No comments about Sir John Vanbrugh: Storyteller in Stone (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art).

No comments about Country Houses of the Cotswolds.

5 comments about Designing Disney's Theme Parks: The Architecture of Reassurance.

1. Hungry for more Disney info...I would get the other books first, although this makes for fine reading it lacks something??? It also is a bit wordy and esoterical, perhaps a bit judgmental and highbrow, if your looking for detailed architecture and Disney's point of view, look elswhere, lots of critical observations, it misses by trying to do Disney one better, and you just can't do Disney better than Disney can, John Hench, and Ward Kimbal fans would be upset purchasing this book. Also reads a bit like Scrooge, but with out the change of enlightenment at the end, some people just can't be saved, leave the theme parks to those who truly appreciate the work that went into desingning them, leave these authors...to wine tastings and trying to outdoo each other...you can tell they just didn't get it...When I travel to W.E.D. properties I watch the childrens faces and adults too, that's all the proof I need to place this tome on the back of the shelf, because they just can't enjoy the simple things in life...deconstruction has its place, but overanylzing is just wrong...



2. This book is a must have for enthusiasts and interested scholars. The book is filled with many pictures, illustrations and original renderings of Disneyland, and the subsequent other parks. The conceptual development of the original Disneyland is the focus of the book that admirably discusses the many details involved in the process. The amazing part for me was the scholarly research and the well written quality of the text. The subject is well examined for the volume of information it covers. It is the first book I have come across that credit's Walt Disney's innovative process of applying stage set design to 3D proportionality using an over-ridding narrative to connect it all. The scholarly research by art historians and architects for the Canadian exhibition is impressive, which is done without the control of the Disney Corporation. The scholarly nature of the book lends a new dimensionality to the understanding of Disneyland as an innovative artistic development, and a new architectural expression.
   Unlike other texts I have read about Disney architecture, this one takes on the subject from the art historical perspective examining the process that creates a new architectural form. Other books seem to veer away from this in favor of the new, celebrated corporate architecture at Disney company headquarters, or on these applications at newer Disney parks. By concentrating on the original development of Disneyland as a concept of Walt Disney's, and his special team of designers, the idea is well established as creating the foundation for everything else that comes after. This difference is insightful, and makes the understanding of the original conceptual design clearer.
   I highly recommend this book for the wealth of information it provides and the good read it is. Even for a seasoned Walt Disney enthusiast, like me, it provides a new awareness of the multi-dimensional qualities of the form created, and it makes a rich addition to the information previously unknown.



3. This book is great! I also want to be a Disney Imagieer. I already designed some cool, new rides. I hope I become an Imagineer! See Ya!



4. This book is amazing. It immediately captured me. It gives valuable insight on the vison of disneys world and on how this vision becomes tangible.

   Not only it talks abou the history of the themeparks but it shows the sketches, maps, plans of different parts and attractions of the disney world. An amazing resource full of phantasy and a joy to watch. The photographs and illustrations are very well chosen and it is a plasure to flip through this pages every once in a while. A very inspiring book, showing that often it is enough to dream it and then it becomes reality.The most peculiar shapes and interior spaces are built to be reality.

   I highly recommend it.




5. Many books on Disney's art and achitecture try to convey its appeal primarily through the visual. Other books, particularly those that whole-heartedly criticize Disney, try to ignore the appeal of Disney altogether. This book attempts to integrate the visual evidence (photos, concept art) with academic writing on Disney (Karal Ann Marling, Erika Doss, Greil Marcus, etc.). Together, these aspects make for a solid inquiry as to the appeal of Disney's architecture.

   The book was written to supplement an art exhibit of the same name and, in many ways, feels a bit incomplete without its exhibition, partly because the book tries to cover a lot of territory in its two hundred or so pages. And a lot of the book's pages are used for the essays. But the essays also provide the readers with another "way of seeing" the imagineers' works, something that other books of this type tend to forgoe for more pictures. The essays are irreplaceable for this book--and many are useful for re-examining other books' materials as well (Try it!).

   Particularly useful for the Disney enthusiast is the criticism of Disney criticism by Greil Marcus. He astutely summarizes much of the current criticism of Disney: "All [the works mentioned earlier in the essay] have their moments of interest and all devolve quickly into a kind of critical voice that can perhaps best be called spite. This is not a good posture from which to practice criticism--an angry defensiveness, a fear that somehow one's faculties or tools of analysis are not up to the job disguised as contempt for the job itself...." What Marcus calls for is a real attempt to understand Disney for what it is and for how it affects people/American culture, something too few critics have done without falling into an either all-good or all-evil knee-jerk reaction. Worse, many critics make no attempt to experience Disney before making up their minds. This essay is an excellent reminder to those critics and a call to action.

   The other essays are interesting and useful, as well. The interview with Frank Gehry seems a bit brief, and perhaps Karal Ann Marling takes too much center stage in the interview (as with the entire book). Still, this book opens the door for an appreciative examination of Disney and one that embraces Disney by attempting a "thick description" of its materiality and appeal. This book will not provide an exhaustive look at Disney's theme parks but it will offer the interested reader materials with which to look at Disney's parks in a new way.

No comments about Expanding Architecture: Design as Activism.

2 comments about The Way We Live by the Sea (Way We Live (Rizzoli)).

1. This is a beautiful book for anyone who loves the sea. In looking at it I was immediately transported to ocean locations - very relaxing and pleasurable. There is a lot of variety in the book and I enjoyed the ideas for sea based furnishings which can be used as much in the city as by the ocean. The only additional thing I would suggest for future editions would be to incorporate images from a wider choice of countries.



