No comments about Ten Canonical Buildings: 1950-2000.

3 comments about Managing a Construction Firm on Just 24 Hours a Day.

1. I am the owner of a medium sized heavy civil construction company. I have attended many management courses over the course of my 20+ year career. In addition, I have read many books on this subject matter. For those of you who are currently in the industry in management roles, I will venture to guess that when you read this book, almost instantly, the light will go on. You will see things that are familiar, things you are doing right, as well as things that you could do better. For those of you going through the higher education prior to starting out in the work world, this is an outline of how to do it right. Everyone employed in construction management should read this book. It is up to speed on current construction management practices, and the economy as it exists today for contractors.



2. While the contents of the book are every bit as good as what has been mentioned in the other review, there is no accompanying CD with the 60 spreadsheet templates that I believed was included. It's just the book.



3. Mr Stevens provides information that will be useful to the new construction contractor as well as to the seasoned veteran. He discusses a wide variety of construction management problems from an academic viewpoint and then introduces hard practical advice that could only come from long personal experience. He provides solid examples of efficiencies and cost-effective alternatives always providing a path to save time and money and to improve company performance. He encourages understanding and use of tools one may already have rather than suggesting new expenditures - such as practical use of spreadsheets with many examples given.
   The author has learned from his own experience, he has consulted for many firms of varying size and position in the industry, he has talked and studied with his students, his clients, his partners and competitors over years and he has developed an organized collection of useful advice about best practices for construction firm management in today's competitive markets.
   I liked the book, I learned from it and I recommend it.

5 comments about Hearst Castle: The Biography of a Country House.

1. I enjoyed this book, and the details of his life relating to the building of this wonderful American treasure. I wish there had been more photos showing the details of the fine art and antiques collected from Europe early in this past century. Also it would have been worthwhile to show much more and better photos of the architectural elements of stone moulding, stucco detail, doors, tiles, ceilings, floor designs and iron work.



2. I actually bought this for a gift for my neighbor,she had been looking for it for a while and she was very excited and said the pictures inside were fantastic.



3. Hearst castle is just an amazing tribute to one man's enormous ego. I am glad that it is preserved as a set piece for Hearst, for that is what he intended all along. This book captures the signifigance of the estate, the images are well concieved, though not as crisp as expected, and the text is informative. This certainly is not the definitive book on Hearst Castle, but it is well worth the purchace none the less. If you have any interest in Hearst Castle, or gilded age extravagance in general, then i cant imagine you being disappointed in this book.



4. Fantastic book exceptional pictures and loaded with written details. Usually in a book like this you get one or the other here you get both! A must read and viewed book,a bit spendy but worth every cent!



5. A first rate account of the building of "La Cuesta Encantada" with new information I have not found in other Hearst Castle books or by taking the castle tours many, many times since I was a little girl. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Can't wait to visit the castle again with this new knowledge.

2 comments about Louis I. Kahn: 1901-1974: Enlightened Space (Taschen Basic Architecture).

1. Full marks to TASCHEN for the BASIC ARCHITECTURE series. The small format, clear text/layout/photography make them visually pleasing and well worth revisiting often. I am buying one each month.



2. Although I am a fan of Modern Architecture, I have never really understood why Louis Kahn was one of the great architects of the Twentieth Century. His buildings have never really appealed to me. They stike me as very dense and way too serious. Kahn's embrace of "monumentality", strikes me as antithetical to Modernist thought.
   
   I purchased "Louis Kahn: 1901-1974" because at $9.99 this book is a low risk investment. It is published by the German Publishing Company, Taschen. This imprint produce some of the finest books currently being published about architecture. Typical of the Basic Architecture Series, the book is very well written and includes beautiful photos of the architect's best buildings. It is hard to believe that such an attractive book sells at such a reasonable price.
   
   I am still not a fan of Kahn's buildings but I now have a better understanding of why he is considered one of the most important architects of the Twentieth Century. This book is a good purchase for anyone trying to understand the forces that shaped the practice of architecture during the past fifty years. A good value and highly recommended.

3 comments about Thermal Delight in Architecture.

1. I purchased this book for use with my Thesis research, and have been quite pleased with it. The book brings up ideas about human perception of spaces as influenced by thermal conditions. It goes into historical examples very nicely, but it is a little weak on more contemporary works. That being said, it is quite easy to apply the proposals to any work of architecture. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in 1) architecture or 2) human perception. For someone that is interested in the human perception of architecture, it's a must-have.



