5 comments about Cohousing: A Contemporary Approach to Housing Ourselves.

1. This is a must read book for anyone interested in being involved with co-housing. The book explains the history of this housing approach, shares experiences of both success and failure in establishing a co-housing community, and provides helpful guidance based on actual experience. Of note is the emphasis on community, and the experience that a successful co-housing community requires the resident's participation from the initial conception of the project. Based on my experiences with commercial real estate, I conclude that this aspect of co-housing (getting multiple people to work together as a community) is the most difficult aspect of a successful co-housing development. Far more difficult that the actual site selection, acquisition, planning and development of the physical facility.



2. This is an excellent book for the individual who would like to consider living in a community that isn't the typical, isolated neighborhood. Reading this book has really opened my eyes to so many of the benefits of cohousing. Originally I thought that it was like an old-fashioned commune but that's not it at all. Kathryn McCamnat, as well as her architect husband, Chuck Durrett, really know what they're talking about.



3. A fabulous book which shows the beauty of the european style intentional community, with many enticing photos. It makes me think that even though it is difficult or impossible to utilize the pragmatic wisdom of traditional socialism on a national scale in the United States due to the misinformation and prejudice which has saturated our culture, it may be possible, practical and quite enjoyable to do it in small, intentional communities. While American culture has become infected with a disingenuous and artificial form of individualism which is the result of fallacious theories of econimics based on the superstition of Natural Law that has done nothing but leave individuals alienated, as well as economically disadvantaged, there have been many great experiments throughout history which provide examples of how a few of us can attempt to get rid of this societal sickness. The community known as New Harmony, founded by the Rappites and purchased by socialist thinker Robert Owen is one such example which was known as the "Athens of the West". There has been a renewed interest in this kind of community since the 1960's and rather than these communities failing like so many other fads, on the contrary, many have succeeded and there are now more than ever. Our society is desperate for a practical answer to it's own lack of connection between people and absence of cultural and generational continuity, whether it, or the individuals living in it are consciously aware of this fact or willing to admit it to themselves. While this book doesn't talk about communities like New Harmony, what the people in this book are doing is very much in that spirit, and I believe it holds the answers to many problems that can be used here and now. What we need now is something which will give us independence from the growing trend of corporate neofeudalism which values profit and underpaying labor over family, friends, real education (not education for money) self-enjoyment, and any hope of meaningful individuality (as opposed to the meaningless ideas of individualism propounded by free-market theories and shallow pseudo-philosophical and political fads like objectivism and libertarianism). I sincerely hope that one day that I can participate in such a community.



4. This book is the perfect place to begin considering if cohousing is for you. Beautifully illustrated it allows the reader to imagine themselves in cohousing. If your ready to make your project happen I recommend THE COHOUSING HANDBOOK by Chris Hanson.



5. How much action can one book trigger? I wonder how many of theprojects can be traced back to readers being inspired by thisbook.

   Beautifully illustrated, well researched, the book conveys well the Aha erlebnis these architects must have experienced as they discovered these very liveable Danish communities.

   For readers who like architecture and wonder what kind of housing community can deliver homeliness based on both privacy and community.

3 comments about Timberframe Plan Book.

1. Don't buy this book!
   Unless you want a lessons in terrible architecture and how NOT to build a timber frame.
   The pictures are also the worst quality I have ever seen in a book. Waste of my money.



2. I found this book a waste of time. Looking for actual timber frame plans, instead I found a bunch of pictures in no particular order or organization. May make a makeshift coffee table book for people to read while you think big thoughts in your completed timber frame home, but it sure won't help you design one.



3. As the editor of LivingHome, I have to say that this new book is a real winner. With the popularity of timberframe homes, many of the best companies put out beautiful brochures (some even charging for them), and some have Web sites, but the photos on the Web don't do justice to the soaring spaces and gorgeous interiors of these type of homes. The authors of this book have gathered some of the best photos from some of the best companies. Plus there is good actionable information and resources for those of us who say that some day we are going to build one these beauties, no matter what.

3 comments about Bungalow Basics: Porches (Pomegranate Catalog, No. A720).

