5 comments about Albert Hadley: The Story of America's Preeminent Interior Designer.

1. This was a great book. The pictures are wonderful and it makes an excellent coffee table book. The pictures of Brooke Astor's library alone, are worth buying the book. It is nicely written and I liked the fact that Hadley himself collaborated on this book. It gives a nice insight on one of America's best decorators. Perfect book for giving as a gift to anyone who is interested in Hadley or just a fan of Interior Decorating.



2. Very fast shipping for Xmas time. Happy with book. It was a gift and the person I gave it to loved it.



3. Not only does Adam Lewis' biography of Albert Hadley allow us to take a retrospective look at the great man's life and career, he allows us do this on the most part through Hadley's own words. "Albert Hadley: The story of America's preeminent interior designer" is an important work about the dean of American decorating, and undoubtedly one of the greatest designers in the world today. Having studied under Van Day Treux at NY Parsons school and then going on to work for the top firms of the day - Mc Millen and then with Sister Parish before their eventual partnership of Parish-Hadley, Albert Hadley's clients were America' wealthy and elite. He has created some of the most famous, stylish, chic and absolutely timeless interiors, and the photographs of these will make this book a monograph in my library that I will refer to and study meticulously time and time again.



4. Great written history however the visual presentation of his work is poorly represented.



5. If one is at all interested in interior design and decoration, then this book is a must have. Albert Hadley owns "style" and "good taste". The photos in this book are great and it is a very interesting read. He is such an interesting talent that anyone at all interested in design would love this book.

4 comments about Plan Graphics, 5th Edition.

1. Plans are the most basic and the most important drawings in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design and planning. They are used in schematic, design development and construction phases of projects. When properly drafted, they can convey the most information to the clients and governing agencies and project team members.
   
   "I have long believed the design process is like a journey along a braided path. The path is marked by crossroads, difficult terrain, and barriers that are hard to negotiate. At times, the journey may seem impossible to complete because workable solutions to overcome obstacles are hard to conceive, and even harder to implement. At other times, the path is an enjoyable stroll through a process of research and discovery, conceptualization of solutions, and the documentation of ideas..." David A. Davis and Theodore D. Walker wrote.
   
   They continued to discuss various aspects of plan graphics, including plan graphics and the creative process (setting up your drawings, text and hand lettering, etc), color graphics, site analysis, conceptual design, construction documents, and finished rendering, sections and elevations. "Plan Graphics" is a compilation of good sample drawings for different design phases provided by nearly 50 professional firms. It is not a step-by-step drawing instruction book.
   
   "Plan Graphics" has 224 pages, including 48 pages of full-color graphics gallery and many black-and-white sample drawings. It is a great collection of sample drawings for architects, landscape architects, and urban planners.



2. The book had excellent graphics, but was all pictures. Didn't learn enough for my purppose, Showed proper presentation procedures. For that, it's great



3. I was expecting a book which showed you how to draw beautiful plans and explain the techniques used to produce these drawings. Instead this book hardly touched upon the techniques. This book is nothing more than a collection of copied architectural drawings bound together for display.



4. I teach Visual Communications at a College of Architecture and find that the 5th edition is a book that is an absolute necessity for anyone planning a future in architecture or landscape architecture. The selection of work represents a great variety of graphic communication techniques for the student and professional to review. The work is slanted to site issues, but can only help to reinforce the integration of site and structure. Not only does it present a variety of techniques, but also a collection of ideas that the student can learn from. It is also a great resource for the practicing professional. I use both this book and Color Drawing by Doyle in my course and find they make an excellent pair.

   William Allen, Professor of Architecture, RLA

4 comments about Unbuilding: Salvaging the Architectural Treasures of Unwanted Houses.

1. This is a good resource for ideas. It reminded me more of one of the books you would find on the rack of a home center instead of a text book like it was marketed.



2. We live in an age of recycling. It's not only environmentally sound, but economically profitable. This applies just as much to reusable and salvageable building materials from structures scheduled for demolishing, as it does to ordinary newspapers and soda cans. Now U.S. Forest Products Laboratory research engineer Bob Falk has teamed up with Brad Guy (Director of Operations at The Hammer Center at the Penn State School of Architecture) to publish "Unbuilding: Salvaging the Architectural Treasures Of Unwanted Houses" an instruction guide to salvaging materials that can be reused and recycled from homes and other buildings by literally and carefully dismantling the original structures piece by piece. These materials can include ornate hardware, period lighting fixtures, windows, doors, mantels, hardwood flooring, and anything else that continues to have esthetic and commercial value. Often these are 'yesteryear' items that cannot be matched by anything available to day and have great financial worth in and of themselves. The authors draw upon their many years of expertise and experience in advising about new tools, deconstruction processes, and alternatives to conventional demolition tactics. "Unbuilding" is strongly recommended to the considered attention of building contractors, demolition experts, and environmentally conscious salvagers, as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in recycling building materials for their value, utility and esthetics.



