No comments about Timeless Living Handbook: 2008-2009 (Handbook).

2 comments about The Modern Garden.

1. This is yet another in a series of picture books of pretty gardens. Ms. Brown, no stranger to publishing or to garden history, has assembled, with the help of the beautiful photographs of Sofia Brignone and Alan Ward, a lovely coffee table book, the compact size of which makes it perfect for the small apartment dweller. The text, although lightly footnoted, breaks no new ground. The choice of garden designers is less curious and is the choice of their gardens -- particularly in the case or Pietro Porcinai as the garden at the Villa il Roseto in Florence is far from his most striking works, the well-framed photographs in the book notwithstanding. It is, in fact, one of his more simplistic designs and not the most modern of his works. Perhaps Porcinai's most provocative landscape (as landscapes are also included in the book) is his work on the autostrada near Belluno.

   As for the "Gropius Garden," there seems little evidence, even from the lovely photographs, that there is much of a garden to speak of. A stone wall, a tree, and a few stones for a path hardly make a "master work." Moreover, if there was a significant landscape program at the Gropius house in Lincoln, Massachusetts, it is unlikely that Gropius had much to do with it -- his wife Ise would have been far more the guiding hand. It seems that within such a limited book, there are other "master works" far more deserving of note than the remnants of a stone wall and a tree from the "Ise Gropius Garden."

   This is NOT a text book ? at least not for a university level course v?but it would be a lovely addition to one?s living room.




2. This book was a Christmas gift from my wish list. I did not have a chance to look through it before requesting it, but had seen an enthusiastic blurb in one of my favorite shelter magazines. I was a little surprised to find it contained little "cutting edge" contemporary landscape design. Instead, it is more of a history of "modern" designs in the Twentieth Century. I was hoping for examples of gardens such as those pictured on the cover and featured on this website, but this was not really the case. Many of the photos are in black and white, from past decades and the most intriguing color shots are already on the jacket. There is a great deal of history and detail provided in the text. I think the book is a "must have" for landscape architects, but for a homeowner looking for inspiration for a mid-century house, it wasn't what I'd hoped for. Nevertheless, it has given me a new understanding of the principles which have changed landscape design.

4 comments about Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing the American Landscape.

1. This book is beautifully photographed and shows a range of Olmsted's work, from Central Park and other parks, to Biltmore and other homes. It even includes photos of Olmsteds own garden. Highly recommended!



2. Really a nice book on the work of the singular Frederick Law Olmsted. The book has well presented images and the text is highly informative. Olmsted was a pioneer in the field of landscape architecture and people in this profession today own him a huge debt of gratitude, as do we all, because he popularized the idea of the great urban neighborhood of the automobile age with it's windening streets and statigically planted trees and shrubs. Olmsted really understood the concept of vista's and how people interact with nature, all you need to do is walk through his Central Park in New York, or one the neighborhood designs he influenced, like Beverly Hills, River Oaks, Grosse Pointe, or Highland Park, these are some of the most saught after neighborhoods in America. His influence is shown in the park designs of Hermann Park in Houston, Audubon Park and City Park in New Orleans, and Golden Gate Park in San Fransisco, just to name of a few, his importance to the field of landscape architecture cannot be overstated. This book does a fine job of illustrating this and I highly recommend it.



3. Frederick Law Olmstead (1822 - 1903) ranks among the most important landscape architects of his time, and indeed of history. His most famous accomplishment was his design and execution of the multifaceted magnificence of New York City's Central Park, presented here in this fine book with many of the details that today go unnoticed.
   
   Charles Beveridge has written extensively about Olmstead but here his knowledge of Olmstead's genius is enhanced by numerous drawings and maps of layout as well as the beautiful photography by Paul Rocheleau. The entire volume is edited and designed by David Larkin in a manner that not only brings out the scholarly aspects of this book but lays out the various areas in both Central Park and in some of the other Olmstead works (Brooklyn's Prospect Park, the U.S. Capitol grounds, the Biltmore Estate among others) in a fashion that makes this a true art book.
   
   There may be many reasons to place this book in the library, but one that is certain to appeal to everyone is the importance of the myriad details of the great Central Park presented here with more majesty than in any other volume. Recommended. Grady Harp, May 06



4. I have been a great fan of Olmstead's design and outlook. This book provides a wonderful overview of his style, his vision and his ideas about how to create beauty out of the natural enivironment. Architects will benefit from his approach to design and construction and his ideas should be a model for those of us new to the field.

No comments about Graphic Anatomy - Atalier Bow Wow.

3 comments about Private Landscapes: Modernist Gardens in Southern California.

1. This book is a bit light on for photos. If you are buying it for ideas for a modernist inspired garden you might be disappointed.



2. Although this is mostly a coffee-table book (great pictures and original & later landscaping plans), it does give an unexpectedly generous amount of historical background on the modernist architectural movement in Southern California.
   