1. I ordered the book to gain insight into renovating my 1920 cottage porch. A complete waste of money and time! If you are renovating look elsewhere for ideas and details.
   
   Jeb



2. Although I have bought quite a few books authored by Paul Duchscherer and/or Douglas Keister, I was disappointed with the physical size of this book. It is only about 5 1/2" x 6 1/2" and much of the detail in the pictures is lost because of it. The print is also mini-sized and cannot be read without reading glasses for us "vintage" readers! (It IS, however, the perfect size for a Christmas stocking stuffer!)
   
   I also had some problems with the constant referral in the first (and only) chapter in the front of the book to note the various 48 pictures throughout the book as the different type of porches were described. It was a constant flipping back and forth of pages to see Figures 15, 28 for this or Figures 4-5, 10, 13, 15-16, and 23 for that. The text was well-written but overall this book could have been so much better...



3. The size (approx. 6x6") makes the photos miniscule. Forget
   using them for ideas - without a microscope.
   
   Tiny in substance at 70 pages as well.
   
   Content/size in no way justifies the price.

2 comments about Glass Tile Inspirations for Kitchens And Baths.

1. First of all, this is a beautiful book. The 200 plus photographs of glass tile works of art in kitchen, bathroom, and flooring are alone worth more than the price of the book, even if you have no plan to install glass tile. But you will be inspired to consider it. Add to that the informative and perspicuous exposition, the creative and imaginative sensibility, and the developed professional design judgment of Katharine Kaye McMillan, and you have a work of excellence.



2. Pat McMillan has done a great job of showing in her book -- probably in unprecedented manner -- different applications of the great variety of glass tiles currently on the market. Inspirational, indeed!

1 comments about INDEX Architecture: A Columbia Architecture Book (D, Columbia Documents of Architecture and Theory, V. 7-9).

1. This book basically dares you to read it.

   As an aficionado of contemporary architectural thought, I expected that this book would be enlightening coming from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, a program frequently renowned for leading contemporary architecture into the avant-garde. I was tremendously disappointed in the book in general. While there are worthwhile observations from many notable architects (and students), the book devolves into a self-congratulatory, politically correct collection of "insights" in language so obfuscating that the gist of the statement is normally impossible to determine.

   The book takes it as a guiding principle that Occam's Razor (which requires the simplest of equal competing alternatives be selected as best) is never to be regarded, and that when one small word will suffice, ten large words will instead be used. Is it so hard for these obviously very bright people to speak English? Here is a prime example from page 10, which I obtained by opening the book at random: "In blob modeling, objects are defined by monad-like primitives with internal forces of attraction and mass. Unlike a conventional geometric primitive such as a sphere, which has its own autonomous organization, a meta-ball is defined in relation to other objects. Its center, surface area, mass and organization are determined by other fields of influence. The surfaces are surrounded by two halos of relational influence, one defining a zone of fusion, the other defining a zone of inflection." I will spare you the rest, but suffice it to say that that paragraph drones on and on, and gets even more ridiculous before it is concluded.

   The organization of the book is so confusing that there is actually a key to decoding the format at the beginning. The format is extremely unpleasant. Avant-garde? Yes! Readable? No! Largely the book is an index (hence the title) taken alphabetically, but there is an abundance of information in tiny font adjacent to the text in the gutters, which are, inexplicably, the hideous color of green found in the interior of a school bus.

   Among the horrid design of the pages and the tiny graphics that rarely are directly associated with anything else on the page or under discussion, there is some genuinely brilliant commentary on contemporary architecture, which is, after all, why someone would buy this book. Due to these occasional pithy insights, combined with a few brilliant illustrations, I give the book two stars.

   I would not recommend this book to many people, probably only practicing architects, and only with the strong caveat that it is very unpleasant and annoying reading trying to sort the wheat from the chaff, hidden as the wheat is among the pomposity and pretentiousness of the text. This book could have been utterly wonderful; instead it was one of the most trying reading experiences in recent memory.

5 comments about Authentic Small Houses of the Twenties: Illustrations and Floor Plans of 254 Characteristic Homes (Dover Books on Architecture).

