5 comments about Towards a New Architecture.

1. Great Book!! It has a very detail description from point of view and concept of Le Corbusier.



2. the old jeanneret is a purist with a machine aesthetic yearning to become a calculator.
   
   there's nothing wrong with public plazas.
   
   stop repeating yourself. you're not fun to think about.
   
   architecture is plastic and experiential, but not dogmatized by universality, so stop critcising utopian solutions for lack of ingenuity.



3. A must read for anyone with the least bit of interest in architecture.



4. Worth the read just for Le Corbusier's description of the effects that a building has on the psyche's of its users. Lots of great line drawings. When reading, remember that the book is a collection of magazine articles, hence the repitition that occurs from chapter to chapter. The book should have been only half as long as it is; a lot of unnecessary filler.



5. While known for at times overstating his case, Le Corbusier still makes a well-thought and passionate statement for the impact and value of architecture in the 20th (and now 21st century). The book is a fast, engaging read and frighteningly topical for something that was written almost a century ago.

1 comments about The English House: English Country Houses and Interiors.

1. I found this book to be extremely resourceful when building my Georgian-style home; it gave me great decorating ideas. This book is full of knowledge and beautiful colorful pictures. It is a great source for English decorating.

5 comments about Island Life: Inspirational Interiors.

1. You may or may not receive this book. Like another reviewer, my order was never completed. I ordered it THREE times, waited 6 weeks each time...and then was informed my order was cancelled because it was unavailable. The last time I ordered it, I called them and they "assured" me it was "IN STOCK". Later, I was notified it was unavailable once again. Its bizarre! Don't hold your breath waiting for this one. It may be a great book, but I will apparently never know.



2. I found this book an absolute dream. The pictures are superb and the text is so unpretentious and simple. I loved the way the family has created such a simple and beautiful house (or houses) unlike so many of the gaudy mansions of the rich that inhabit the Bahamas.
   I have visited Harbor Island and the lifestyle appears so slow and easy that it really appears to be a paradise. India points out though that there is a price to be paid. The climate does make it difficult to maintain property.
   In summary, I loved the book, the words and the pictures and I read it from cover to cover in a little under two days. It left we wanting a simpler, more balanced life and sunshine!



3. I find myself reaching for this book over and over again. In it the authors generously give us a glimpse of the life they have made on a small island in the Bahamas. With a lot of hard work and no pretension, they have gotten it mostly just right. Their houses are neither overdone nor underdone, but pleasing to the eye, soothing and liveable. Highly recommended.



4. Never got item - waited several weeks and then was notified.



5. The cover was very appealing. First impressions etc;. The inside photos even more so. The writing however sounded like the ramblings of a spoiled child living in an unreachable reality sometimes and at other times, the snobbery of an aristocracy only appreciated in the mind of the writer and those who really believe that paradise can only be created by the writer.

   I live in the Bahamas and so yes I have a paradise of my own, but does anyone really care about 'my personal paradise' so much that they would read about it. I think not. The thing that makes simple beauty, well simply beautiful is simply leaving it alone.

   Final thot; Nice to look at.....PERIOD.

   other books I own - CARIBBEAN STYLE; CARIBBEAN ELEGANCE; ISLAND STYLE.

5 comments about The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World.

1. I had read the book as part of a reading list assignment. Liked it so much, I decided to buy it as a gift for an old friend who is now enjoying it also.



2. The great libraries of history have endured such vicissitudes of fortune through the centuries - destruction by revolution, war and fire, dispersal through pilfering, confiscation, monastic decline, loss of patronage - & perhaps the unkindest cut of all, at one point the sale of its books by Oxford University to pay the librarian's wages. It is truly astonishing that so much has survived. This book is a celebration of 23 of these unique and beautiful cathedrals of knowledge in America and Europe.
   
   At a time when most of his subjects were illiterate, the Austrian Habsburg Charles VI created the Hofbibliothek in Vienna. He decreed that its doors be open to (almost) everyone; they could enter free of charge and as often as they wished, but there were a few exceptions: the library was off limits to "ignoramuses, servants, idlers, talkers and gawkers." Alas, the Hofbibliothek is no longer free and, like many libraries included in this book, it is now accessible only to a favoured few.
   