   It also focuses on specific examples of modernist houses and gives the background on the thought process of the architects and landscape designers, how they designed the houses and landscapes in relation to the lots and surrounding areas.
   
   I think the best part of this book is how it juxtaposes pictures and plans of each house from the past and how they look in the present day. Thus, you can get an immediate sense of how well the designs have held up over time. Some of it looks dated, but much of it remains relevant (especially with the resurgent interest in mid-century design). Also, you get to see how some of the houses were revised by later architects and designers. You get to see how the original plants have aged as well.
   
   I borrowed this from the library, but I may end up buying it.



3. Kathryn Smith's erudite introduction and the authors' texts add historical resonance to this enticing collection of new and original gardens (including several by Burton) that set off classic houses by Schindler, Neutra, Soriano, and Quincy Jones. The plans and photographs are reminders of how Garrett Eckbo and others led the way in integrating modern architecture with landscape, inspired by Neutra's vision of the house as "a machine in the garden." (Michael Webb is the book reviewer for LA Architect magazine.)

5 comments about The Keepers of Light: A History and Working Guide to Early Photographic Processes.

1. This book is the primary source of knowledge for those who are new to alternative photographic processes. It is a must read for those who wish to know the history of photography, and who wish to dive into alternative processes. It gives a brief history of each process, and then practical knowledge to aid the reader in accomplishing each process. I would recommend this book to all my colleagues and friends interested in photography.



2. . . . And it looks it. I can't tell you how many times I've referred to this book. It is one of the most - if not the most - useful book for nonsilver photographic processes I've ever had and I have quite a collection of this type of book.
   
   I don't think you can go wrong owning a copy of this volume.



3. This is a great book it help me gain notion on the history of photography and alo show me ways to do photography the old way



4. Well, after asking endless questions to some of the "so called" self-acclaimed "experts" in the field of wet plate photography; Crawford's book was a breath of fresh air. I only wish that I could have come across this book early in my search. Instead I had to wade through BBS systems with adults who like to dress up and play "war" (i.e., the Civil War). With this book you will be able to bypass all of the fruitless searches you will have if you ask present day practitioners, who do not want to share the process (or are more likely unknowledgeable themselves). Save yourself the problems, efforts and misinformation. Buy this book!



5. I lost my first copy and just bought another. Learn the history and the how-to's of several non-silver printmaking methods. If you're interested in these processes, this book will give you an excellent overview and get you started on making your own prints.

No comments about I.M. Pei: Complete Works.

5 comments about The Power of Vastu Living: Welcoming Your Soul into Your Home and Workplace.

1. This is a beautifully designed book but it has little to do with authentic Vaastu or Vastu. The author has good intentions but is following coffee table books that are replete with errors about the science of vastu and the science and technology of vaastu. The true definition of these two words is unknown by the author. Unfortunately this is not the only author who has marketed this topic but does not understand the authentic science. It is being reduced to incense, mirrors, moving furniture etc. Authentic Vastu is far more than the smoke and mirrors presented in this text. I know that this bastardization of truth was not intended, but the author simply does not know what she does not know.



2. awesome book! even our cousin loved this book and so i passed it on to him. now i gotta get a new one for us! its very descriptive.. and also a good deal for the price. it works nicely for yoga lovers!



3. I took a 7 week long (2hours a week) workshop with the author and read this book during the workshop and after. The book is almost like having Kathy inside your home to figure out how to make Vastu work for you! It's amazing the changes that have occured within my roommate and my sense of ease now that my house is vastu perfected :) I even began to bring it into the workplace and the changes were amazing. Before I left my job I took my meditation belongings home and the energy around me and throughout my small workplace immediately became less friendly. If you feel like you're looking for something and you're constantly running away from your apartment read this book! It will help you recognize exactly how to make your home a sanctuary for yourself, animals, family, and even roommates! Not to mention guests.



4. I practice yoga--seriously. I just heard about vastu and bought this book after someone told me it was the best book to read on this ancient science. I enjoyed it immensely and found it so logical to follow and understand. I've started to re-organize much of my apartment. Already, it looks so much nicer and really does make me feel much more comfortable and calm. I highly recommend this book to everyone--especially people who do yoga--the two go together for sure.



5. Who knew you could change your life so much by simply moving your bed or computer? I couldn't recommend a better book to learn how to improve your health, your job, even your romantic life. Forget all those male/female books that try getting you to color your hair or spend crazy amounts of time at coffee shops. This book lets you know the most significant changes come from within.

1 comments about Hip Entertaining: Bars and Restaurants (Hip Interiors).

1. Esse livro tem uma serie de espacos diferentes e descolados que nos apresentam uma realidade inovadora e ao mesmo tempo classica.

No comments about Contemporary Prefab Houses.