No comments about Versatility and Vicissitude: Performance in Morpho-Ecological Design (Architectural Design).

5 comments about American Art Deco: Modernistic Architecture and Regionalism.

1. This book is all I'd hoped it to be! A great selection of structures and fine images to wow the imagination. If you love Art Deco this is a fine piece to own.



2. This is quite simply a fantastic book, the images ara crisp and well presented and the text is easy to navigate. Every major Art Deco building in American is chronicled and presented in its best light. It is such a relief that so many of these great buildings have survived, unlike many other architectural styles, Art Deco has always had a huge throng of admirors, people who loved the style and fought very hard to help preserve it. Everytime I set foot in one of these great buildings, like the Louisiana State Capitol or Radio City Music Hall or the Chrysler Building I am reminded of the shear artistry that went into these buildings and am disappointed at the austere, crass styles that have followed. I highly recommend this wonderful book, frankly it is the best I have seen on American Art Deco.



3. For many, a trip to downtown is a visit to something and for something. It is seldom seen as a time of reflection, to see the "what and why" of the great boundaries of concrete, glass and steel. Even our great structures specifically designed to create a feeling of wonder or awe appear to be less a creation for humans than a mere sidelight of structural shrugs, a busy nod to a slight deviation in the casting of the concrete, and, "This won't cost too much more to add this, this *thing* to the design, will it?"
   It didn't always work this way.
   This is a completely beautiful book. Criticisms are few and far between and are of the "Why didn't she make this a bigger book" variety. This is a big book.
   Art Deco was, and is, one of the highest achievements of architecture ever - ever! One look at the Niagara - Mohawk building should convince just about anyone. This book is a required review of the remaining Art Deco buildings with the most integrity.
   I only wish that there was more in the way of, say, South Miami Art Deco and more southern works extant but that is the point: You come away from this book looking for the momentous in your own city or area. when you find a (usually restored) specimen, you simply must stop and gawk for great periods of time.
   What a great book!



4. This is the finest book presently available on American Art Deco Architecture, in my opinion. Beautifully photographed and printed in Italy (288 oversize pages in full color), it's a must have if you have an interest in Art Deco and/or Architecture.
   
   All the finest American examples are here, the Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation Building in Syracuse, the Chrysler Building in New York, the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge, and the Eastern Columbia, Wiltern Theatre/Pellissier and Bullocks Wilshire Buildings in Los Angeles, just to name a few. Most of the buildings are photographed from the outside as well as inside, with numerous detail photographs of doors and moldings.
   
   Carla Breeze is an architectural photographer by trade and she does a superb job with this book, I especially like the fact that perspective control has been used in the photographs (all the vertical lines are parallel) which makes for a much more pleasing look. The sleek and modernistic style of Art Deco, popular during the 1920's and 1930's, has yet to be matched, in my opinion, and Ms. Breeze captures the essence of it skillfully.



5. Architectural photographer Carla Breeze has focussed her camera on the best seventy-five Art Deco buildings across the Nation and produced a glorious book of color photos that perfectly captures the style. I really liked this book because she concentrates on the architectural detail of each building (with 450 photos) and in many cases, when this detail is on the outside, it is just not viewable from the ground.
   
   The introduction has an interesting eighteen-page photo section dealing with materials: metal, concrete, terra cotta, mosaic, glass, wood and stone. I found this very useful when looking at the images. Each building starts on the spread (though some have more pages) with a street address and some background text and captions for the photos. The elegant layout does not interfere with the wonderful buildings (a tip of the hat to book designer Robert Wiser). Could anyone do anything to improve the photo of the stunning Niagara Mohawk Power headquarters in Syracuse on page seventy-three.
   
   To complement this lovely book have a look at Rediscovering Art Deco USA: A Nationwide Tour of Architectural Delights by Barbara Capitman, Michael Kinerk and Dennis Wilhelm, a methodical nationwide survey, though it concentrates on commercial buildings rather than houses. If you are Deco spotting on the road leave a space in the glove compartment for David Gebhard's excellent The National Trust Guide to Art Deco in America (Preservation Press) if it's not in this book then most likely it's not worth looking at.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

5 comments about New Directions in Tropical Asian Architecture.

