2 comments about Post Urbanism & ReUrbanism: Michigan Debates on Urbanism, Vol. 3.

1. The book was new and in perfect condition and was shipped before it was expected! Great!



2. Since this book is part of a series, I think you get the full effect of the Michigan debates if you read all three. With all three you gain a better understanding of the existing stands on urbanism today. If you're familiar with Eisenman and Peterson/Littengurg, they tend to say what they usually say and of course disagree with each other at times. But for some reason Eisenman doesn't put in all the effective vocabulary that he usually does in other debates. In fact he barely describes his project. Petterson/Littenburg on the other hand go on extensively, and in detail. The merit of the book lies in that it documents what the schools of urbanism argure for today. However, it would have been nice if the whole series went more in depth.

4 comments about Parallax.

1. This is a fabulous book for any architect. Holl breaks down the concepts behind his projects and includes several watercolors and photos that provided inspiration for his work. As an architecture student, I found this book to be a wonderful tool to understanding parti and concept.



2. the most inspirational book i have ever had the pleasure of reading. as a student i would always depend on this book to help me when i got stuck on a design problem. holl uses connections between essays and real projects to inspire one to think. he does not slap you in the face with some lofty design philosophy of his. he lets you try to make the connections.
   this forces you as a designer to think and develope your own ideas without being controlled by what he is doing.
   must have for architectural students



3. This book begs to be placed on the shelf of the great Alexandria Library. However you'd never let it leave your side. It is by far one of the most inspiring books to date written on and about the catalyst of light. Holl, brilliantly strings together a tapestry using his own works and interests in science as examples. This book is a must for anyone praciticing or studying in a climate affected by light (that means you!!)



4. Steven Holl's Parallax is the most insiteful handheld account into the world of architecture in some time. Taking architecture to the next realm, Holl has allowed the reader to better understand his process of design through excellent photography and thought provoking essays. More than just describing his latest projects, he uses these projects to illustrate and explain his most fundamental design philosophies.

   This handbook for bundle of informatiion is a must have for the architect of the future.

No comments about Building St Pauls.

No comments about The Danteum.

5 comments about $500 Room Makeovers.

1. Lisa Quinn offers real life, wonderfully creative ideas and tips for budget challenged decorating in this book. Divided into four categories (dramatic, classic, exotic, children's)with four to six example rooms per category, Quinn provides multiple pages of details and photographs for each room. There are tons of ideas & easy how-to projects here & Quinn's witty approach has you laughing. Although I've read it several times now, I still reference it, not only for budget conscious ideas but also for general inspiration on color schemes & design styles. It's become an unexpected but welcome addition to my all-around decorating library. My only complaint is that it's just not long enough! Quinn's design and writing style are so enjoyable, you want more...hopefully there's a sequel in the works!



2. What a great book. I love to redo my rooms for less and this is a book that everyone should have on their shelves.



3. This was a great book that lived up to its title. All makeovers were indeed under $500 and most had at least a few dollars to spare. We'd be hard pressed to be able to replicate any of the rooms for the same prices however, as Quinn frequently uses Ebay to snag her deals. (This is not a bad thing, just an FYI.) Quinn illustrates many different styles from playful to elegance for many different types of people; baby, child, teen, college, first apartment, empty nesters, parents, retired... everyone is represented. She gives a bit of background on the the people and why they need a change, tells the reader what is good about the room and what is bad about it, tells you how much she spent and shows the before photo next to the after photo. She gives tips on what to be on the look for when trying to replicate the particular style, give tips (with diagrams) on what makes the room work, encourages alternate uses for household items and at the end Quinn gives a brief tutorial on how to do one or two of the projects she did for each room. I enjoyed this book and think others will too.



4. "Living in a home that doesn't reflect your personal style is like wearing someone else's shoes: They may do the job, but they will never feel right." --Lisa Quinn
   
   I just love this idea. I have been looking for inspiration to make my house more of a home and I have found it in Miss Quinn's book. She is right your home should really be a place that suits you , not just a roof and walls.
   She has so many great ideas to choose from like the pot rack over the bed as a canopy I love that. This book is great for someone who has a fear of interior design, it makes it easy.



