1 comments about Architecture in Detail: Materials (Architecture in Detail).

1. I bought this book simly looking for an addition to my architectural library, but I fell in love with it. I never imagined the flexability of materials before I picked up this book. I strongly recommend it.

2 comments about Crossings.

1. webb has worked on and off for 25 years on this, and because of it the book seems a bit uneven, mixing old and new, color and B/W in a distracting way. i would highly recommend 'amazon' and 'sunshine state' by the same author before this, but all of webb's books are worthy, important additions to contemporary photography.



2. There aren't many good street photographers shooting with color film. Alex Webb is one of the best. The images in this book span 25 years and focus on the U.S.-Mexico border geographically but their impact is universal.

   Webb fills the frame with people and objects that make the viewer think and reflect about life and not just about life near the border. You will see Elvis, leather belts for sale, restaurants, the beach, a deserted bar, children playing, an elderly man on a bus, wrestlers, a father hugging his son, checker players and a wonderful image of Tijuana taken in 1999 that includes Santa Claus, the Backstreet Boys and other well known symbols of our time arranged beautifully in one image. This is life as it is -- not as someone wishes it would be -- and is also positive and uplifting. Webb is at the top of his game.

5 comments about Mechanical and Electrical Equipment for Buildings, 9th Edition.

1. used as a textbook, but even if not would make an excellent companion to any elec mech class.



2. If you want to know more than most Architects and Engineers about how to design the guts of buildings this is the book to use. It's a fat guy though! Sometimes the text seems to weigh you down. Most architectural students consider it a sloug! But, once they graduate, they use it throughout their careers as design professionals. If you want to know how to develop a regional climatic response strategy for your building or development, calculate passive ventillation rates or heat gains and losses on unique configurations of wood, siding and insulation; size gutters or a rain water catchment system or plan for an elevator, this is the book for you.



3. This is the best reference for Architects and students studying mech. & elec. equipment



4. If you are an engineer engaged in the design of mechanical and electrical systems for commercial and institutional buildings, you may find this your most valuable reference for an overview of theory and best practices for the entire gamut of building systems.
   
   I did find a bit too much enthusiasm for environmentally friendly and energy-conserving new ideas. Many of these technologies are worth following but have economic results that will not serve your clients well.
   
   I am a professional engineer (leading my own firm) with 40 years of experience and have a huge library including the eighth and ninth editions of this book; it's one of my favorites.
   
   It's must reading for a new engineer because you will be able to understand the basics of areas that are new to you with an hour or two of study.



5. My part of this book (mechanical and plumbing) is designed to first show how to minimize the need for mechanical equipment by designing with the climate and site firmly in mind. First configure a building to optimize daylighting, solar heating, and various climate-appropriate passive cooling methods. Also, to store rainwater when appropriate. Then, proceed to choose and size the back-up equipment. In this way, designers conserve non-renewable energy, utilize natural (on-site) energy sources, and also help building occupants stay in touch with the outdoors. I believe that we'll tend to care more about a clean outdoor environment if we are kept aware of its condition.
   For a summary of this approach, read Chapter One. I hope you enjoy this book, even when it is your textbook! That was my object. Suggestions? I'm at jreyn@darkwing.uoregon.edu

5 comments about The House Book (Architecture).

1. it was one of my favourites until i got the phaidon atlas of contemporary architecture but this book is also a good one. 500 houses over the world. quick guide to have information around the world.
   ayse gokbakan yildiz, architect



2. I was thrilled with this book (and all the other mini-Phaidon books: The Art Book, The Movie Book, The Fashion Book, and The Garden Book -- I think that's all). It's absolutely gorgeous with large pictures on each page and just enough text to make it interesting and informative. I love the alphabetical organization that essentially randomizes all the eras and countries, thus making the diversity more apparent. And, of course, IT'S CHEAP! I love it!



3. This book is absolutley the most amazing book on house architecture I have ever seen. Anyone who is interested in houses and house architecture around the world should have this remarkable work.



