. Art students, whether concentrating in freehand or technical drawing, would probably find these useful exercises to help them develop a technique that is comfortable for them.



3. Whenever I'm out driving through my neighborhood, inevitably another charming older home catches my eye and I race home to grab my copy of this great book. It's turned out to be a wonderful resource for my husband and me as we search for our first home. We already have an idea of the floor plan before we walk through the door. Also gives a lot of information about original fixtures/features that tend to change as homes are renovated through the years.



4. As all of history is cyclical, so is home architecture in America. Authentic Small Houses of the Twenties shows wonderful possibilities for houses that capture the "Not so Big House" ideal, a movement gaining momentum in this day of the McMansion. The product of a joint venture by the U. S. Dept. of Commerce and the American Institute of Architects after WWI, these house plans show marvelous use of interior space, detailing and economy. Although the house plans with sketches or photos of each shown are not available, as far as I know, in blueprint form for purchase, they furnish tremendous grist for the creative future home owner. A treasure!



5. I enjoy looking at architecture from the late 1800's to the early 1900's in America. It is possible to see how families of the past lived by viewing the floor plans in this book. Many of them would be very livable for today (updated with modern mechanics and appliances, of course!) for young families and retirees. My personal goal is to select one (the hardest part of all!) to build for my wife and myself to retire to (in about 15-20 years).

5 comments about Contemporary Japanese Restaurant Design.

1. Dont get this book. They show the same restaurants over and over. Nothing really worth looking at. Lighting is the same in each and every restaurant. I am an architect looking for different uses of materials this book is not it. It you see one restaurant here you can see them all.From 1 to 10 I would give this book a 5.



2. Nice photography, printing, etc., but many of the empty-room interior photos cried out for people! Part of the excitement of the venue are the people enjoying it. Some photos were pretty self-explanitory, but others could have used a complete naritive.



3. I saw this book in the library one day, and decided to check it out. I ended up renewing it three times, and then coming here to purchase it. This book is an excellent source for ideas or just to browse through on a rainy day. I love looking at all the highly detailed pictures and the wonderful descriptions of the places photographed. This book is extremely well written and put together. A must have for anyone who is interested in interior design, or contemporary Japanese architectute.



4. I bought this book looking for inspiration for work and I am not disappointed. This book has beautiful nice quality pictures and mentions what the architect/designer did and why (As a designer I am always curious). It also shows the floorplan of the restaurant so you see how it's laid out. Now that I am venturing into restaurant design from retail, this is very helpful.



5. I'm not a professional designer, nor do I claim to be, so this review will be based on what I discovered from the book.

   This book is full of wonderful pictures of Japanese restaurants around the world, rooms decorated so elegantly, youd expect to spend $100.00 a plate easily at any of them. Each restaurant profile lists the designers intentions, design materials, colors, and even a detailed blueprint of the layout. Im not sure you need any more than what is in this book, I spent two hours reading and looking through this book, and I only got 1/4 of the way through it. I found myself staring in awe at what these designers can do with minimal space to use the Japanese culture and aesthetics in making these architectual masterpieces. A definite must if you are looking to integrate asian design elements into your home or office. There are so many design elements that can make even the plainest home seem elegent, streamlined and beautiful.

No comments about Expressive Form: A Conceptual Approach to Computational Design.

5 comments about The Provencal House: Architecture and Interiors.

1. Wow, what a gorgeous book. We look at it again and again for indoor and outdoor inspiration. You will be completely delighted by this book which captures golden light!



2. Pure and simple, for most of us PROVENÇAL HOUSE is a coffee table book filled with exquisite detail found in several dozen homes in the south of France. Author, Joanna Thornycroft, has classified the structures Andreas Von Einsiedel photographed into `Town', `Manor' or `Country' houses. Short on text and long on photos, the premise of this publication seems to be a picure is worth a thousand words. Beginning with houses in the French Rivera and ending with Le Murier in hameau das Auvis, the author takes you on a trip through the land painted by Van Gogh and Pagnol.
   