5. This book is so creative and incredibly inspiring! Lisa Quinn really knows her stuff. She has innovative twists on everyday objects that can suit anyone's style (and you can mix and match between rooms). I especially love the "sexy bedroom" on the cover. What a brilliant idea to screw desk lamps into the wall! I highly recommend this book for people looking for some inexpensive inspiration to brighten up their abode.

3 comments about China Style.

1. A wide range of (mostly) rather luxurious rooms filled with everything and anything Chinese. But you won't find much of authentic traditional chinese homes here (and indeed the dustjacket clearly announces this). Although the rooms are sometimes packed with Chinese things, they almost all still feel western/international/chinese, mixed in different proportions. That said, the photos are great and it's a joy to visit all these apartements and houses and select your favourites. Since each place only gets two (or three) spreads generally, a string of different locations can be presented and you're invited to more rooms and settings than anyone can digest at one read-through. And that's great, you can return again and again to this very rich book.



2. This is an enjoyable book introducing many different places -- mostly residential, but also some hotels and restaurants -- with a variety of Chinese designs.

   The best part of the book is the photography by Michael Freeman. In most of the rooms he captures a feeling that it's lived in, a part of someone's daily life. Some books I own on Asian design don't have this quality: the rooms either appear too staged or the photographer gives them a sterile feeling. I could recommend this book on the photos alone.

   The text is not quite up to standards of the photos, but it's acceptable. The author, Sharon Leece, obviously knows her subject, but she often lapses into blurb-style. For example, she writes on one house: "The words colourful, extravagent, and opulent can hardly begin to describe the palatial home of Contrasts Gallery owner Pearl Lam."

   Another fun aspect of this book is that the places it showcases aren't just the homes of wealthy individuals. You see not only the more than 13,000 square foot Manhattan apartment of Chinese antiquities dealer Robert Hatfield Ellsworth, with its numerous expensive Chinese antiques, but you also get to see how some people with obviously much smaller budgets still managed to design their home with a unique Chinese flavor.




3. Reading this was a pleasant surprise, but what impresses most about this beautifully-designed book is not that it opens up all the elements of Chinese style and how its used in modern living -which it does in a interesting way.
   But that it includes homes of most of the foremost China antiques dealers/collectors in the world.
   Probably for the first time ever in print, we can see photographs of the homes of China experts Grace Wu Bruce in Hong Kong, Robert Ellsworth in New York (his is the biggest single apartment in Manhattan, apparently) and Kai-Yin Lo in Hong Kong.
   That this book features their private homes shows they must have given their backing to this book - making it more than another stunning Style book.
   Overall, this is a luxurious, well put-together book with an
   interesting selection of beautiful apartments from many Cities. Recommended for anyone interested in things Chinese.

No comments about Louis Sullivan: The Poetry of Architecture.

2 comments about Boomburbs: The Rise of America's Accidental Cities (James a Johnson Metro).

1. Co-director of the Metropolitan Institute Robert E. Lang and former deputy director of the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech Jennifer B. LeFurgy present Boomburbs: The Rise of America's Accidental Cities, the amazing true story of how America's suburbs have swelled to sudden big-city size, transforming the face of the nation. Dubbed "accidental cities", not because they lack planning, but because they are composed of communities that have grown into one another even though few anticipated as much happening, these boomburbs lack the large downtown areas of other cities, and aren't as pedestrian-friendly as most other suburbs. Nor are they necessarily rich or elitist; poverty is all too common in boomburb single-home families. A meticulously researched and study written in terms accessible to lay readers and scholars alike.



2. Boomburbs provides an excellent overview of the rapid growth and complexity of large suburbs in America's major metropolitan areas. Lang's study provides clear evidence that these large suburbs vary significantly in their social, economic and physical form. Further, Lang notes that the future of these and emerging boomburbs will profoundly affect the future of metropolitan areas.

5 comments about Blueprint Affordable: How to Build a Beautiful House Without Breaking the Bank.

1. "If you dream of an architecturally distinctive house filled with graceful, beautiful materials, a space that has been customized to fit your lifestyle, but think you can't afford it - you have come to the right book."
   
   There are ten houses in Blueprint Affordable and if you are budget minded and also want a beautiful house, your dream can become a reality. There is an affordability checklist to show you how you can omit basements or work with your architect to create a floor plan that encourages natural ventilation to save on air conditioning costs, etc.
   