4. Fascinating tour of homes, with most of the really rewarding images revealing the indigenous styles of homes across the globe, including the iglu, the long house, dung hovels, and dozens of other styles that incorporate the folk wisdom of humans across the centuries. The modernist austerities were the least interesting, even more boring than castles from the Hapsburgs. Some of the contemporary puzzle pieces were striking, and each page repaid the time invested pouring over the details captured. I wish that they would double page load, and show a representative interior of each exterior captured here.



5. In the best tradition of the phaidon culture books, this one explores architectural styles.
   It covers most periods and is eclectic in terms of style and the cultural heritage of the buildings. It also manages to present a huge time span of works, though the focus is on the boom years of architectural styles and changes (from the Victorian era onwards).
   Inspires plans for lots of day trips for culture vultures or indeed travels abroad. Very interesting, I imagine there was not quite the struggle to overcome snobberies with this book as there must have been with this books family members, Art, Modern Art, Fashion and Photography.

4 comments about Lofts.

1. As an artist with a small loft-type appartment and limited budget I have been looking for inspiration for loft decor. I find Living in Space Lofts an excellent source because of the stunning photos and details, and the informative yet friendly language used to describe several aspects of loft living, from its history, its situation in space, its decoration to what loft living implies and whether it is for you. The range of loft decorations described and shown with stunning photos and details is refreshingly varied, so you can draw inspiration whether your decor preferences verge on the minimalist simple, colorful-furniture abundant or indutrial-ascetic just to think of a few. A welcome change from books I read that show one after another beautiful cookie cutter loft decorations so perfect they made me wonder whether someone really lived there. (How many Van Der Rohe Barcelona chairs can one have?)



2. The book is terrific, no doubt about that. However, I am so disappointed about the 2 reviews, which missed the whole point: What makes this book terrific? The answer? Not the pictures! Definitely not. It is the text.
   
   First, it is a good textbook. It tells you exactly what lofts are. Lots of books about lofts only show you tons and tons of "amazing" pictures without a clear definition. Pictures are great. But it is also easy to miss the soul of lofts behind those pictures. Some people after viewing all the pictures still do not get the idea of what makes certain space a loft. Besides this, this book also tells you the history and the future of lofts.
   
   Technically, this book is a manual for someone who wants to build a loft from a shell. It covers all the practical information you need to know ranging from location, structural issues, money, time, to soft decorative ideas and even feng-shui. It provides not only the good and exicting stuff about lofts but also the drawbacks, pitfalls, things to noice. It gives you a realistic and balanced view. The authors really knows lofts and are very very hands-on. Due to its pragmatic nature, the book focuses more on the hard side (i.e., building process) than the soft design process.
   
   Ironically, one thing I am not quite satisfied is the pictures. Though they are nice, they are fragmented and are selected to make the pages look nice. I prefer showing some cool lofts (from those pictures), their total layout, design, and floorplan to get a complete view.



3. I live in a loft in NYC and this compilation of loft photography is one of the very best I have purchased and viewed over and over.



4. Excellent book showing great photos of spaces that its what I was looking for, it shows you how to save space and great floor, windows, bathrooms designs for all your needs in a loft.

1 comments about The Sourcebook of Decorative Stone: An Illustrated Identification Guide.

1. I have been looking for such a book for a long time. Very informative and well illustrated. Can only recommend

4 comments about Zaha Hadid.

1. Encontré que este material (formado por cuatro libros) es excelente para los arquitectos que estén interesados en conocer de cerca el pensamiento complejo de la arquitecta Hadid y la forma en la que desarrolla nuevas ideas para nuevos edificios.
   
   La calidad de la edición es extraordinaria. La caja de acrílico llegó en buenas condiciones (envío internacional DHL).



2. This was a gift for a friend. She loved the books, however, she and I were quite disappointed as the plastic case arrived completely broken.
   
   The case had to be discarded. Amazon should reconsider shipping design for this product.
   
   I would imagine that Ms Hadid would be disappointed to find out that her books typically arrive with broken plastic cases.



