No comments about Store Window Design (Designfocus).

No comments about Luxury Dream Homes, Third Edition.

2 comments about Tall Buildings.

1. 25 selected, half realized and half not projects are very well depicted in this survey by excellent photos, renderings, plans, sections, site plans, models, sketches, details, hard line presentation drawings, etc. There is a balance between larger photos and more numerous tech. drawings. The book "Skyscrapers: The New Millennium" (ISBN: 3791323431) includes more projects, but fewer tech. drawings.
   CONTENTS:
   Foreword 7
   Preface 8
   Tall Building as Metaphor 10
   PROJECTS 33
   Edificio Manantiales, Santiago 34
   Monte Laa PORR Towers, Vienna 38
   Max Reinhardt Haus, Berlin 42
   Elephant and Castle Eco Towers, London 46
   Electricité de France (EDF) Headquarters, Paris 50
   Landmark Lofts, New York 56
   Arcos Bosques Corporativo, Mexico City 62
   Fifth Avenue and Forty-second Street Tower, New York 68
   30 St. Mary Axe, London 72
   New York Times Headquarters, New York 80
   Turning Torso, MalmO 86
   Industrialized Housing System, Korea 92
   122 Leadenhall Street, London 98
   Central Chinese Television (CCTV) Tower, Beijing 102
   Highcliff and The Summit, Hong Kong 110
   JR Ueno Railway Station Redevelopment, Tokyo 116
   London Bridge Tower, London 122
   World Trade Center, New York 126
   New York Times Headquarters, New York 132
   Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai 138
   Togok (XL Towers), Seoul 144
   Kowloon Station Tower, Hong Kong 150
   World Trade Center, New York 156
   World Trade Center, New York 164
   7 South Dearborn, Chicago 170
   Appendix 177
   Acknowledgments 187
   Photograph Credits 189
   Trustees of The Museum of Modern Art 191



2. This book by MOMA is tremendously informative and visual. Great images from drawings, renderings, models and actual building photos really enhance the viewing of this book. There is also a corresponding exhibition at the MOMA QNS from July 2004-Sept 2004.

4 comments about Maine Cottages: Fred L. Savage and the Architecture of Mount Desert.

1. I wish that more books on architecture could be this good! First of all, the title is a bit misleading. Many of Savage's works shown here are not, and never were intended to be, cottages. So in addition to private dwellings, there's an inn, schools, firehouses, garages, etc. Second, for the private dwellings, what we think of as cottages nowadays and what was thought of as cottages back in 1900 or so are very different. I remember reading many years back about a 1900's cottage in Aiken, S.C., which had something like 40 bedrooms, plus about 15 servants' bedrooms. The book shows High Seas, built 1911-12: 23 rooms plus a servants' wing with 5 servant's bedrooms--this was, at the time, a cottage.
   
   You get a coffee-table book with stunning photography of both buildings and landscapes (many of the landscape photographs have no houses visible in them). There is an old map of Mount Desert Island, and period drawings and paintings. There are old photographs of the buildings and of Savage, etc. What is a delight are original architectural sketches and floor plans for many of the buildings. The chapters mostly cover individual buildings, and there's accompanying narrative. Consequently, what you get here is a tribute to a man who was able to blend architectural beauty with the great natural beauty of Mount Desert Island: Savage was able to work superbly with the settings and the land. Sadly nowadays, too much architectural work is done by drastically modifying the setting, chopping down most of the trees: for too many people, and too many architects, the goal is that your expensive house should be conspicuous--a highly-visible tribute to your wealth. Savage took the opposite approach--the buildings were there for the people to enjoy them, and to relish the beauty of the land. Quite a book!



2. I must confess I knew very little about the coast of Maine before picking up this spectacular book. The images are just so crisp and well executed. Mr. Savage designs fit the coast of Maine perfectly, they are so well sited and they really complement their breath taking settings. The text is quite informative and the images really make the houses and surrounding landscape come alive. One warning, after reading this book you will want to hop a plane to Maine.



3. The coast of main around Bar Harbour, and the houses on that coast are some of the most beautiful areas on any coast, anywhere. The problem is that the waterfront there is almost entirely privately owned with access restricted and with so much vegitation (trees) so that these views cannot be seen by the casual visitor.
   
   A surprising amount of these houses are the work of or were influenced by one architect, Frederick L. Savage. This magnificant book takes us not only back in time through historic photographs, but also through the trees and down the private access roads to see these houses and their settings.
   
   The style of these houses, most dating around 1900 have become almost a traditional United States style, although sometimes looking somewhat out of place when placed in a different kind of climate. These houses were designed to keep out the severe Maine winters, with small windows, strongly build roofs and the like.



4. Fred L. Savage was my great-grandfather. As a descendent of Fred's only son, Francis Chase Savage, I couldn't be more proud of this beautiful book honoring the history of Mt. Desert Island, and my great-grandfather's place in it. I would only suggest one improvement: I wish that more photographs of Fred and his family would have been included, rather than the multi-page spread of photos of the family of one of his clients. Otherwise, Fred's work speaks for itself. It's breathtaking!

3 comments about Vitruvius: Ten Books on Architecture.

1. Th Ten Books are a must for every architecture student. I must confess I did not read it all at the time of my first year...But Vitruvius' masterpiece on architecture is definitely a must read.