1. This is a Dover reprint of SMALL HOMES OF ARCHITECTURAL DISTINCTION: A BOOK OF SUGGESTED PLANS DESIGNED BY THE ARCHITECTS' SMALL HOUSE SERVICE BUREAU, INC., originally published by Harper & Brothers Publishers, New York and London, in 1929. Yes, it was a long title, but Dover is doing a disservice to old book collectors by changing the titles. That said, it is a good collection of examples that could be easily adapted for today's living, especially for those who want a not-so-big house. The cover says that there are 254 houses and each are shown with floor plans, including the second floor where applicable, and a view of the exterior, either a rendering or a black & white photo. In some examples, details are also presented with sketches or photos. This is highly recommended for all interested in traditional residential architecture.



2. If you like houses of this period, this book contains a good range of architectural styles and layouts.
   The houses are small even by the standards of the time, generally with 6 rooms. Most have comfortably cozy dimensions, and some are downright dinky. How did they arrange furniture in a bedroom only 8 feet square (and that isn't the smallest)?
   While the photos are good illustrations, I really like the drawings best. These also cover a range of styles. Art students, whether concentrating in freehand or technical drawing, would probably find these useful exercises to help them develop a technique that is comfortable for them.



3. Whenever I'm out driving through my neighborhood, inevitably another charming older home catches my eye and I race home to grab my copy of this great book. It's turned out to be a wonderful resource for my husband and me as we search for our first home. We already have an idea of the floor plan before we walk through the door. Also gives a lot of information about original fixtures/features that tend to change as homes are renovated through the years.



4. As all of history is cyclical, so is home architecture in America. Authentic Small Houses of the Twenties shows wonderful possibilities for houses that capture the "Not so Big House" ideal, a movement gaining momentum in this day of the McMansion. The product of a joint venture by the U. S. Dept. of Commerce and the American Institute of Architects after WWI, these house plans show marvelous use of interior space, detailing and economy. Although the house plans with sketches or photos of each shown are not available, as far as I know, in blueprint form for purchase, they furnish tremendous grist for the creative future home owner. A treasure!



5. I enjoy looking at architecture from the late 1800's to the early 1900's in America. It is possible to see how families of the past lived by viewing the floor plans in this book. Many of them would be very livable for today (updated with modern mechanics and appliances, of course!) for young families and retirees. My personal goal is to select one (the hardest part of all!) to build for my wife and myself to retire to (in about 15-20 years).

3 comments about Content.

1. First of all, it is very disappointed. This book is basically just hard to read. It may seem interesting at first opening it because of the layout and how pictures are organized. Although some ideas are presented in a very creative way, but really, the ideas are presented without telling the reader where the idea going to expand or how can it go further. Basically got nothing out of it after reading this book. Maybe when he made fun of Martha Steward, it was quite interesting.. but so what... what does she have to do with architecture...err yea..



2. For those used to Koolhaas' fun and games, you will enjoy pouring over his latest catalog of ideas. It has the look and feel of a thick magazine moreso than a book, packed with an astonishing range of project, op-ed pieces and cuttings from the chaotic world we live in. But, for those new to Koolhaas, you may want to check out Delirious New York or S,M,L,XL first.

   This book has a sharper political content to it but the cover is little more than a hook. There are some good articles to pour over such as "Re-Learning from Las Vegas," in which Koolhaas interviews Robert Venturi and Denise Scott-Brown. The cover story seems to be "Violence against Architecture," in which Bill Millard offers "tales from the front lines of the war on the city." Koolhaas can't resist promoting himself, noting his Projects on the City, and re-exploring Lagos and Beijing. He also showcases the Seattle Public Library and some of the newest projects he has on the boards. There are his usual witty allusions such as "Miestakes" and "Big Vermeer," but for the most part this book seems to be a celebration of the urban chaos that has resulted in recent years, thanks in large part to globalization. Unfortunately, there isn't a very sharp focus. Most of the images are just eye candy and the articles don't have much weight to them. Still, you can't beat the price and there is plenty to look at.