3. The books are well worth the investment, sadly the plastic with which they are encased in is brittle and prone to cracking. I received my copy in the mail today and it was already damaged due to shipping. I see it falling apart in the near future. Some of the fragments have scratched the book encased with in. Needless to say i am not happy. Maybe some foresight into the packaging design would have been nice by Rizzoli publishing. Would have given it 5 stars had the packaging been designed to be a little more durable. I understand that i am not the only one who has experienced this.
   
   aLEKs



4. This is nearly a comprehensive volume of Hadid's work. Four books are included in the case. The first is a large book that includes color pictures and computer renderings. The second is a tall thin book which includes project documentation, such as computer images and hard models. The third book is smaller still, and has text describing each project. Lastly a samller book of her sketches is included. However, plans and elevations are no where to be found. Not a one. I find this extremely strange. With such a comprhensive volume, why the publisher decided not to include drawings is beyond me. Also, the plastic box that incases all the books is cheaply made, and cracks easily. It should have been made from some type of paper board, not plastic.

5 comments about New York's Forgotten Substations: The Power Behind the Subway.

1. An excellent high quality work at a very reasonable price.
   Well written interesting text, superb high quality photographs and professional architectural drawings. A great buy for anyone interested in the subject.
   Amazon's rapid response to my order was also impressive. This is the first time I've ordered from Amazon. The book was shipped from stock and arrived just a few days after I placed my order. Excellent service.



2. I'm not an architecture student, or an art fan. I just happen to have an obsession with infrastructure. This book was completely satisfying. It's filled with gorgeous pictures of off-limits places. That alone would have been just a tease, but the author's extensive research pays off for the reader. He fills the book with history and technical details. Worth every penny and then some.



3. Who would have thought that a collection of buildings containing basically the same thing would have produced such a fascinating book and who but Princeton would take a chance and publish it. It seems to fit right into their quirky line of Americana, which includes, for instance, a history of paint-by-numbers (ISBN 1568982828) a photo tour of the brothels of Nevada (ISBN 1568984189) or a collection of amateur QSL cards (156898281X).
   
   Christopher Payne has done his best to record the contents of these buildings before they are gone forever. His efforts are perfect examples of what industrial archaeology photography should look like, well lit, straightforward and content rich images with fortunately no angled shots, no out-of-focus areas merging into darkness or meaningless close-ups. These photos really tell a story and being well printed (200dpi) on quality paper helps, too.
   
   As well as the fifty-four main photos there are others taken by him and several historical ones in the essay describing the workings of the subway electrical supply (some of the technical drawings included in the essay could have been larger though) and like his photos Payne makes the world of rotary converters, transformers, bus boards and potheads come alive.
   
   All in all a super little book and a good example of how a tiny part of industrial America can become fascinating with well-written words and elegant photography.



4. Many photo history books suffer from an imbalance between the strength of the prose and the strength of the photographs. Christopher Payne's New York's Forgotten Substations does not. The writing is crisp, bringing you into the subject matter and explaining the basics of subway power and the history of these substations. The photos capture the magnificence of the substations in they heyday, and the seeming pathos of their abandonment. This is black and white photography at its best. Forgotten Substations is a feast for subway buffs, engineering geeks, and appreciators of industrial aesthetic alike.



5. New York's Forgotten Substations: The Power Behind The Subway is hard to easily categorize this title, but any with an interest in New York history and culture will find this a fascinating topic - and worthy of a visit. The author was introduced to the substations by an official of the NYC Transit Author's Power Department; he photographed and wrote the history of these buildings, and his photos and drawings embellish a little-known side of New York history. A large audience will find a fascinating account here.

No comments about Strategic Planning for Design Firms.

2 comments about India Contemporary.

1. I have a number of design books and was excited to order this one to add to my range. What a disappointment. The title is misleading. It should be called India Bad Taste. It is full of gaudy over the top rooms and there are only brief shimmers of good design. The best shot by far, is the one on the cover.



2. Featuring a thoroughly 'reader friendly' text that is enhanced with 261 colored illustrations, "India Contemporary" by Henry Wilson is a compendium of commentary and examples of interior designs and design elements that are breathtakingly beauty in their exotic compositions. These are samples and examples of interior design that are radically modern while hauntingly traditional, evoking the traditional crafts of the Indian subcontinent and wonderfully demonstrate the international appeal of uniquely Indian design sensibilities. As informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring, "India Contemporary" should be considered 'must' reading for student designers, and a highly recommended reference for professional, academic, and community library Interior Design collections.