   Indeed, the closest most of us will ever get to the Hofbibliothek or the 22 other great libraries enshrined in its pages is through this book, and for this reason alone, it belongs in the book-lover's collection. There is a brief history of each library, but the real attraction is the spectacular colour photography, including several "gatefold" pages which open to provide wonderful panoramic views nearly 3 feet wide.
   
   Next to the awe-inspiring magnificence of Hofbibliothek, the white and gold Baroque splendour of the Benedictine Abbey Library of Admont in Austria rivals the gold and marble Rococco opulence of the Monastic Library of Wiblingen near Ulm Germany, although after secularisation the latter lost most of its vast book collection.
   
   Another Baroque wonder is The National Library of the Czech Republic in Prague, with its twisted wood columns and trompe-l'oeil frescoed ceiling which draws the eye upward "to confound the true already impressive scale of the hall". When I had the good fortune to visit nearly three decades ago, ironically, it was as a "gawker", on a bus tour of Eastern Bloc capitals. Whisked in and out, we were prohibited from taking photos; no postcards or souvenir booklets were available; memory faded. I am especially pleased to find this unique library included here.
   
   The Vatican Library might be mistaken for a grand reception hall; gold leaf papal insignia, and biblical-themed frescoes framed by ornate moldings cover its panelled walls and vaulted ceilings - and not a book in sight. All of its books are hidden behind securely locked doors. The Vatican Library is, however, open to authorized researchers and its catalogue of 1.6 million printed works is fully computerized.
   
   The somewhat austere National Palace Library in Mafra, Portugal was modeled after the Hofbibliothek in Vienna, but the money ran out before completion and the Franciscans who took it over in 1792, in keeping with their vow of poverty, declined to gild the woodwork, whitewashing it instead. This has faded to a peaceful but elegant cream, against which the coloured titles of the leather book bindings stand out.
   
   A relative new-comer at barely a century old is the John Ryland Library in Manchester, England, commissioned by the widow of a rich industrialist to commemorate her husband's memory. It was designed to resemble the interior of a Gothic cathedral complete with soaring arches, carved oak panelling and stained glass windows but also was equipped with electricity, air conditioning and millions of dollars worth of rare books.
   
   Less ostentatious, perhaps, but still beautiful and certainly more democratic are University Libraries at Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin and truly public libraries in New York City and Washington, D.C.
   
   If your appetite has been whetted by "The Most Beautiful Libraries in the World" you may want to look for more in-depth treatments. For the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, just such a book exists, the lavishly illustrated "Treasures of the Library of Congress" by Charles Goodrum, Abrams, 1980, 318 pages. It contains views of the interiors and chapters on the building of the Library of Congress and its book collection, but the emphasis is on many other artefacts housed there - its vast collection of music scores, sound recordings, films, Orientalia, prints and historic photographs. "Treasures..." is long out of print, but used copies can be found.
   
   Addendum (December 30, 2007): The World's Most Beautiful Libraries was published in 2003. In 2004 the exquisite Rococo interior of the Duchess Anna Amalia Library in Weimar, another of the libraries featured in the book, was gutted by fire and many of its 100,000 books and manuscripts destroyed. A heroic fund-raising project ensued and the library was restored and reopened in October 2007. Three books documenting these events have been published in Germany (in German text). They are:"Die Bibliothek brennt: Ein Bericht aus Weimar" (about the fire); "Es nimmt der Augenblick, was Jahre: Vom Wiederaufbau der Buchersammlung der Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek" (discusses the losses, book restoration & reacquisition) and "Die Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek: Nach dem Brand in neuem Glanz" (describing the building restoration.) This third volume may be appreciated even by the non-German reader because of its plentiful and beautiful illustrations.



