5 comments about Hacienda Courtyards (Mexican Design Books).

1. Hacienda Courtyards is a beautiful book full of photography and ideas if you are thinking of building/decorating an Adobe style home.



2. I got a used book that is in perfect condition. Photography is great with good ideas if you are thinking about doing something in your own yard that leans toward a courtyard feel. Writing is simple but knowledgeable. Would recommend the book. Actually I only ordered one book but was charged for and received two. That was ok this time, but I kept one book for me and one was a gift.



3. I've purchased most of this series of books since I design Hacienda style homes and these make good reference. The problem is that they are starting to repeat themselves and this one actually is a step down offering nothing new and most of the images look tired and uninspired. If you are looking to design only a hacienda courtyard this might be good, but I think "In a Mexican Garden" by Melba Levick and Gina Hyams is a lot more lively and has spawned more imagination for my clients (and myself).



4. Although there are plenty of photographs, they were of the same few properties over and over. I had expected more variety.



5. This book is the bible for Interior Designers who wish to follow through with interior spaces and make the patios and gardens beckon their clients to enjoy equally their outside spaces. This book is a must in every designers library.

4 comments about Great Houses Of Texas.

1. Beautifully photographed with interesting history on the diversity of Texas homes, this book details the unique blend of European sophistication and "homegrown" design that combined to create a truly unique architecture. This book makes a wonderful gift for any favorite Texan.



2. Great Houses of Texas would be appreciated by anyone with an interest in great architecture as exhibited in this book. Many of the houses included are well known, but some are hardly known at all. O'Neill Ford's house for the Steves family should have been included, in San Antonio. Its omission is my only disappointment in the book. The text is adequate though not extensive and the photographs, alone, are worth the price of the book. I know of only one other book on this subject, and that was written years ago, so such a book is long past due! Lee Govatos



3. Though some readers may quibble over the title of this book, it is clear that the book is focussed on the greatest houses still occupied in Texas. This is a subtle but important distinction. The houses shown are not dead great houses, of which there are many in Texas and many of which are greatly admired; Germany instead has focussed on private homes occupied by individuals. With that in mind, it is a fascinating read.



4. There are many things to admire about this book, the images are well presented, the text is informative and overall I liked it, but WHO selected these houses. The book should have been titled, some great and not so great houses in Texas. How could you write a book about Great Houses in Texas and not include the Sealy House in Galveston, the only McKim Mead and White house in the South, or the most famous house in the state, the Bishops Palace in Galveston, or not include Bayou Bend!!! or the McFaddin Mansion in Beaumont, a house that is considered by architecture scholars to be the best example in Colonial Beaux Art in America..it's just incredulous. Many of the houses selected were great, such as the mansion at Kings Ranch which graces the cover and leads you to believe all the houses in the book will be to this standard and they unforunitely are not...the Crespi House in dallas by Maurice Fatio is great as well as is the Bass House in Ft. Worth, as well as the Pease House in Austin, but many just leave you thinking..WHAT!..Im from Texas and am very familar with the grand houses in the state, so I shocked to see some of the most famous houses in the state not present in this book. This is not a bad book, I give it four stars, but it could have been great..too bad whomever selected the houses for this book, was not as thorough as they should have been, nice book, but a disappointment to those of us familiar with the truely great houses of this singular state.

5 comments about Architectural Rendering Techniques: A Color Reference.

1. If you are buying this book because it is required text for his talk, do youself a BIG service and get your refund immediately. He promises to deliver how to teach you graphics in 7 or 12 days, depending on the location, and he will not deliver. He takes your money, teaches, perhaps what equates to two days of real teaching and continously tells you how privileged you are to learn these things from him. The remaining time is spent on his non-stop blathering about non-related ideas like his philosophy, websites (like myspace), etc., etc. He wastes your valuable time and your hard earned money. Be forewarned!



2. it is avery fantastic book im very happy to have it its educational and a very paowerful reference for rendering, it is time saving and easy to apply, wonderful colour schemes, i recomend this book to all architectural renderers & architects as well



3. I bought this book and disliked it so much that it was the one and only book I have ever returned to Amazon. It was terribly dated which would have been acceptable if the content was there but it wasn't. Save some money AND get what you're looking for in Color Drawing: Design Drawing Skills and Techniques for Architects, Landscape Architects, and Interior Designers by Michael E. Doyle. That's what I replaced it with and I love it!