   Some of the homes are "simple" cottages, others the more ornate domains of the landed gentry or super-rich movie star. My favorite shots were taken in gardens, and show flowers, pots and rustic gates across cobblestone walkways that lead to the lane or another room of the garden. Small details such as a decorative window latch covered with several centuries of paint, delft-like kitchen tiles, and a rooster weather vane, remind me of the land of the Cathars-those God-fearing people who lived in this land that once harbored them as heretics who may or may not have been far from God but who must have understood how blessed life can be when the sun shines.
   
   Architects may get some ideas from the recessed windows, the red tiled roofs, the stucco blue walls, and the marble bathroom fixtures, but the fabric-lined antique china cabinets, and nifty little accent touches in the various rooms depicted so lovingly make this book a must for interior designers and others seeking the "look" of Provence.



3. I can be critical of design and house books after seeing so many, so it's a relief to finally be able to give a book five stars. The photographs are authentic and detail everything from interior to exterior, including gardens. The essence of French provincal style is captured and distilled here. The writing is clever and concise, although you'll hardly notice it because the pictures are so brilliant. This is an essential book if you're trying to capture the French provencal look in house design or interior design. This book gives you an authentic source reference.



4. I'm an architect with the task of designing a "French" style home. This is one of several books I ordered to use as references. The appeal of this book for me is that it includes exterior architecture, interior design/decor, & gardens/landscapes. It is extensively illustrated with color photos & captions (my kind of book...). I can't critique the text because I have not yet had time to read it. But I can't get enough of the pictures!



5. I picked this book up from the table of new releases at a local bookstore, sat in a chair, and didn't move except to turn the pages for the next 90 minutes. In more than 200 color photographs, The Provencal House explores the beauty of 16 Provencal homes - interior and exterior details, uses of color playing off the landscape, curves and arches and doorways. It's a beautiful celebration of an architectural way of life rooted in the land and its traditions.

No comments about Ultimate Restaurant Design.

4 comments about Office Feng Shui: Creating Harmony in Your Work Space.

1. This book seemed pretty minimal, without much information after reading several other feng shui books. If you haven't read any other feng shui books, it would probably seem more interesting. This is a very light, very simple read, possibly a good gift.



2. Feng Shui has always confused me until reading this book. Office Feng Shui has simplified the mystery of it all, down to the simple basics to create a clear workspace. And it's easy and fun to read! The changes I made to my office after reading this book have been tremendously helpful, and I was able to implement them so quickly. In my busy schedule, I don't have time to study up on Feng Shui, so this book was perfect.



3. Aphoristic, not grounded in any theory, and unhelpful for my purposes. I was looking for something more than a statement or two about a topic per page. Written to showcase the illustrations, not the content.



4. This book turned out to be a little gem.
   My employees keep borrowing it from my desk.
   I struggle with clutter, stress and remembering the 'Big Picture' at work.
   This book actually presents Feng Shui in a way that is understandable,
   practical and has ideas that can be implemented immediately.
   I loved the beauty of design, hip illustrations, inspirational quotes and
   page after page of Feng Shui ideas that I can use around the Office.
   Chapter titles include: Feng Shui for you Desk, Stress Relief, Prosperity, Around the Office and on the Go.
   Keep it on your Desk and Enjoy!
   Monique J.

5 comments about Mongolian Cloud Houses: How to Make a Yurt and Live Comfortably.