2. This book does not provide much in the way of technical information on the art architecture, and that is perhaps its greatest strength. Rather, Heschong offers a more poetic, archetypal appreciation of buildings and environment, focusing, as the title suggests, on the role warmth plays in creating an enjoyable construction that is capable of influencing human bonding and interaction within its boundaries. Heschong's simple, lucid prose captures the subtle effects of the dynamics of warmth in our daily lives. I am not a student of architecture and have done little reading in this area (unfortunately, few books live up to the precedent set by Heschong and seem dull reading in comparison), but this book has had a profound impact on my perceptions and the way I experience my surroundings, opening up a whole new world of appreciation.



3. Of the many books I've read on architecture, this has been by far the most influential; it inspired by bachelor of architecture thesis. Heschong argues that thermal aesthetics in architecture, although almost universally overlooked, affect building users at least as much as visual aesthetics. She supports her thesis by naming dozens of examples linking thermal qualities to psychology/perception, culture, traditions, language, and, of course, architecture. The book is accessible to everyone and not just architects: it is not at all technical and is very concise. Yet it is thorough, and is sure to change the reader's perception of his or her thermal environments.

5 comments about Classic Cottages: Simple, Romantic Homes.

1. This is a lovely book offering beautiful photographs of various types of cottages that can be found throughout the country. The author organizes the selections into several different types of cottages (see an earlier review for a great break down of the categories)and offers some history on each. Perfect for getting comfy in your favorite chair and passing a pleasant hour or two!



2. This book does not contain much cottage background material. I was expecting some photographic history from England...none to be found. Many pictures from subdivisions in the US. A cottage is not just what looks cute.



3. My favorite part of the book were the pictures. Nice selection of both the interior and exterior elements of a wide range of cottages. Not an idea book, but an inspiring and relaxing read.



4. If you love driving or walking through towns with charming cottages, then you'll probably love this book. However, I was disappointed that the book is 90-percent exteriors and very, very few interior photographs. This is NOT a book on how to decorate in the "cottage style" but rather how to identify and possibly re-create the cottage look in the shape, form and garden of the house. Many of the homes featured are more unusual examples, such as the storybook or "gnome" style houses.



5. Simple picturesque bungalows, quaint thatched stone and stucco huts, or elaborate marble and plaster palaces - all types of homes have been called a cottage. ~pg. 8
   
   Dreaming about a hideaway bungalow or Victorian mansion seems equally appealing. In "Classic Cottages" an entire world of intricately decorated homes await. The interiors are fascinating on their own and could give you many ideas for decorating. The room from a Seattle, WA home is stunning and the remodeled Victorian home has creative gardening ideas.
   
   The houses are divided into specific categories:
   
   Gingerbread Gems
   Bungalettes
   Gnome Sweet Home
   Rolling Bungalows
   Enclaves
   Contemporary Cottages
   
   If you are dreaming of an escape to simpler times or have been dreaming of a rose-covered romantic bungalow, this might be the book for you. I loved the historical information and the following pictures:
   
   Anne Hathaway's Cottage
   Gothic Rose-covered cottage
   1883 Cape May Homes from New Jersey
   The Lyford House, Tiburon, CA
   Queen Anne jewels with gingerbread ornamentation and stained glass
   Mediterranean-style brick bungalows
   Covered Wagons
   Fairy Tale Cottages
   
   While looking through this book my heart just felt like it was melting. These houses are adorable and it is like a fantasy book of dream houses for the true romantic. I want a castle, but maybe I'd settle for a cottage like the one in Spokane Washington with ivy growing all over the walls.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review

4 comments about Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing the American Landscape.

1. This book is beautifully photographed and shows a range of Olmsted's work, from Central Park and other parks, to Biltmore and other homes. It even includes photos of Olmsteds own garden. Highly recommended!



2. Really a nice book on the work of the singular Frederick Law Olmsted. The book has well presented images and the text is highly informative. Olmsted was a pioneer in the field of landscape architecture and people in this profession today own him a huge debt of gratitude, as do we all, because he popularized the idea of the great urban neighborhood of the automobile age with it's windening streets and statigically planted trees and shrubs. Olmsted really understood the concept of vista's and how people interact with nature, all you need to do is walk through his Central Park in New York, or one the neighborhood designs he influenced, like Beverly Hills, River Oaks, Grosse Pointe, or Highland Park, these are some of the most saught after neighborhoods in America. His influence is shown in the park designs of Hermann Park in Houston, Audubon Park and City Park in New Orleans, and Golden Gate Park in San Fransisco, just to name of a few, his importance to the field of landscape architecture cannot be overstated. This book does a fine job of illustrating this and I highly recommend it.