4. I just want to emphasize to someone interested in purchasing this book...there is NO verbal technique given on how to render any drawings. There is a drawing only...with a description of paper, medium, etc...but no "how to" on reproducing it. I am a professional artist and I was hoping to learn from this book how someone else might create a drawing with certian papers, paints, etc....but, there is no information of the steps taken...just the end result.



5. Overall, a feeling of disappointment. The title claims techniques but there is absolutely no guidance, no comments, and no insight for the reader. This is a picture book filled with a collection of renderings with minimal captions noting materials used and acknowledgements. Flipping page after page the reader begins to recognize the styles of the recurring artists. This book may help you identify a style (although dated) to pursue but it ultimately becomes the reader's burden to try to reproduce selected rendering through trail and error.

2 comments about Suburban Transformations.

1. A step-by-step procedure, beautifully visualized and mapped, for remaking suburban built environments. Augumented by case studies. A rare combination of creativity and precision focused on a critical problem. Bravo!



2. I like this book because it suggests ways that we can make our suburbs better places to live. I really like books that tell us about how we can improve the status quo, and/or about better alternatives to the status quo, and/or about solutions to problems. I would really like all of North America's suburbs to become pedestrian-friendly, like small towns surrounding each big city.

No comments about Integral Urbanism.

5 comments about Domicilium Decoratus.

1. This book really is gorgeous. Of course, most of the style and emotion in this book was appropriated from design much earlier in the century, and books on this movement are cheap and plentiful in thrift stores. However, it is really nice to be able to see what life would be like if you were a playboy playmate and married to a real-estate tycoon. I am really not trying to put Kelly down, because her vision is mind-bendingly impeccable. It is truly rare when people with wealth also have taste.



2. As a practicing, professional Interior Designer I have to say I found Domicilium Decoratus inspiring. Being exposed to all types of design, I love it when I am actually left remembering a house...and this one is hard to forget. Although Kelly's style is not my particular taste, the house is full of beautiful color combinations, architectural details, and antiques. I would have to compare this book to looking at a Picasso--you either get it or you don't. If you are looking for a how to book, this is not the book for you. There is no text like in her first book--Your eyes have to do all the work spotting the curious, imaginative details. This is a living art book. If you want to view some images of her home before you buy the book go to her website and Hillcrest estate is under her residential projects.



3. Kelly Wearstler is undoubtedly one of the great interior designers of our time. Her style may be too much for most, and her critics pan her for her ego-centric couture gown wearing, but she has an incredible eye for style. She has managed to create a sophisticated home that is visually arresting, textured and comfortable. No, it may not be toddler safe, as she claims, but who's is?
   Kelly Wearstler appears to live a perfect life, a globally renowned and successful interior design business, a wealthy property developer husband (who happens to throw a few projects her way), two beautiful children and a gorgeous home full of antiques and art that is a wonderful backdrop to her all-round fabulous lifestyle.
   She may not have created the style she has made so popular (see Tony Duquette, David Hicks, Billy Haines or Dorothy Draper), but her almost single-handed revival of a myriad of styles that are as far flung from minimalism as I care to think about has brought a smile to the face of all us maximalists around the world.
   I won't dwell on how disappointed I was to find out she was a playboy playmate in a previous incarnation, but it has not changed my view of her talent.
   Domicilium Decoratus is a beautifully produced book full of gorgeous photos of Kelly, her children and her home. I can't wait to see how her new home turns out!



4. I wish I had have taken notice of the other reviews. I loved Kelly's first book and found it very useful, however this book is entirely over-rated and I'm so pleased I didn't pay full price for it. There is absolutely no text in the book - just pictures from Kelly's house showcasing her furniture and herself and none of them look at all practical for everyday living. Save your money for the many other fantastic books on offer.



5. I'm so glad that I didn't pay full price for this book. The Hillcrest Estate is grand and refreshingly unique; however, I have to laugh at the kid safe reference. As a mom of two young kids, I'm constantly looking for sophisticated kid-friendly decorating. I was thrilled when Kelly, herself,refers to her home as "toddler-safe and visually sophisticated". Huh?!? This home is about as warm and toddler safe as a museum. There are only a few pages dedicated to the kids rooms and only one plastic toy visible. Also, any pool fence?

2 comments about A History of American Architecture: Buildings in Their Cultural and Technological Context.

1. This is easy reading with appropos illustrations. Just the right amount of detail for the traveller who is interested in architecture.