3. I've always liked the idea of salvaging architectural details from building being torn down. Now here's a book that goes way beyond merely saving a fireplace mantel or some columns. Here's what it covers:
   
   Chapter 1 Unbuilding Opportunities
   Redevelopment
   Rural Property
   Military Bases
   Urban Renewal
   Remodeling and Renovation
   Building Auctions
   Habitat for Humanity ReStores
   What to Unbuild
   
   Chapter 2 Deciding on Unbuilding and Salvage
   Your Level of Involvement
   Making Sure the Building Is Sound
   Permits and Code Requirements
   Making a Visual Survey
   Case Study: Survey of a Deconstruction Candidate
   
   Chapter 3 The Materials You Find
   Develop a Plan for the Material You Remove
   Assessing What's Reusable
   Selling Your Stuff
   
   Chapter 4 Getting Started
   Organizing the Site
   Tools for Unbuilding
   
   Chapter 5 Safety and Environmental Health
   Make Safety a Priority
   Safety Equipment: The Last Line of Defense
   Working at Height
   First Aid and Medical Services
   Fire Prevention and Protection
   Lead-Based Paint Hazards
   Asbestos Hazards
   
   Chapter 6 Site Preparation and Soft-Stripping
   House and Site Characteristics
   Preparing the Site
   Soft-Stripping
   Loading Items from Soft-Stripping
   Cleaning Up
   
   Chapter 7 Whole-House Deconstruction
   Maintaining the Building's Integrity
   Roof Tearoff
   Removing Interior Wall Finishes
   Removing Electrical, Plumbing, and Ductwork
   Removing Roof Sheathing
   Removing Rafters
   Getting the Material to the Ground
   Taking down Trusses
   Removing a Dormer
   Removing Ceiling Joists
   Removing Siding
   Removing Walls
   Removing Subfloors
   Denailing
   Stacking and Loading
   Project Closeout



4. The Taunton Press with their great sense of style and photography combined with knowledgeable authors, who have taken the time to document the deconstruction and salvage process, make this book a must in the bookcases of contractors, architects, designers and any building owner considering salvaging or using salvaged building materials.

No comments about The Modern Architecture Pop-Up Book.

No comments about The Victorian House Book: A Practical Guide to Home Repair and Decoration.

5 comments about The Function of Ornament.

1. The title suggests that this book is about architectural ornament, but it really covers only an extremely limited, and not particularly interesting, part of that rich topic.



2. THis book is very helpful for a studio that focus' on facade elements and how to express identity. Has lots of precedent studies and is full of inspiration for designing your own facade systems. It is mostly line drawings with some text where needed. I think it is a very well put together book and I definitely recommend it to any architecture student who is studying facade systems.



3. Beautiful and useful; as a Professor of Architecture I will be recommending this volume to all of my students.



4. Diagrams are looking good,but all lack of real professional structural analysis. Just good enough for students and good initial approach.
   But I am really worry about some miss-understanding of facade structure by unclear student's language & non-experienced peoeple's analysis



5. In this graphic guide to building ornamentation in the twentieth century, Moussavi and Kubo have collected an interesting cross-section of architectural projects that demonstrate the mechanisms through which contemporary architecture connects itself to current culture.
   
   Through the selected case study projects, the editors endeavor to illustrate the means through which ornamentation is the very essence of the building. Not being merely 'ornamental' and self-indulgent, the articulation presented is indeed the agent of the architect's ideas.
   
   Various materials and effects are investigated ranging from 'dematerialized light' to 'relief patterns'. The impressive array of diagrams are extremely clear and useful. A typical system is defined through perspective views, sections, pattern diagrams, detailed assembly drawings and relevant notes.
   
   If you are looking for component and systems analysis of projects such as Future Systems' amorphous Selfridges Department Store or Herzog and de Meuron's embossed copper skin at the De Young Museum; look no further.

1 comments about Legoretta + Legoretta: New Buildings & Projects.

1. this is defenitly a good book for your collection. quality of the paper and the photogrphs are really high. it has covered more of their letest project than repeating old ones.

4 comments about Chinese Houses: The Architectural Heritage of a Nation.

1. I can't imagine there being a better book out there on Chinese houses as this book has history and expert photographs. What's more it also has well-drawn sections and plans. Most books on this subject will use old diagrams or ancient drawings that are a hassle to decipher. Here the diagrams are purpose-drawn, clean, and add a great deal to the understanding. About a third is dedicated to a general history of the form, construction methods, social life, and geographical variety; and about two-thirds to about 8 pages each on specific houses. Just enough info on each.
   
   The one gripe I would have is that, in the part of the book where he gives a general introduction of the elements and history of Chinese houses, he uses photos from the twenty or so houses that he discusses individually. It would have given a bit more breadth (and reduced a bit of redundancy later on) if he had used that opportunity for photos of houses that were not given an individual focus.



2. The amount of detail and research that's in this book is astounding. This is not another coffee table picture book. Its filled with beautiful pictures, and an equal amount of readable, scholarly writing about a culture thats slowly getting lost to the west.
   
   Get it!



3. This book exceeded my expectations. It has informative text and abundant photographs including many vintage images. For anyone interested in Chinese architecture, this is the book for you.



