No comments about The Contemporary Tea House: Japan's Top Architects Redefine a Tradition.

No comments about Efficient Building Design Series Vol. I: Electrical and Lighting (Efficient Building Design Series).

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.

1 comments about LARE Review Section D Practice Problems: Design and Construction Documentation, 2nd ed..

1. These books are not particularly helpful for the 2008 tests, as far as giving an indication of what is actually covered. They are really only useful in providing an idea of how the questions are worded. Study Time Saver Standards and focus on stormwater management.

No comments about Bauhaus.

No comments about The English House.

No comments about Affordable Home Plans: Big Ideas for Small Spaces.

5 comments about Mini House.

1. Not at all what i was expecting. Mini means smaller then small and not what i would consider regular sized homes on the smallish side. Some good ideas but not worth the money. Too superficial to be anything but an idea book. I wouldn't buy it.



2. I would agree with most reviewers that this book gives good food for thought in the "less is more" aesthetic that is so lacking in modern America; however, it is very puzzling that the Mt. Fuji house is listed at elevation 15,064 ft, when the mountain itself is only 12,388. Ditto for the Wenger House, which is listed as sited at an impossible 21,520 ft elevation in the Swiss Alps (22,500 ft being commonly known as the oxygen deprivation "death zone" for Everest). Sloppy editing and copy detract from the book's basic good ideas.



3. I wouldn't describe this book as the "IT" book regarding Mini House. However, presentation-wise, it is a tad superior than the one offered by Azby Brown. Anyhow, whilst Azby Brown's book concentrated solely in Japan, this Mini House book concentrates mainly in Europe. Whereas Azby Brown's book is leaning more towards the techno-edge offerings, Mini House has a propensity for magnificent natural setting with emphasis on natural materials to complement or to blend in with the environment. Talking about reading two books on the same subject and yet, seeing from very different perspective. At times, it's difficult for author to locate ALL fabulous mini houses and truth to be told, he's got quite a balanced selections here in this instance. Afterall, there are many other great mini houses that are under radar screen where owners opt to maintain their privacy and confidentiality of their house plans. Still, this book does bring forward one point, that is if we put our heart and mind into it, we can erect house that is devoid of wasted space and a house that is enjoyable to live in. One of the reviewers said it appropriately that those house might be more suitable for the non-attached individuals who don't have much wordly belongings or that they don't have many family members or that they are strictly used for holidaying or contemplation purposes. Once again, an idealistic and novel notion of building and living in a mini houses indefinitely but still, a notion that pushes the architectural language forward. Commendable reading.



4. I bought this book to help give me some better ideas on how to build a small as house as possible, while still keeping it livable. This book does show some good examples for small houses. It also adds in houses that are up to 1,291 sq/ft, which for most people is not a mini house, in fact it would be classed as a normal size house. As I said it did give a few examples that I could imagine living in, but lots of the homes pictured, look cold and lifeless.
   
   Also, there are not enough photos of each house to give you an idea what it would feel like to be in. And lots of the photos show the interiors as completely barren looking, as if no one actually lived in them!
   
   Get it from your library first before you decide to buy. I won't be adding this book to my listmania list.



5. Indeed, this is no lifestyle book, but an architectural piece, one that gives some real inspiration and wonderful examples of living large in small spaces.
   Inconsistently though, some houses are only shown in exterior photos and one longs to see what's inside, such as the gorgeously crafted NSW Tree House. A number of the house interiors are empty or nearly so, and any house looks spacious when it's completely unfurnished! The fortress-like Ithaca House in New York State gets 8 pages of coverage: the somber exterior is shot from every conceivable angle, but only the only interior room shown is the kitchen. The starkly simple but deceptively ingenious House In Zachary stars on the cover and gets 10 pages inside. 12 photos are devoted to its exterior, but only two to the interior, and those are more or less just vignettes.
   Bottom line, people need to LIVE in these small houses and we need to see what the interiors look like. A small house is only successful if the interior works as a home. This book left me impressed but feeling very unsatisfied. Larger, better-labeled floor plans would have been welcome as well.

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.

2 comments about 25 Tropical Houses in the Philippines.

1. 25 Tropical Houses In The Philippines by Elizabeth V. Reyes, featuring the photography of A. Chester Long, is an impressive collection of the innovative architectural designs showcasing Philippines creativity and artistic approaches to crafting modern furniture and buildings. Featuring a substantial compendium of vivid full-color photography, 25 Tropical Houses In The Philippines acts as an ultimate guide for students of architecture of Filipino modern culture and design. A welcome addition to professional and academic library Architectural Studies collections, 25 Tropical Houses In The Philippines for anyone who has an interest in the art of modern architectural design in a tropical south-seas climate.



2. This book showcases what Filipinos can do in modern architecture and interior design, while still incorporating the notably unique and vibrant tropical style. The houses featured in this book used a number of West, East, traditional, even tribal elements that can only be truly Filipino. A great reference material for people into modern architecture with a tropical twist. It's a feast!