2 comments about Savannah Style: Mystery and Manners.

1. Is it possible to be in love with a book? When I ordered Savannah Style, I could hardly wait for its arrival. I wasn't disappointed - in fact, it is even better than I anticipated, having read other reviews prior to purchase. The photographs are gorgeous and reflective, and entice one to have a certain mood when reading this wonderful book. And read it I did, because it is not only beautiful, but intelligent as well. Although Sully is intent on the mystery element of Savannah, it is still a beautiful book to own and love. The question is, 'When can I immigrate?'



2. I believe that the photographs capture the essence of Savannah. Susan Sully has provided us with a sketchbook of Savannah's mystery and charm. The over the top decorating schemes are perfectly matched to the quirky and brooding characters who inhabit these fabulous southern mansions. Every photograph evoked a glimpse of a place we would all secretly love to share.

1 comments about Understanding Frank Lloyd Wright's Architecture.

1. Not a bad book but the author could have provided more detail and photos to back up his claimed "understanding" of Wright's work. Some nice photos.

No comments about Ecological Houses (Architecture).

1 comments about VJAA: Vincent James Associates Architects.

1. Through splendid photographs and insiteful text, this book explains the special approach that VJAA brings to architecture. The general style of their designs fits into the modernism but with more of a sense of oneness with the site, not only its physical attributes but the sociological and cultural aspects of the site.
   
   The buildings cover a range of uses from single family residences and a unique house for twin brothers who want to be close to each other but retain their privacy and different life styles, to multi family structures, to institutional buildings for a wide variety of purposes. The smallest units are some apartments in New York, the largest is 200,000 square feet of mixed-use housing.
   
   The range of buildings is striking, even though they could all be called modern, the individual appearances are as different as can be imagined and serve to illustrate the freedom from 'standards' that VJAA uses in their designs.

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.

2 comments about Back of the Big House: The Architecture of Plantation Slavery (Fred W Morrison Series in Southern Studies).

1. This study of vernacular architecture is a great contribution to the social history of slavery. By looking at facets of design such as settlement patterns and the formal qualities of buildings, Vlach shows how patterns in material culture provide clues for understanding the patterns of history that one can read by examining the buildings. This remarkable book not only documents plantation architecture as an important contribution to the historical record, but it also provides a fascinating interpretation of the subject. It is an especially important study because of the dearth of written documents left by slaves.



2. John Vlach's book is a thorough study of the architecture of plantation slavery in the South. He primarily used resource materials from the 1930s Historic American Building Survey and WPA interviews with former slaves to develop a social history. The research is solid and comprehensive. Vlach demonstrates ways to interpret the buildings for information about the life of the people who worked and dwelled in them, and he backs up his conclusions with interview materials. It's a terrific way of studying architecture that merges folklife studies with architectural history. The conclusions expanded my understanding about history, and this book is an essential contribution to learning about black history.

1 comments about The Arts in Spain (World of Art).

1. John Moffitt's "The Arts in Spain" beckons to us across all those mystifyingly dull art history books hardly worth taking off the shelf. Extremely well-written and accessible to the general reader, it recognizes that great art was created in a social and historical context and explains that context. This approach not only allows us to understand the arts more fully in their own right, but also to use them in studying Spanish history.

   Moffitt starts with Spain's fascinating pre-historic art and moves up through the Roman, Islamic, Romanesque, Gothic, and Golden Age periods straight through to the 20th century. Like most studies, he races through the 18th and 19th centuries, but the quality of his remarks makes up for his brevity. As the title indicates, he briefly discusses architecture, sculpture, and the decorative arts as well as painting. This approach puts painting in a broad aesthetic context as well as an historical one.

   Additionally, the illustrations are excellent and mostly in color.

   I already knew something about Spanish art when I picked up this book, but I felt I learned a lot. If you know absolutely nothing about Spanish art and haven't had much luck with art history books in the past, this is definitely the place to begin.

5 comments about Cube Chic: Take Your Office Space from Drab to Fab!.

1. I was hoping for a little bit more from this book but as it turned out it was just a book of pictures of really nifty cubes. I was hoping that there would be a bit more in the way of ideas and suggestions but for the most part if you are looking to dress up a drab workspace this is for you.



2. The idea is cute but no practical. Most companies do not let you go that extavagent because of company policy and fire codes. Also, they seem to be expensive to do. There were a few good ideas for cube decorating in general but not worth the purchase of the book unless you woud like to see the pictures. I am not sorry that I bought it, just a little disappointed that my first ever cubicle cannot have a fun theme.



3. The book was entertaining to look at but the designs were too tacky and themed. I was hoping for less over the top ideas and something more practical and classy. Most of the design ideas would get the bosses upset or be the laugh of my neighbor cubies.



4. I really loved looking at the cool pictures of cubes. I don't know how they come up with so many ideas! Definetely a book worth buying for great decorating ideas for a home office or at work.



5. A friend of mine purchased this book and I had to have it. You might not be able to decorate like in the book, but it gets you thinking about things you can do. It also gives you ideas that you could use in your home office.

5 comments about Golf Course Architecture: Evolutions in Design, Construction, and Restoration Technology.

1. Starts off very well with the hope that it will get more technical but instead becomes more theoretical in areas such as aesthetics and fine art, areas which the author seems to not have a background in. ie, his discussion of perception, symmetry and balance etc. If you can skip the middle chapters its not bad but again I had hoped for more technical insights. Perhaps I needed a book on golf course construction. I just assumed from architecture courses that construction issues and recommendations as well as more detail of layout relative to game play would be discussed.



2. This is one of five best technical books I ever found. As a beginner in golf course design, I found in this book all I needed to realize my projects.



3. This is a fascinating book for any golf enthusiast or historian, as well as an essential practical resource for anyone actively involved in golf course design, construction and maintenance.

   The design process progresses from the green to the individual hole to the entire course. Detailed technical information is well integrated with aesthetic and theoretical concepts making the entire book interesting & readable.

   The book is packed with color photos of individual holes to illustrate design concepts, sites under construction and wonderful historical documents. The technical drawings & plans are well done and very useful.

   This book is a great example of making a technical manual a joy to read. Any golfer who appreciates the background of the course he or she is playing on will love it.




4. This book is filled with wonderful pictures from cover to cover. An incredible collection of the worlds most famous golf courses and designers.



5. Simply an outstanding look at the fascinating process of taking a piece of land and sculpting a chapmionship layout. A step-by-step process that details the many intricacies and disciplines involved in creating a golf course. Any golfer will more fully appreciate the not only what they see on a course, but also what they "don't" see. The photos and illustrations are plentiful and precise in leading one through each phase of construction. Must reading for an serious student of the game. Kevin Burke

3 comments about Geography of Home.

1. I found the core notion that our home designs don't fit our lives to be very interesting. But be warned that the book is a series of very personal, sometimes bordering on superficial, essays. Beyond the core notion, I didn't find much to relate to in Busch's observations about her own
   (upper class, domesticated) life. She often makes blanket statements about how "we" live that more than once made me feel like she was writing for a whole other group of people I've never met. That said, if you do feel included in her blanket statements, you might love the book.



2. This little book of essays is a fine read -- brightly written, free of the usual jargon, quick with insight. It helps the reader to understand why that expensively furnished living room lies silent while the kitchen bussles with everything but cooking. I enjoyed it immensely.



3. Bravo! Aki Busch takes us on a charming and provocative stroll both through her home and each of ours. Ever wonder why you still have a front door? Or whatever happened to the front porch? Or why your kitchen and closets and garage are so essential? READ THIS BOOK and find out!!