2. First off, I should note that I find this version of Vitruvius far more useful than many others, especially in the clearly noted diagrams, explanations of measurement units, and so forth. The editor and translators have done a good job of this aspect of Vitruvius Pollio's work.

   However, the translators appear to have taken a few liberties with the text. First, since Vitruvius is a historical work as well as a canon of Classicism, an honest modern-day translation must relate not only to its period, but also to subsequent periods in order to be understood in terms of the nearer to present and Vitruvius' own time. The translators' choice of ridding the text of the translation "the Orders" for Vitruvius' original choice of "genus" is bad enough, but when you observe that this translation has been rendered as "type" instead, it has the potential of blending in with unintended references in the text to type as well as being confused with common modern/Modernist discursions into what type is. The translators should have indicated their theories about what they thought would be a correct interpretation of the Roman word "genus" at the beginning of their notes, not by making a deliberate decision to diverge from the customary content of the text.

   Second, this translation appears to fail to take into account some aspects of military culture which have influenced the text. Vitruvius was a military man and although he adopted the linguistic style of Cicero in some respects (who has been accused of using two words in the place of one or even none), sometimes a distinction he makes, albeit slight, is worth noting, especially in the context of his role in the Roman military and in the context of subtle gradations of meaning being just as notable as subtle gradations in style and form.

   Third, and most telling, the translators and editors have missed an opportunity to note something very useful in Vitruvius, and that is that although he understood the what of the Orders, he may not have understood the why of the Orders. In some cases, he goes to great lengths to wave hands over certain aspects of the Orders, even devolving into a Ciceronian overuse of words and dense prose, in order to pull a Wizard of Oz-like "pay no attention to the unknowns behind this concept". The translators note the fuzziness, but they don't begin to question the nature of it and as a result, they may inadvertently paint Vitruvius in a little bit better light than he may actually deserve.

   Otherwise, it is a well-rendered translation, although for serious readers and researchers it should be balanced with at least one other translation, such as Morgan's translation.




3. As a Penn State first year architecture student I have been studying Vitruvius line by line. It is the most inspirational, thought provoking, and interesting book I have ever read. I even hold my own Vitruvian study sessions to review the material and relate all of Vitruvius's topics to the outside world not even related to architecture. If you are at all interested in architecture, construction, philosophy, or if you just want a different type of book to read I urge you to give this a try. It is truly a remarkable book that has revolutioned and standardized many architectural details.

2 comments about New Classicists: American Architecture (New Classicists).

1. We bought this book because Mr. Baker is on the short list of architects we are considering for our new home. It is a very beautiful and educational book, with comprehensive pictures of the exteriors and interiors of many lovely homes of all styles. It has helped me greatly in deciding what I like and do not like - I have spent hours pouring over this book and will spend many more I am sure.
   
   I also purchased Bill Harrison's book at the same time and it is not nearly as good as this one, although Mr. Harrison has designed many lovely homes too. Mr. Baker's homes, for the most part, seem to be homes you could actually live in - cozy and warm, even though many are large. Lots of close ups of the details, and even some landscape plans as well.
   
   All in all, a very good purchase!



2. If a book can be elegant, this one is, the images are crisp and vivid and the text is very informative. The book is very thorough, though never pedantic, you are educated not lectured. If you any interest beautiful new homes or just enjoy beautiful books, then I can imagine you being disappointed. Highly recommended.

1 comments about Spa & Health Club Design.

1. With the increasing understanding of the importance of exercise, has also come the understanding that the old fashioned gym like Rocky might have used, upstairs over the pool hall, has given way to places designed to attract the upper scale clientelle of today.
   
   Ms. Castillo has carefully collected a set of photographs of newly built spa and health clubs from around the world. Literally from all over the world: Australia, Vienna, Canada, China, all over Europe. These spa's represent what the best architects are doing in this area. The book is an idea book for people interested in the area. This would include no only architects, but people like hotel management, spa operators, or even the home owner looking to put in his own unit.
   
   For me two points really stand out in these designs:
   
   1. The integration of the new, almost exoctic spa into a standard hotel design, or perhaps fit into an existing building of any age or architecture.
   
   2. The large use of water. This can be swiming pools, fountains, hot tubs or whatever. It seems that water is an integral part of the new spa.
   
   Beautiful photographs carefully selected to illustrate what can be done.

1 comments about Thomas Jefferson's Monticello: An Intimate Portrait.

1. Photographer Robert Lautman has taken and assembled a remarkable set of photographs depicting scenes which a visitor would see upon touring the wonder that is called Monticello. Near the beginning of this book are two architectural drawings showing the first floor room layouts. Numbers appear on these drawings and they indicate the approximate camera positions for each black and white photographic plate.This is an outstanding photo-tour of Jefferson's custom built mansion. I would have given it a 10 rating had it not been for a few little features and omissions which detracted from the work. The major distraction centered on an obviously retouched photograph showing the surrounding hills as seen from Monticello. The photographer, in an attempt to show what the view might have looked like for Jefferson, had to manipulate the photograph to remove or minimize modern distractions such as houses, roads and other man-made edifices. While the intent to recapture a lost vision is a good one the execution wanting. It would have been nice to see more than one photograph of the second floor rooms.

No comments about Village Walks: Tuscany: 50 Adventures on Foot (City Walks).

No comments about Drawing: the motive force of architecture (Architectural Design Primer).