1. Mongolian Cloud Houses: How to Make a Yurt and Live Comfortably If you're into simplicity in dwelling and have a piece of land (your own, or unhindered use of some other property) then Mongolian Cloud Houses by Dan Frank Kuehn may be for you. But please note, if you wish to build a yurt similar to Kuehn's specifications, you will also need to glean a fair amount of natural raw materials from that land, as well as have ample time if you intend to build according to the author's specifications. Although not terribly labor intensive in sheer physical construction, building yurts as Kuehn does requires a fair amount of determined patience (a notion of building that is almost heretical in today's culture of "instant gratification" but was widely accepted practice for centuries and firmly reconstituted by many a counter-cultural self-builder of the 1960's and 70's.) In short, this is not the book for you, if you're seeking to get a yurt erected overnight. (If that's the case, pony-up some hard earned dough and go buy a commercially manufactured yurt. Then also hire/recruit a bunch of warm bodies to assist you. Maybe you'll get the thing up in a week, maybe you won't. This IS the book for you, if 1). You are basically building alone or maybe with some help from a friend. 2). You are short of, or very economical with money. 3). You have abundant free time. 4). You want to live simply in the round and wish to work mostly with materials you can gather or scrounge. And finally, 5) You need to have something warm and comfortable yet nomadic (Because a nylon camping tent as your base camp/wilderness home/extra dwelling space just won't cut it.) As a micro building enthusiast, I admire anyone who creates useful organic dwellings and then shares what they know with others. Especially when that knowledge is shared at a most affordable price. As with all Shelter Publications, this book is chockful of useful information. Kuehn's own hand drawn ilustrations are fabulous. The pics of his yurts and his self-evolution from 1976-2006 are delightful. And Jim Macey's b&w photos of Mongolia are a nice addition. It is a valued addition to my homestead and architectural bookshelf.



2. Both the book and the transaction were great. A perfect step by step guide.



3. The author provides excellent resources and instruction on building Mongolian style yurts. Though the text is somewhat dated many of the principles are still applicable today. I recommend this book to any beginner interested in constructing this type of nomadic dwelling.



4. Nomadic living in the 21st century can be achieved if your house is flexible and even portable - and MONGOLIAN CLOUD HOUSES: HOW TO MAKE A YURT AND LIVE COMFORTABLE advocates and shows how to construct a yurt using low-cost, natural materials available in either a backyard or wilderness. Step-by-step black and white drawings accompany a yurt history and includes construction alternatives and tips and tricks. A rare 'must' for any interested in alternative do-it-yourself construction.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



5. This book covers all the bases for homemade yurt living. History, how-to construction manual, reference guide, state-of-the-art catalog for all things in world of yurts (ger). Great pictures and graphics; the original nomadic living bible.

2 comments about Houses: The Illustrated Guide to Construction, Design and Systems.

1. Although this book covers almost all the subjects related to house design & construction, it seems to need more rework especially on the last sections (Chapter 8 and ahead). For instance in Chap. 10 (pages 305-315), it hardly describes the type of doors and windows, without providing any further information about recommended sizes and thickneses.



2. Excellent book for someone interested in any field related to real estate, architecture or construction. Very, very helpful in becoming familiar with zoning, land and construction of different types of homes. Lots of pictures and diagrams. Not just a bunch of reading.

3 comments about Frank Lloyd Wright's Palmer House.

1. This is a beautifully illustrated book on the Palmer House in Ann Arbor, Michigan, one of the most interesting and most beautifully constructed and finished of Mr. Wright's houses. The landscaping and gardens provided a proper framework for the architecture, and the personalities of Mary and Billy Palmer are evident throughout. Your collection of books on Wright's work is not complete without this volume.



2. A good small book about one of FLW's Usonian house with some interesting information about the building and it owners.



3. In this wonderful book the authors detail various aspects of the bringing into being of this perfect example of Frank Lloyd Wright's organic architecture. Starting with background information on the town of Ann Arbor,
   Michigan we are introduced to the clients, neighborhood and specific site on which their dream house would be erected. The process of selecting and securing Wright as their architect is explored in depth. We then learn of the give and take between client and architect during the design stage. The search for a suitable contractor and the attention to detail required of him in the building of this unconventional house are presented.
   The Palmer's experiences of living for over 50 years in this masterpiece of residential architecture are explored and bring the building to life for the reader. The book is well illustrated with color photos, some b&w construction photos and plans that are large enough to study. In addition, a wonderful word picture tour of the house and surrounding landscape is presented. The technically minded may perhaps wish for more information on the construction aspects, but most things seem to have proceeded so well as to go unremarked.
   This book is more than anything a tribute to the remarkable clients whose faith in Wright's vision, as well as their own personal artistic vision in creating the surrounding landscape, caused one of his most unknown gems to be built.
   Highly recommended!