4. China has seen many social, political and economic changes over the centuries, yet surprisingly, has managed to preserve excellent examples of changing architectural home styles throughout these years, as Chinese Houses: The Architectural Heritage Of A Nation presents. Packed with color photos of both interior and exterior décor, Chinese Houses also presents an in-depth survey of the rituals, culture, ornamentation influences, and floor plans of homes across China, from urban to rural dwellings. If it's a strong in-depth history of Chinese home architecture which is desired, look no further than the gorgeous Chinese Houses: it's much more than the coffee table picturebook it appears a first glance.

5 comments about Minimum.

1. John Pawson is one of my favorite architects, and this book perfectly highlights and demonstrates his minimalist approach. Light on text, heavy on beautiful photos. It's also gorgeously bound with a simple but rich cloth cover with beautiful type. It even came shrink-wrapped to ensure that it wasn't damaged during shipping. Everything about it is perfect.
   
   For such an inexpensive book, I couldn't have been more surprised. I can't recommend this highly enough.



2. Picture book on Pawson's theory of minimum, with snapshots across the history of architecture. Nice intro to Pawson before moving on to his works book. Pleasant read/look but you may wish to go straight to works.



3. I'm surprised by all of the good reviews. I don't recommend this book, unless its main purpose is to sit on a coffee table and look pretty.
   
   The pictures are decent, though many of them look grainy as if they've been blown up to fit the page. But perhaps the most disappointing part of the book was the text. Each picture has merely a paragraph devoted to description, and to compound that frustration, the font is so small (probably 6 point), I had to keep my eyes inches from the page. It would be understandable if the publisher were trying to save room, but clearly that's not the case, as an entire white page is devoted to a small paragraph, which is consequently crammed so near the binding that I had to pry the book apart to read the text. I realize that this style is probably meant to reflect the book's title, but I don't think moving the text to the middle of an already blank page would disrupt this.
   
   There are better books elsewhere.



4. This book is interesting. The book reveals what constitutes Pawson's thinking. Thru the graphic representations of photographic art, sculpture, ancient buildings, paintings, places, details, gardens, and ruins; Pawson powerfully visualizes his stance. At each image Pawson carefully crafts little notes to explain why he likes that particular image. A reader will easily grasp that Pawson's journey towards the absolute essentials was not created thru either erasing lines in drawings or reading some philosophical statements. But thru the years of his own site visits and foot work. Sometimes I felt flattered that some of my favorites were chosen as his favorites; othertimes, I found places and artists that I've never heard. I was able to rely on his notes because of his comments on my favorites. Only a person who has visited multiple times to his likings can write such succinct and insightful comments. Due to the intensity of the content and the nature of words, this book could also function like a daily meditation book. By that I mean, you can read it in two hours or you can read an image per day and extend the duration to two years. In a digitally mediated age, clapping hands to the loud voices/ moving fast/ diversity of thoughts, Pawson's book deliberately shuts mouth/ stand still/ seek simple equilibrium.



5. The book is not just about architecture. The author wants to convey a philosophy about minimalism to the readers. The book shows that the value of minimum is pervasive in every aspect of our life. At first, I was a littel bit disappointed about the content and the pictures (since I would like to see more modern architectural design). But later on, I found this book very intriguing. I think readers need to think when reading the book, try to get the communality of all the pictures from this book and come up with your own interpretation of what minimalism means. Of course, it takes time to derive your intellectual definition. But it is okay. Just take your time and you will enjoy the process of thinking in abstractive manner. Both the thinking process and results will guide your future design, aesthetics, and life style.

2 comments about Richard Meier Houses and Apartments.

1. I recieved this book as a gift and was very surprised. Its giver told me she had read a great review of it in the WSJ, and, judging the book by its cover (as all such books may well be sampled) I was excited. I am a great fan of Mr. Meier, so that may make me a little biased, but to Rizzoli's credit, this book is very well done. While I am more interested in his civic buildings, Meier's residential work is so rich that I will concede that it deserves its own volume.
   The writings (there are a few essays included) are a nice accompaniment for a relative outsider in the Architecture world, such as myself. The photography is stunning and captures the use light and materials quite nicely. My only complaint is that some of the photographs do not seem to focus so much on the architecture as much as the surrounding environment: stunning views from apartments and private homes as well as a throuroughly modernist approach to siting the structures. Also, some work gets less attention than I would prefer, especially some of the early houses that could be seen as touchstones in the arhictect's career.
   But, in toto, this book does a good job of describing and documenting a great swath of Richard Meier's storied architecure and it is well worth exploring.



2. Richard Meier's work is world renouned of course, but he is known mostly for his museums, like the Getty in L.A. and the High in Atlanta, but were he really shines is in his houses, this setting is more intimate and you see his virtuoisty of his work and observe his architecture evolve. His apartment buildings in Manhattan are known for their clean beauty and unfortuinitely also for their miriad of problems, but in this book the focus in rightfully placed on the architecture not the practicality or the durability, and since i have neither the capitol nor the desire to live in one of his apartments the point is moot to me. Suffice to say if you have any interest in Meier or of beautiful modern architecture then I highly recommend ths book.