No comments about Alvar Aalto: Through the Eyes of Shigeru Ban.

5 comments about The Architecture of Delano & Aldrich.

1. Delano and Aldrich were remarkable architects whose achievements include the Dutch Reformed Church in Brookville, LI Oheka, the largest home in the country, Willard Straight Hall at Cornell and other buildings too numerous to mention which you probably count amont your favorites whether or not you know about architecture. The photos and text of this book show their range and informs about the kindly and sophisticated personalities of the men.



2. While I agree this is the best available source right now on Delano and Aldrich, the book has some major problems. I especially do not like the fact that you need to search three different parts of the book for photographs and images of any particular project: color photos grouped at the start of the book, then small images alongside the main text, and then larger black and white photographs grouped at the end of the book.



3. I wish all books on noted architects where this good. Mr. Sterns preface at the beginning of the book is astute. This book is a perfect combination of archival and current photos and the history of the buildings are well researched and thorough. The color photos are vivid and well executed and the archival photos are well chosen. So many of these books just give you archival photos and are not researched as well as one would hope. This book is a blueprint for how these type of books should be presented. This beautiful book is well worth the money and at these prices that's high praise indeed.



4. I highly recommend this definitive work on architects Delano & Aldrich. The book is amazingly well-researched and well-written as well as beautifully illustrated with both historic and contemporary photographs. It's a must for the library of anyone interested in architecture!



5. I have been interested in the work of Delano and Aldrich for a number of years, and this book provides the best information I have been able to get so far.

   The descriptions are deep and serious. I also liked the great pictures. The impact of their work is historic to say the least.

   This is a must read.

5 comments about Entourage.

1. A must-have book for anyone practicing or learning the art of hand drafting and rendering for architecture or interior design. Included are line drawings of many different types of people in many different positions, scales and perspectives that can be copied and inserted into one's own drawings. The pages are perforated and can be torn out for copying, reducing, and enlarging.



2. Entourage is an excellent resource for students and professionals in any design field. The tracing files are organized for quick and easy use. Some of the images are a little dated, but overall it is a must have!



3. As others have stated here, this book is a great resource for entourage, but most of the imagery is from the 1970s and early 1980s.



4. This book has pretty much been the standard in its genre since the 1970s, but that doesn't mean designers want to use people, vehicles, and other objects that still belong in that decade. The vast majority of images in this book are utterly useless because they are so terribly out of date.



5. I am a 1st year landscape design student and this book has been a great help in my studies.I found this book on amazon for 30 dollars less on amazon than I would of had to pay at the bookstore.

3 comments about Salmela Architect.

1. This is a handsome book, well organized and full of excellent photographs and clear, readable plan and elevation drawings. It is a wonderful addition to the library of anyone interested in thoughtful and articulate architecture. Salmela's work is beautiful and rich, and this book does it justice. I'm very glad to have this in my library.



2. This book is a lyrical tribute to the work of Minnesota architect David Salmela. The text is knowledgeable and engaging (Fisher is dean of the U of M's College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture), and the large format photographs are beautiful and vivid, inviting the viewer to "walk right in." Highly recommended for anyone interested in architecture, interior design or photography!



3. I was introduced to Salmela's work through some friends living in Minnesota. One wintry weekend we toured his Jackson Meadow subdivision, taking our time to examine nearly every property: the specific architecture of each structure, the landscaping, and the feel of the development as a whole. Our feelings were substantially complex, ranging from awe and intrigue to doubt and disturbance. But Salmela's signature on the land was definitely singular, and we all agreed that in some way, his work had blended with the natural world.
   
   This book is a great primer for entering Salmela's world. The photography is clean and expansive and the chosen sites are almost all spectacular. In particular, the coverage of Jim Brandenburg's home is noteworthy. Salmela's work on Brandenburg's property is spectacular and resonant with Falling Waters in my humble opinion.
   
   If you are a Midwesterner interested in architecture, buy this book and enjoy.

5 comments about Comfortable Country.

1. As a fan of modern country, I still find this book very appealing, years after I bought it. It's warm and cozy. These are European country homes, very unlike ours here in the U.S., but I like picking it up from time to time, enjoying the pictures of fabrics, color choices and how things are displayed. Some of the exterior photos, with the stonework, just floats my boat. It's definitely one of my favorites. It's fantasy living. If you are into decorating by nature, you will probably love this book as much as I do.



2. The cover picture is the only one I like. The decorative style is far too primitive and junky for my taste.



3. Comfortable Country by Enrica Stabile
   
   I have the large version, and the photography is beautiful! I like decorating with worn items with a history, but some of the rooms look downright dirty. Example - the kitchen on page 54. I don't need new expensive appliances, but I couldn't live with this kitchen. Some of the rooms are charming, but others are sad, with the stuffing coming out of the pillows, rotting wood, and peeling paint ~ possibly lead-based. Sorry, but it's a little MORE comfort than I need!



4. 
   I love this book, though I needed a magnifying glass to read it. Please beware that many Sellers sell the very tiny version of this book. (Most buyers will not know that two versions were issued of this book). Thus, I did not think to check the "SIZE OF THE BOOK" when ordering this decorating book, therefore when it arrived I was shocked to find it was only about 5 inches big. Yieks! It can fit in my wallet!
   
   I think that had I ordered the regular book sized version of this book ,I would have enjoyed it more.
   
   Other than the tiny itsy bitsy size of this book, the photos were wonderful and inspiring!