3. This is a marvelous book to whoever loves books.
   
   It presents many important historic libraries in the world; each library is presented in informative and sober texts and with accompanying photos. These photos try to capture the overall look of the library (even if this is rather difficult) and several interesting details, sometimes including secondary rooms. The texts focus on the history of the library in question, but also give some information about contents.
   
   There is only a minor quibble, and it cannot be taken too seriously: the authors had to chose and that led them to ignore many marvelous libraries. If there is one I particularly lack, it would be the Real Biblioteca da Universidade de Coimbra (Royal Library of Coimbra University, one of the oldest European Universities). It has been stated to be 'the most beautiful library in the world', and I cannot but agree.
   
   But this is probably a question of personal taste. As it is, the book is wonderful and useful.



4. Great pictures and text depict some of the most beautiful libraries in the world! Gives me encouragement and inspiration for my humble library at home!



5. Book camme immediately - and was brand new, and in beautiful condition. Thank you so much

5 comments about Green Building Products: The GreenSpec Guide to Residential Building Materials.

1. A must have for any green designer, builder or home owner who wants to do the right thing.



2. this is actually a list of places that sell "green" materials- like a specialized phone book. I think most of this information is on line, and that we will need to buy things within our local area- not from the other side of the county. we returned this book.



3. Housing is probably the second largest consumer of non-renewable resources after the automobile. This book is on building in a way that provides everything you need in a house, but doing so with a minimal impact on the earth.
   
   The first step is building a house that is satisfactory but not so big as has become normal in the US, and designing it for energy efficiency. Well insulated houses are easier to keep warm in the winter, cool in the summer.
   
   After the design is completed, then comes the selection of components and materials to be used in the construction of the house. That's where this book comes in. In going through the book you can find ideas that will help you in the design, but more importantly, you will find components that fall into the general rules of 'reuse/recycle.' Here is lumber recovered from older buildings, lumber made from plastic that from recycled packaging. Here are high performance appliances, insulation made from recycled components.
   
   This book takes the form of a listing of suppliers, broken down by category. I find that by looking at these procucts, many of which I didn't even know existed, the design of the house is changed to fit.
   
   These people have done an excellent job of research as to what's avaialble.



4. Alex Wilson and Mark Piepkorn edit Green Building Products: The Greenspec Guide To Residential Building Materials whether you're a builder or a homeowner, learn the truth about what items are truly 'green' and which are false promises. And get the addresses, phones, and web sites to quickly locate products ranging from cork underlayment for floors to special green paints, finishes, and mechanical and lighting systems. An excellent catalog featuring the latest 'green' residential building material choices.



5. This Book is an excellent reference for any architectural and construction library. The Book contains product information in each of the CSI 16 Divisions. The information listed is "Certifiably Green", but limited in number of manufacturers. As you may know the Green Market is rapidly expanding where new products are develop and old products are receiving the LEED Certification. As an initial guide in the new green world of residential materials, it is a must have in your Library and undoubtedly, there will be new editions out.

5 comments about Pure California: 35 Inspiring Houses in the New California Tradition.

1. This book has more inspiration per page than any other book I;ve purchased on home building. This is a literal home idea book in one package. Floor plans , detailed pictures and amazing ideas are all within the package. I;m building a home and this book has provided more inspiration than all other books combined. Bravo, bravo, bravo. Save the decorator fees, just check out the ideas within. You won;t need a decorator!
   
   I wish they would make more versions of this. These architects rock!!!



2. I live in California and have been throughout the state admiring authentic "Pure California" homes. The homes represented in this book are not much different in design from a number of uninspiring tract homes I've seen from North to South. I was hoping to find some authentic Early California design when Pasadena was mentioned. I didn't realize these were all new subdivisions. I was disappointed. The addition of floor plans is always a great idea; these just didn't offer the architectural elements I was looking for.



3. Great design! All the residential projects: The floor plans, the overall building, the interior, the furniture layout, furnishing and landscape are really well designed.
   I would like to recommend this book for those who loves residential, interior architecture. It's worthed.