2. This beautiful book will transport you to the sea of your dreams. The photographs are evocative and dreamlike. Whatever your sea dreams are, you will find them in this book.

1 comments about Verb Crisis (Verb) (Verb).

1. The latest in the avant-garde Verb series, Verb Crisis explores potential architectural solutions to the problems of an increasingly dense and interdependent world. Offering a diverse assortment of projects and investigations complemented with full color photography, essays, and exclusive interviews with experts in architecture, urban planning, and environmental, economic, or global affairs, Verb Crisis reveals how social needs can transform the effective structure and function of quality architecture. An excellent testimony to experimentation with a purpose, especially recommended as a source of inspiration to professional and aspiring architects preparing to build for the unique challenges of the twenty-first century.

2 comments about 50 Great Kitchens by Architects (By Architects).

1. I enjoyed the concept of the book however the level of detail was not what I would have wanted. I wish the pictures were a little bite larger so that you could see the connection details of the tile, wood, and metal.



2. This book presents fabulous photos of awe-inspiring kitchens based on modern architecture. The newest materials and looks are emphasized. What is also great is the functionality of many of them. The ones by CCS-architecture are particularly noteworthy because this firm specializes in modern restaurant design in San Francisco. This volume gave us some great ideas.

3 comments about Form and Fabric in Landscape Architecture: A Visual Introduction.

1. This is a book for those interested in the practical philosophy of landscape architecture. It is not only the discussion by the author, but also the author's illustrations which reinforce her extremely valuable insights into form and complexity. I use the book as an exercise for sketching. She is right, sketching is perception. I highly recommend this book



2. This book is a great visual and morphological resource of elements within the landscape. It is a great tool for both the design student and practitioner. The layout of the book alongside the graphic content gives a great visual reference to the terms discussed in the book. This layout helps the designer to make a connection and create a visual and spatial narrative of the elements that creates the landscape. The book is divided into seven chapters: 1-Landscape Fabric 2-Spaces 3-Paths 4-Edges 5-Foci 6-Thresholds 7-Detail. Each of the chapters starts with a detail definition of the heading and explains all the related terms that are in association with the chapter heading. With the great visual layout and description of the terms this book not only can be used as a source to be used into understanding the different elements within the landscape it also could be used as a source to build the necessary vocabulary for the design student. I recommend this book since it serves as a great visual and spatial source of information for the design student especially students in landscape architecture field. The organization of the chapters is in a way that helps the student build the spatial and visual elements of the landscape and enables them to build and integrate these elements into their work.



3. This book is a great visual and morphological resource of elements within the landscape. It is a great tool for both the design student and practitioner. The layout of the book alongside the graphic content gives a great visual reference to the terms discussed in the book. This layout helps the designer to make a connection and create a visual and spatial narrative of the elements that creates the landscape. The book is divided into seven chapters: 1-Landscape Fabric 2-Spaces 3-Paths 4-Edges 5-Foci 6-Thresholds 7-Detail. Each of the chapters starts with a detail definition of the heading and explains all the related terms that are in association with the chapter heading. With the great visual layout and description of the terms this book not only can be used as a source to be used into understanding the different elements within the landscape it also could be used as a source to build the necessary vocabulary for the design student. I recommend this book since it serves as a great visual and spatial source of information for the design student especially students in landscape architecture field. The organization of the chapters is in a way that helps the student build the spatial and visual elements of the landscape and enables them to build and integrate these elements into their work.

2 comments about New Seaside Interiors.

1. In case you've been living in a cave the last ten years, let me introduce you to TASCHEN, the publishers of some of the most beautiful books in the world. Meant to luxuriate over, inspire, and look fabulous on a coffee table, shelf, or next to your bed, these volumes are as much works of art as they are informative- necessities that should play a large part in everyone's décor.
   
   New Seaside Interiors is no exception.
   
   Perhaps because it was edited by a member of the Taschen family, NSI seems to stand above other large-format volumes on "dream homes," inspiring awe, an enormous respect for the architecture and design industry, and (I'm not too proud to say it) indeed a bit of jealousy. From the very first page (the most incredible view- literally- of a perfectly azure sea just over the edge of an infinity pool), you're taken on a journey of luxurious, elegant, and incredibly well designed seaside abodes that are all second to none.
   
   From Mediterranean casual to traditional island, tropical sophistication to mid-century modern, cottage chic to indigenously inspired, every fabulous style you could imagine is represented- and lavishly so. Each of the captivating homes featured is beautifully presented in large photos, including sweeping landscapes as well as lush details (the pillows alone in one house in particular are enough to send me into a design coma). Accompanying information on the home's location, architect and designer, inspiration, and details is both resourceful and interesting.
   
   Ms. Taschen has selected magnificent specimens of design, all based around the common thread of the love of the sea. Homes from diverse locales including Italy, Mexico, Denmark, Capri, Brazil and Martha's Vineyard (among others) come together brilliantly to demonstrate the intense emotional power of design- and extreme inspiration provided by the sea!
   
   A fabulous addition to anyone's collection, New Seaside Interiors scores a perfect '10' among art books.



2. The book is just great. The pictures in this book will take you to bomb-shell destinations around the world.All the pictures are innovative.Since there is side by side translation in French , you can take a free course in French too at no extra cost.
   
   Dr.Jayan Thomas
   Cannanore, Kerala, India.670001

1 comments about Contemporary Design in Detail: Sustainable Environments (Contemporary Design Details).

1. This is a good book, but the focus is not in the details, but in a overall description of each project.