3. The latest Koolhaas and the gang book (actually a paperback) is summed up in the Editor's letter on page sixteen, part of which reads "Content is a follow-up to 'SMLXL', an inventory of seven years of OMA's tireless labor. In many ways it is structured according to what its predecessor is not-dense, cheap, disposable".

   The 546 pages are a textual and visual pot-pourri of articles, mostly architecturally related with several general interest items thrown in, like the one about Martha Stewart and her views on eastern lifestyles, or 'Red Radio', the story of the Cold War fight for Africa's airwaves (no, really) and if you get frustrated trying to read some of the tiny type that inevitably gets used in this type of book you can look at a few ads that are scattered throughout the pages.

   I bought the book for its strong visual interest (it is mostly visual) and the seventy-six articles are presented in all sorts of graphic ways, from the nearly unreadable 'Junk Space' which stretches over ten pages of text in one continuous paragraph to the rather fascinating 'Yes/No' using a clever collage technique to explain the rise and fall of the global economy. The pace is unrelenting with colorful whiz-bang graphics and photos from pages one to 546.

   Perhaps the most interesting chapter is the penultimate one devoted to the work of OMA-AMO since the publication of 'SMLXL', unfortunately the huge amount of information is presented in nearly unreadable paragraphs over twenty-seven pages. To quote the Editor's Letter again "Content is, beyond all, a tribute to what are perhaps OMA-AMO's greatest virtues - its courage, its dogged, almost existential pursuit of discomfort, its commitment to engage the world by inviting itself to places where it has no authority, places where it doesn't 'belong'". I'll certainly drink to that!

No comments about 25 Tropical Houses in Singapore and Malaysia.

5 comments about The Art of Robert Bateman.

1. My knowledge of English just isn't good enough to do justice to this artist and this book. Robert Bateman translated into paintings all the enchantment I have felt for nature since I was a child. Wish I was much younger to try to follow his footsteps!! Marvellous book!



2. This book, together with "The World of Robert Bateman" is one of the best wildlife art books ever published, and truly shows Bateman at his best. The later collections (especially the very last ones) don't even come close to the beauty of the paintings in these two books. In most paintings the animal is just one character, sometimes not even the main one, while the landscape and the surroundings (depicted in marvelous and maddening detail) almost always plays a central role. Here Bateman shows to be a master of the techniques he uses, and creates pictures of stunning beauty who truly come to life. Both books are highly highly recommended if you life "realistic" wildlife art.



3. THE ART OF ROBERT BATEMAN appears in its 25th anniversary edition to include text by Ramsay Derry and an introduction by noted ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson himself as it provides a stunning blend of full-page color wildlife images and accompanying artist profile. This was the artist's first book and cemented his career: its re-appearance is perfect for collections who either don't have the original or find their lending copies worn.



4. I have 3 Bateman books all are special ,a book for everyone to enjoy



5. To see a Robert Bateman work is to glimpse a moment in Nature's time when an elk treks across a vast winter landscape of snow, conifers & mountains; or a stream bank where tender green plants glow against the moist earth & a minute bird perches; or a trumpeting bull elephant confronts you in a storm of dust. Roger Tory Peterson has written an expressive introduction & Ramsay Derry's profile of the artist makes good reading - especially as he's included a history of who Robert Bateman is; where he's lived; several works-in-progress sketches; photos of the artist in action & on location. A worthy addition to your library.

3 comments about The Retail Store: Design & Construction.

1. Very informative. This book covers all aspects of the retail store design process. From the design of the space to how it effects the public. It would be a great book to use as text at the educational level of Designers/Architects as well as a great reference for professionals.



2. than to try to get thorugh this one. I'm guessing this is the previously published copy with updated pictures, but....the "photo-copied" pages are so hard to see, you would be better off going downtown or to your local mall for information. Sorry, did not even read this before I returned it. The quality is so bad, you'll kick yourself for buying it....



3. The content of the book is great and there are lots of useful references for further readings. It can help a novice to quickly brush up his/her knowledge on the retail design and construction subject. However, the printing, what I should say is the photocopying-like quality of the book really stunned me, not to mention this is a book with lots of store photos, the quality of the book is like a stack of photcopied papers with shades and tones on the black and white only photos.