3. Frederick Law Olmstead (1822 - 1903) ranks among the most important landscape architects of his time, and indeed of history. His most famous accomplishment was his design and execution of the multifaceted magnificence of New York City's Central Park, presented here in this fine book with many of the details that today go unnoticed.
   
   Charles Beveridge has written extensively about Olmstead but here his knowledge of Olmstead's genius is enhanced by numerous drawings and maps of layout as well as the beautiful photography by Paul Rocheleau. The entire volume is edited and designed by David Larkin in a manner that not only brings out the scholarly aspects of this book but lays out the various areas in both Central Park and in some of the other Olmstead works (Brooklyn's Prospect Park, the U.S. Capitol grounds, the Biltmore Estate among others) in a fashion that makes this a true art book.
   
   There may be many reasons to place this book in the library, but one that is certain to appeal to everyone is the importance of the myriad details of the great Central Park presented here with more majesty than in any other volume. Recommended. Grady Harp, May 06



4. I have been a great fan of Olmstead's design and outlook. This book provides a wonderful overview of his style, his vision and his ideas about how to create beauty out of the natural enivironment. Architects will benefit from his approach to design and construction and his ideas should be a model for those of us new to the field.

3 comments about ARCHITECTURE IN THE DIGITAL AGE: DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING.

1. We all know that information revolution has totally transformed the society. Architecture is no exception. Relative to industrial revolution's impact on architecture, "what has this recent revolution done to the field?" is the basic inquiry to the book. This book diligently answers to the question. It is extremely informative and provocative regarding digital technologies available for architecture.
   
   As an outcome of a symposium held at U.Penn. in 2002, the book compiles various scholars and practitioners around the world. They grapple with the current technologies available to design and manufacture innovative shapes/forms/spaces that associate with digital aesthetics.
   
   Spearheaded researchers such as Bill Mitchell(MIT), Chris Luebkeman(Arup), Ali Rahim (U.Penn), and Branko Kolarevic (U.Penn, chief editor of the book); and, cutting-edge practitioners such as Jim Glymph (Gehry), Hugh Whitehead (Foster & Partners), Bernhard Franken (Franken Architekten), etc.; both groups provide theoretical framework and actual applications.
   
   It's interesting to point out that the authors deliberately associated digital architecture with smooth forms. Double curvatures deform structure/ skin/ space of the building. The new modes of design and production enables that complex geometries to be part of building industry.
   
   As a reader, the most challenging claim of the book is that the authors
   assert (some explicitly and some implicitly) on the new role of an architect. They believe that this new mode of production will revolutionize the client-architect-contractor relationship. Because architects will be the (single) dominant source of information on the three dimensionally morphed shape, manufacturers and fabricators would rely heavy on architects. The authors predict architect would regain absolute power of medieval master builders.



2. I'm getting my masters in Architecture and this book is a must-have, must-read for anyone designing in the digital age. It's informational and inspiring not only for architects, but anyone interested in using computer technology as a method for design carried through to manufactuing.



3. This book provides a great overview of the developing technolgies in digital design and fabrication. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a comprehensive study in the current trends in digital architecture. A series of 20+ articles by designers working in this area of architecture, this book updates the conversation to what is happening today and what is being projected in the future. Great resource!

No comments about 150 Best Loft Ideas.

5 comments about Chicago's Classical Architecture: The Legacy of the White City (IL) (Images of America).

1. this is the possibly the best Arcadia/Images of America book I've seen from the series. The selection and quality of the photography (mostly historic photos) is wonderful, and the captions tell a great story of Chicago. I find myself often thumbing through it over and over to look at the photos. Highly recommended!



2. This novel was not only informative as a historical referrence of Chicago's history, but I used it as a guidebook while plotting what sites to see in this wonderful City!



3. Impressive how David Stone was able to collect photos of the White City faster than Google could. The photographic research is apparent. Narrated neighborhood to neighborhood by someone who has obviously contemplated his native Chicago. This is one worthy history lesson.
   
   Also makes a complementary sidedish to The Devil In The White City. Here are the photos you were dying to see of the Fairgrounds while reading the murder mystery.



4. I grew up in Chicago but have been in San Francisco for 23 years now - this book had some great photos and descriptions that brought me back to the very streets I grew up on.
   
   Plus, after being somewhat obsessed with Devil in the White City, it was great to finally see some photos of what that actually looked like (photos that I thought were sadly lacking in the original book).
   
   The paperback format makes it easily consumable and very gift-worthy.



5. Hard work went into this book! Both the text and pictures were extremely thought out. Would like to see the author expand and put out more books on Chicago classical architecture as the city is loaded with great classical buildings. For the price the book makes a great gift item.