4. For anyone who loves to do the Sunday-afternoon-drive-around-and-look-at-old-houses thing, this is the book for you. The quality of the photos is really impressive and while I suppose it'd best be described as a coffee-table book, it also contains a fair quantity of information about the houses and their style and influence and history of design.
   
   While there is some history and corollary info, I was saddened to see not a word - not ONE word mind you - mentioned about Pacific Ready-Cut Homes. Perhaps you're thinking "what has that got to do with anything?", let me explain.
   
   This book has quite a bit of info on Pasadena and whilst Pasadena is home to a stunning variety of architecture, it's also home to a wonderful collection of bungalows that were originally ordered as KIT HOMES from Pacific Ready-Cut Homes.
   
   That being said, I was truly impressed with "Pure California" and found it to be a fun, easy read and a beautiful book with wonderful, strong-quality (and richly-colored) photos.
   
   Rose
   author, California's Kit Homes



5. This book is the evident that the housing projects in the United States are mere products of the market force that lack inspiration, imagination, and progressive attitude. People who praise this book for its beautiful photographs only expose the biggest flaw in this book: there is no content. All the homes in this book are built on false premises of consumerist culture. There is no attempt to make the houses affordable or challenging the notion of domestic living. People may have bought the book because they like the drape or the furniture in it, but you will be better off buying yourself a copy of Martha Stewart's "Living" for that purpose. Don't waste your money on propelling the cycle of our wasteful culture, give that money to the charity and you will sleep better at night.

2 comments about Easy Cottage Style.

1. At first read,I wished I'd just gotten this book from my local library. It seemed unlikely to be a book I would refer to for inspiration and ideas. Some of the interiors were downright dingy and depressing (the kitchen from all scraps and found materials just looked like you'd expect it to look-cold, uninviting and plain ghastly). The cover picture is the most fetching / captivating photo of the entire book.(I considered returning this book weighing cost of shipping back vs. money already spent and decided on keeping).I have since reread it and have to admit the author has some gem interior decorating insights--who new pink/rose walls could be a warm neutral? I like the emphasis on using old and found/recycled materials. If you are a fan of the Shabby Chic series this book may greatly appeal to you, and unlike the author of the Shabby series, this author is much more humble and does not feature or focus primarily on her home, business and associates. Underwhelming but with some valuable interior decorating insight



2. I was surprised that this book was more "country" than "cottage". However, getting past that - I found that there were great pictures with good descriptions and decorating advice and they pointed out why they did things. There was nothing fussy and their ideas could be done with a good eye, some book guidance and a low budget. With this book you don't have to be a designer. You can do it yourself and have fun without worrying about the cost. The homes (not cottages) shown are to die for! And, this book brings out skills used to enhance their little quirks. Unlike some other books in this class, the text matches and explains the pictures without running over the page so you are not continually flapping forward and back.

5 comments about Bungalow Details: Exterior.

1. Jane Powell is THE bungalow author to read. As a remodeler who specializes in 1920's bungalows, it pleases me to no end to read an author who really knows what she is talking about. Every Jane Powell book I have read is like a college course on that aspect of bungalow history, preservation, and renovation. This book is no exception. And she is really funny! Beautiful photos (as usual)by Linda Svendsen.



2. I enjoy this book and look at pretty regularly. I plan on using some of the details on future construction projects. However, the author is a bit too politically correct for my tastes. She keeps reminding us how "poison" vinyl is. That sort of bothered me. I am sure, given a choice, most people would choose to live a beautiful wooden or stone home rather than a vinyl clad manufactured home or tract home.. however lets be realistic. Those types of home are often what is affordable to the average family. Other than that issue.. I would recommend the book.. it has some great pictures and lots of information about bungalow exterior details.



3. Together writer Jane Powell and photographer Linda Svendsen create the best bungalow books on the market -- full of information, not just fluff. Whether you are thinking of remodelling your house, changing a few details, or just want to understand the history of your bungalow, this is the book to buy... and really, this book is very cheap compared to the price of a bad remodel.
   