2. I found Mr. Gelernter's book in the public library as I was researching a project. After reading it, I thought it was so useful that I decided to buy it for my own library.

   Many art and architecture books are just recitations of dry facts, dates and theories, with no historical or sociological context. Not so Gelernter's "A History of American Architecture."

   The correlation of buildings with their context, and the inclusion of early Native American architecture, make this a thought provoking introduction to the history of architecture in America.

1 comments about Power in Buildings.

1. This is an amazing compilation of drawings and written ideas from a truly visionary American architect, one considered to be among the 'inventors' of the skyscraper. Ferris was a prime force in realizing the vision of the 20th century metropolis which defined the idealism and unprecedented scale of the great American cities. This book is also a wonderful reminder, in this age of digital imagery and 3D visualization tools, of what power and beauty can be conveyed through the traditional medium of pencil and graphite. Ferris was a brilliant draughtsman and his rendering style unusually dramatic compared to most architectural renderings of his time.

3 comments about Anatomy of a Park: Essentials of Recreation Area Planning and Design.

1. This book may be a nice introduction for someone with no design background, but is not appropriate for landscape architects or site planners. The book's content primarily focuses on siting a park's programmatic elements for maximum engagement between users. It doesn't discuss commonly seen typologies or offer any interesting design solutions. Instead, it covers topics like where an amphitheater should be located in relation to a park's paths and roads (and, really? an amphitheater? So corny.). Anyone with experience in site design will likely find the concepts too basic and, even, unsophisticated.



2. This is a carefully crafted update of a classic primer that is essential reading for anyone engaged in park design or administration. The book would be especially useful to the new park commissioner who is looking for ways to add value to his/her park system through good design. The text is highly readable and is augmented by charming illustrations that makes for enjoyable reading of sometimes otherwise dull technical material.
   
   Jerrold Soesbe, FASLA



3. This is a good book for city planners who don't know a lot about park planning, but need to in order to develop well-used parks. Easy reading.

3 comments about Discourse By Three Drunkards On Government.

1. Again overpriced foreign book. I had to read it for a class. It's interesting but I wonder if the short discourse on politics is worth the money I paid for it. If this is not required for a class I would recommend getting another book.



2. This short work, from the end of the 19th century, taught me a lot about Japan's course since then. Two disputants, under blanket amnesty granted by brandy, present supposedly opposing views. The first, in Western clothes, orates at length on democracy, personal freedom, education, world relations, and (of course) national wealth. The second, representing Japanese tradition, argues for military expansionism in order to attain a secure place in international politics and (of course) to attain national wealth.

   I say supposed opposition - it seemd to me that the two were really discussing different aspects of the cultural identity. The master, in the end, advises modernization within reason and defensive armament within reason. Although his house set the stage for the other two and his point made the most sense, I found it the least interesting part of the text. The two extremes held my attention much more closely.

   In retrospect, we can see that Japan has followed both courses. It armed heavily up to mid 20th century, and has since participated on an even footing with the major Western powers. This book seems have predicted both.

   I don't know whether to file this little book closer to Confucius or Johnathan Swift - no matter, I welcome it to my library.




3. The Discourse here is an excellent pre-war subversive missive which will give significant insight to those who wish to understand the underlying internal soul-searching going on in Japan during the period between the arrival of Perry and the Black Ships until the modern soul-searching debate surrounding the essential illegality and absurdity of Article IX in the Japanese Constitution. The title itself should clue in the reader that this is definitely one of those books which like Voltaire and Machiavelli, got the author in quite a bit of trouble with the secret police for being too close to the truth for thier liking. The debate takes on a similar form to the traditional greek diatribes in that it is in the form of a conversation between master and seekers. However, the Discourse here is a conversation between the Master Power Drinker and two drinking buddies; The Lover of the Old and the Lover of the New. After the boys have had a few bottles of sake a piece, and are "full of thier cups" as it were, they are allowed to speak thier minds freely in the Japanese tradition as a Jester is with his cap. Hence, the drinking becomes a token of the true face of each of the debaters and the heated philosophical arguements that always insue after one has had enough to drink as to become loquatious, but not yet enough to slur one's words, yet what is said cannot be held against the speakers the next day as they try to sleep off thier hangovers. Anyone interested in the essential debate for the Japanese soul as Japan moved from a fuedal isolationist society to dreams of empire in complete immitation of the British and United States empires should certainly read this book.