5. This is the very best deorating and idea book of the year (and in the longest time)! Since I operate my own Country Cottage Decor Store, I hunt for every new book in this category, but none has surprised me more positivly than "Comfortable Country". Wonderful journey from page to page;- Imagine the smell of crisp linens and snuggling into poofy, down pillows! You have to look through it over & over and still see new details. The reading part is also very informativ! WOW-Those pictures are true inspiration! Possible to recreate, no matter what size your budget, home and own skills! Hope to see more from this gifted author;- soon!

3 comments about The English Manor House: From the Archives of Country Life.

1. You have to hand it to the Brits, they really know how to build a house. These archieval photos from Country Life are wonderful, they are crisp and the houses profiled vary from style to style. It's a fantastic book to have you are looking for ideas in home design, either exterior of interior, these are some of the best archieval images I have seen on this subject. If you have any interest in Country homes in the English tradition, then I believe you will be pleased with this purchase.



2. A beautiful coffee table book with lots of photographs of manor houses and their interiors. A bit dissapointing that all the photographs were in black & white and of the interiors most were just of the entrance hall. Note that the book in on English Manor Houses and not Stately Homes.



3. "From the archives of Country Life" almost says it all. Jeremy Musson does a wonderful job of applying fresh commentary to these outstanding photographs of some of England's most beautiful manor architecture. This book and others "from the archives..." are required reading and study for anyone wanting to understand the development of the romantic picturesque archtiectural essays of late 19th and early 20th centuries in the UK and US.

5 comments about Residential Lighting: A Practical Guide.

1. Sorry to differ with others, but this does not even qualify as a "book". It is closer to a magazine article in its subject depth. The photos are all out of date. The side bars for the first chapter contain all the knowledge offered. The rest is just redundant filler. Expect no more than you would get from some old Sunset "book".



2. At last a book that does not just contain pictures of extravigant architecture and lighting techniques. It contains real applicable information for all involved in the lighting industry.



3. This book is a good (not great) reference for home planners, engineers or interior designers but if you are looking for inspiration and the newest lighting ideas, well...try somewhere else.
   I expected a book with nice color pictures, beautifull layout and ambient lighting ideas and felt most disappointed.
   Almost every picture reminds me of my grand mother or my old aunt home, they are so outdated! and the quality is so poor!! So don't get mislead with the front cover picture!!!...



4. Well detailed, provides basic info about lamp types, color, and specific information/suggestions for each room, even outdoors/landscape lighting. A bit pricey, but still worth it. Read it cover to cover.



5. This is an excellent practical and technical book for learning about and designing lighting for a home. It's aimed at the professional, which I appreciate as an intern architect. Part of my job is to design sophisticated lighting schemes for custom homes, which takes a lot of experience and knowledge. This book has really helped me to pinpoint the different kinds of lighting needed for each space and how to place it and specify it in a professional way for the greatest effect. Most architects take years to learn this, but I'm getting a crash course by having this resource. It's not a fluffy coffee table book, it's a technical manual that teaches HOW to properly understand and design lighting for a residence. I highly recommend it.

2 comments about Turf Management for Golf Courses, 2nd Edition.

1. I use this book at school for a class called "golf course organization and maintenace." It is geared directly to golf courses. The fact of the matter is that it covers every imaginable aspect of golf course maintenance and operations, and I do mean everything. In my opinion there is no other book more valuable for persons training to be golf course superintendents. If your already a superintendent I'm sure it would still be a wise decision to purchase this book.



2. this book will heip even the greats turf managers around the world,

4 comments about Miller/Hull: Architects of the Pacific Northwest.

1. Beautiful visuals of the works from this phenomenal Seattle architectural firm (which won the AIA Firm Award in 2002) and knowledgable accompanying text by perhaps the leading Seattle architectural critic.



2. this book shows a great collection of the Mill/Hull works, very interesting and intreguing works. a strang recommendation to any architect or lover of architecture's collection.



3. I am a huge fan of the work of Miller Hull, however I was disappointed that this monograph lacked a thoughtful depiction of the design process. I would have loved to have seen the architect's sketches, drawings, and personal writing. There were really too many pictures, and the book had the quality of a film strip. The Ten Houses book, which showcases many of this firm's residential projects is a better book if you want to see drawings.



4. This book provides an excellent cross section of more Miller|Hull work than you've ever seen in the magazines. This book is a significant improvement in representing the full scope of their work compared to the Ten Houses book. The book is layed out so each project gets roughly 3 spreads (or six pages). A majority of the photos are clean, crisp, beautiful images of both interior and exterior. There's typically one page of text and two drawings.
   But, I have problems with this book. This book is over polished, over "published", & is more geared as a marketing brochure than a discriptive portfolio of thought and design. First, we all know these guys have done some really great stuff, but do we need to see ALL of it! Some of the less remarkable(i.e.,older, more traditional, more restrained) projects take valuable pages away from some of their more enlightened works. There's no heirachy about their design - everything gets 3 spreads, two token drawings, 500 words of static text, and some nice photos. You should not be able to learn more about a building from a magazine article than you can from the monograph. I want more! How do they think? What do early sketches and ideas look like? Models - I'm sure they've produced some great models! Where are they? This paperback book is a gem at it's current ...price. ... Ounce per ounce:dollar per dollar, the Ten Houses book is a better deal because it provides greater insight to the projects covered. But if you're looking for a blanket covering of Miller|Hull projects with nice photos, this is the way to go.

No comments about The Creative City: A Toolkit for Urban Innovators.