   In my opinion the chapter on avoiding replacement window scams, while energy-retrofitting your house, should be required reading for all homebuyers.



4. I don't live in a Craftsman bungalow, but I'm adding a number of Craftsman details to my existing NW cabin style house. Over the years I have collected numerous books full of photographs of various bungalows but I have sold all of them now that I have this book. This one book contains information on nearly every exterior detail you are likely to need, and is lavishly illustrated with photographs and drawings. It's an excellent reference for buffs and restorers. I have already pre-ordered the next volume which will cover interiors. Shame I have to wait 6 months!



5. This book became and instant reference for our home project and I have quite a few in my collection. If you are looking for good examples to put the finishing touches on a bungalow or arts and crafts project, Ilike this one!

5 comments about A History of Interior Design.

1. WOW! beautifully organized and articulated. thoughtful and well-rounded discussion of the variation and evolution of interior design. it was purchased to use as a course resource (on 20th century American consumer culture), but am now tempted to buy my OWN copy.



2. It's a very interesting book, it offers a vew over design from ancient times to ower days. We can follow the developement of design over time. The book is recomended especialy for professional designers.



3. I really do enjoy the book except that on some important topics in the class I am taking with this book there is little information. Nonetheless on the topics it greatly expands upon the book shows impressive and accurate knowledge. The pictures also aid in examples and are for the msot part the best picture examples that any book could offer.



4. If you're bored with historical overviews of a discipline, you're in for a surprise. Pile brings interior design to life with vibrant examples, wonderful background detail, and the kind of information that will help you understand this arena with much more depth.



5. History of Interior Design is great. I study interior design and, without John Pile's books, this wide-ranging subject would have been far more difficult. Studying the subject "history of interior design" would have been such a struggle for me without having this book at my side. I just couldn't find all I needed on the internet. Apart from the high quality paper and excellent images, John Pile has a writing style that gets his point across very clearly. That makes for rapid reading and faster absorption of information.

5 comments about Perfect Neutrals: Color You Can Live With.

1. I am delighted with this book, which is very current since it was just published in 2007. It covers every color in the palate, but in their muted, neutral versions. It's divided into several sections that show ideal ways to blend each neutral color family, including reds, purples, blues, yellows and greens, in addition to several shades of white, beige, gray, taupe and brown. Each section has fully referenced pictures of swatches of paints, fabrics, and flooring material. The paints are readily available in the USA from Benjamin Moore among other suppliers.
   
   The quality of the photography is outstanding, with crisp, clear detail. The book focuses on the work of a handful of designers in USA, England and South Africa. It is nice to see the geographic dispersion -- the South African rooms, for example, contain feather headdresses on the walls which are just extraordinary and something I've never seen in USA.
   
   If you are doing your own design, you can easily replicate what is presented here. Not only are there schemes to copy, but the author clearly presents a practical methodology to create lovely interiors using the "neutral" fabrics, paints and materials that are widely available today.
   
   I own lots of design books. This one ranks among the very best.



2. This book shows how many muted colors can become beautiful, new neutrals for your decorating. Each section is broken down into color palettes. Easy to flip to hues you are interested in. Colors used in photos (of famous int. designers) don't always agree with paint, fabric and rug swatch examples used in each section. Paint colors are all referenced, but furniture, etc are not.



3. I don't know much of decoration and having this book makes me feel like I have the best decoration book I could wish for...full of pictures and great ideas.



4. The book is well priced and full of beautiful color photo's showing this neutral concept that is always in style. Nice work on color boards of real materials that you can research. I see this influncing many of us to use more neurtalized colors in our palettes for our homes and places of work. As big user of the Munsel, color theory is alive and well and it shows in this book neutrals will always be in style they are the canvas and background that enhances the higher chroma colors.
   
   This will become a resource book for me.
   
   MS (Industral designer and colorist)



5. I was thrilled when I opened the package and discovered that my used copy of Perfect Neutrals was even nicer than I had anticipated! The cover in intact, and like the book, it shows no signs of wear. Prompt delivery, great price, and top quality--I am one happy customer!