   Contents:
   
   From fish-and-Chips Stand to Beachfront Home
   Quaint Ocean-View Cottage
   A Contemporary Rendition of a Traditional Design
   An Innovatively Remodeled California Bungalow
   Rustic Elegance Beside the River
   A casual House in a New Kind of Neighborhood
   Midwest Ultramodern
   High Design on the Kansas Prairie
   The Colorado Barn, Reinterpreted
   Streamlined Sophistication on Martha's Vineyard
   
   Each house project has the cost per square foot and detailed information on how the house was constructed or remodeled. The interior pictures should give some ideas for decorating and design. There are floor plans and notes about saving money.
   
   I liked the lighting ideas in quite a few kitchens and yellow chair sitting out on the deck of the bungalow looked so inviting. They had also painted the walls yellow and it looks beautiful. All of the houses are unique architectural designs and after reading this book, I'm convinced a house with big windows is best. All that filtered sunlight streaming into the rooms through beautiful sheer curtains.
   
   When I live in a house, I dream of the simplicity of apartment living. When I'm in an apartment I miss my own deck and privacy. So, I think a smaller home is the solution. I need a house that is low maintenance and that is unique. This book gives many ideas for building your own house or you may just enjoy the decorating ideas. I could handle living in a house by the sea.
   
   This book is probably one of the sturdiest books I've ever seen. It is very well made and will last for a long time.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



2. The theme is low-cost style and, sure enough, the ten houses featured, many if not most of them renovations, show some examples of this. The problem is, the accompanying text adds nothing--e.g. lower your home cost by eliminating the basement. Isn't this obvious? There's very little information in here, and what there is reveals only a vague understanding of how houses are built and what things cost.



3. With 8 examples of new construction and 2 remodels/renovations, this book offers up many coherent and sensible ideas for building a well-designed house on a budget. The suggestions and guidelines are presented in a clear, easy-to-follow format, and the featured houses are in a wide range of style, location, and cost. Particularly useful are the clearly written photo captions, which at a glimpse provide the salient details of the house in question. Kodis also includes an Affordability Checklist, which is a useful rundown of the key points to remember when designing/building a house on a budget. There is a focus on materials and well-executed floor plans, as well as numerous lower-cost alternatives to more expensive features and details. The author also describes ways to splurge, even when money is tight. Another bonus: most of the homes in the book are modest in size. This book is an excellent addition to my architecture library.



4. Don't expect any practical advice from this book on how to limit your building costs. It is just a lot of pictures of contemporary styled homes showcasing the use of concrete, steel and plywood.



5. Michelle Kodis' previous effort, "Blueprint Small", was an excellent resource for designing small residences (less than 1500 square feet). The book was well laid out, had some very good photography, and the designs of the residences themselves were all quite striking. This new book is just as good, if not better. The focus now is on complete residences that not only look really spectacular, but also come in with a respectably low price tag (in terms of price per square foot of living space). When it comes time for me to move from a condo into a house, I'll definitely be using this book as a reference... can't wait to see what Michelle will come out with next!

2 comments about Classic Houses of Seattle: High Style to Vernacular, 1870-1950 (The Classic Houses Series).

1. 
   This book covers the basic styles of homes seen in the SEATTLE areas, from around 1879 to around the 1950's.
   
   Many of the earlier homes have since been destroyed, so the author had to rely on archival photos. All those photos are, of course, in black and white.
   
   Then the author did a wonderful research job by showing the following architectural styles from the early 1900's to the 1950's.
   
   The reason that I give this book a 4-star,rather than a full 5-star rating, is because I wish the author had shown more photos of the LATER homes discussed, & that are still available in Seattle. Instead, the author showed one photo (mostly) of the later homes, when she surely could have included a few more photos of the LATER homes, since they are still available for photo-taking.
   
   The photos of the available (modern) homes, are all in black and white also ---not in color. I suppose the author wanted to show continuum throughout her book, so she chose to show all the book's photos (even the modern photos from 2004-2005) in black and white.



2. I'm the third owner of a 1908 house in downtown Seattle that has survived relatively unmolested. I was looking for details of how the house should have been decorated in the period and how I could make small changes to the house to make it functional, yet remain honest to the period. The book is great at showing the history and architecture of each period with nice photo examples inside and out. I only hoped there would be a little more detail about how to find an architect that specializes in restoring these types of homes.