1 comments about Turn-of-the-Century Houses, Cottages and Villas: Floor Plans and Line Illustrations for 118 Homes from Shoppell's Catalogs.

1. This is a great book if you are interested in footprints of old Victorian houses..Had a great time looking at the detailed pics.

1 comments about Brazil's Modern Architecture.

1. I WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE DELIVERY SERVICE BECAUSE AMAZON RESPONDED FAST AND IN AN ADEQUATE WAY TO MY PROBLEMS.
   THE BOOK IS GREAT, IT HAS A VERY CLEAR OVERVIEW OF BRAZIL'S MODERN ARCHITECTURE WITH BEAUTIFUL PICTURES!

1 comments about The Language of Ornament (World of Art).

1. I have researched and used ornament from various cultures and time periods to incorporate it into my woodblock prints.This book is truly informative. It is a clear introduction on the use and history of ornament and an good explanation of why it partially disappeared in the 20th century (or mutated into abstraction). it also has many small but good color reproductions to illustrate some key points.
   Also, I am trying to get in touch with Mr. Trilling, if anybody knows his e-mail or address. Thank you.

2 comments about Structure and Architecture.

1. This book describes the different types of structural elements in buildings (steel, wood, reinforced concrete) and how they are constructed for maximum efficiency. A lot of the book deals with spans and how the efficiency of materials must accomodate different spans and weights. The concepts were very well written and easy to understand (the appendices were a little bit more complex) with lots of examples. I would recommend this for anyone who would like to try framing a structure or who is interested in more than just the picture books of architecture and would actually like to know what's inside the walls and how those objects are functioning.



2. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Angus MacDonald's Structure & Architecture showcases the relationship between architecture and structural engineering using both historical and contemporary examples. This new edition is enhanced with an expanded and re-written chapter dealing with structural criticism and the relationship between structure and architectural style; as well as a new section on the relationships between architects, builders and engineers, and the influence which these relationships have on architectural styles and forms. Structure & Architecture is an invaluable and highly recommended addition to any personal, professional, or academic architectural studies collection.

1 comments about Specifying Interiors: A Guide to Construction and FF&E for Commercial Interiors Projects.

1. This is an excellent reference for Interior Designers, with detailed technical information. I am currently studying interior design and even though I have read only a couple pages, it has helped me tremendously with my tests. I can imagine it will be a good reference for people who have finished and need to refer back to detailed technical information for interiors.

1 comments about Wood Design (Design Books).

1. If you are looking for a book which contains a great amount of interesting architectural works involving wood than this may be what you want. This is a great reference piece to begin to familiarize yourself with a variety of different ways that wood is used or could be used but note that this is primarily a photo based book. It has some truly beautiful images and along with each work listed is the name of the structure, the architect, and the location so that if desired you can further research the particular piece of work.
   
   Hope that you enjoy. Would also recommend the Glass Design, Steel Design, and Stone Design as a base group.

1 comments about Row Houses: A Housing Typology.

1. This is an excellent piece of research on the all pervasive housing type; the rowhouse. It is not an historical overview; it is a series of speculative projects, some student projects, with beautifully realized works of architecture as well. They point towards certain areas of research, into new possibiities of the type; spatial and subdivision innovations, interesting responses to topography, accommodation of parking, and different levels of interaction with the street. Highly recommended.

2 comments about Studies in Design.

1. Along with "The Grammar of Ornament" this book by Dresser is an important work for stencil artists, designers, and students, especially those interested in Victorian work. You can buy just the pretty pictures from a a number of compendia by Dover and others, but if you want to understand the principals behind the ornament, and actually learn how best to use these motifs, or design your own, you should learn that the use of ornament in interior design requires some understanding of how to adapt it.



2. The description for this book is quite vague so allow me to clear things up before you waste your money. First there is a series of short but windy chapters dealing with various aspects of design philosophy. Forty pages worth, to be exact. The rest of the book is a series of colour plates - "Studies in Design" - that are thoroughly hideous, intended to be used as patterns for wall paper, friezes, borders, ceiling paintings, dado-rails, etc. The author describes them as "grotesque" on several occasions and he's right, but not the way he intended. If you've ever looked through a book of wallpaper samples, you've got the idea. You can see one piece of a pattern, but never an application in the whole cloth.
   
   Almost nobody needs this book. Unless you're researching Arts & Crafts or Art Deco interior designs, or making reproduction wallpaper for the period, it is useless. Avoid.

2 comments about Finding Form: Towards an Architecture of the Minimal.

1. This book takes a closer look at the forms in nature, and deriving architectural design from it.

   It is a valuable book for designers who wish to stimulate their creativity through visual inspiration, drawn from nature.

   Be inspired by the the source of designers' products.. not their final product...

   ON THE SURFACE OF THINGS by Whitesides and Frankel, is another book with extraordinary images; though it doesn't refer to architecture and design, it is very inspirational.




2. This is a beautiful book. Beautiful not in the sense of our usual architectural books that show you Mr. or Ms. Who-and-Who just made another billion dollar project that has a golden ball on top. This book belongs to another category.

   This is a book that gets you thinking.

   In a way summarized Frei Otto's life-long quest of looking in mother nature for inspirations. The images are stunning. And you do not see them in architectural books. But why do we go only to Corbu or Wright or Calatrava for inspirations while leaving out the world?

   Architects are always looking for ways to get out of the box. In terms of inspirations, I think it doesn't get too much better than this.

1 comments about Handmade (Poster Collection).

1. another little thin nice book. Great content. I wish it bigger. All book of the poster collection series are too small. why?