1. This book was given to me as a birthday gift from my mother-in-law. I absolutely love this book. There are many beautiful photos. There are places and subjects that I never knew had so much beauty. Because I am already a huge fan of art and architecture, it was fun to learn about the many influences to Filipino style. I liked it so much that I had to buy a copy for my father (Born in Las Pinas - Metro Manila, Philippines)



2. I'm an Architectural Designer that lives/works in Jamaica and Bermuda and I'm also a fan of modern/contemporary architecture. I own a number of books on the subject, but few tend to address basic climatic issues that we in the Tropics face (and rightly so, since they are about projects north of the tropics). I've just received the book from my freight forwarder and had a chance to browse thru it. It really looks interesting and certainly provides inspiration for projects that can be successfully executed in our hot, humid climate.
   The inclusion of architectural drawings (Plans, Sections, Elevations) is also welcome - too many books on Architecture neglect this very important point. I think this may be the telling factor for deciding whether this is to be another one of my coffee-table books, or a serious informative reference for ideas and inspiration. For now, I'm leaning to the latter.



3. This book is a great book for young Filipino Americans who need some inspiration. As a Filipino American growing up in USA, I never really felt any connection with the Philippines. I was brought up by knowing only the stereotypes that sometimes make a Filipino American want to shy with embarrassment. Stereotypes are everywhere within any culture. By reading this book and flipping through the pages, I saw that Philippines is a beautiful place. Everyone needs take a look at this book. It's a great eye opener for Filipino Americans who have problems accepting their own skin.



4. I bought this book for myself. It's a true treasure trove of visual treats. Have you wanted to know how the homes of the rich and/or famous in the Philippines look? The variety of materials available for buidling and furnishing homes in the Philippines is astounding--rich woods, a wide spectrum of fabric, ethnic carvings and woven work. Linger over the detailed photographs in this book! Now I know what to get for my sisters and in-laws for Christmas!



5. Finally, a book on Traditional and Contemporary Philippine Interior Design by a reputable author/photographer. It will give the reader a good sense of Native Interiors to Traditional influences of Spanish-Colonial Interior Design and Architecture. Very superb photographs. Beautiful renderrings in the Furniture Dictionary.

4 comments about Flagg's Small Houses: Their Economic Design and Construction, 1922.

1. Flagg's book, Small Houses, was in the library of architect Frank Lloyd Wright (to this day the volume remains in the WWPeters Library at Taliesin West).
   
   Several of the concepts illustrated by Flagg were used by Wright in his designs for the Usonian House beginning in 1932. For instance ... natural ventilation through high ceiling vents. Wright was familiar with the concept of natural ventilation, as illustrated in the original kitchen and milk tower at Taliesin of 1911, but Flagg's 1922 book seems to have prompted Wright to make the tall, massive chimney-like kitchen and bathroom mass a prominent feature of the Usonian House.
   
   Additionally, the origin of Wright's artistic use of concrete and stone walls, termed "desert masonry", used abundantly at Taliesin West and elsewhere, beginning in 1939, undoubtedly originated with Flagg.
   
   Rood



2. This book is an unabridged reproduction of SMALL HOUSES: THEIR ECONOMIC DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION by architect Ernest Flagg, published by Charles Scribner's Sons, 1921. A Brooklyn native, Flagg studied in Paris at the Ecole des Beaux Arts and was well known for his design of the Singer Building (now demolished), New York City, and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, as well as a number of other large public buildings. But this book focuses on houses designed for his Staten Island, NY, estate and the design philosophy behind them. All are compact, having short exterior load-bearing walls of rubble stone to reduce the cubic volume for the sake of economy. And all are planned on a module, for design clarity as well as for cost savings. (Perhaps for the chauffeurs quarters that are provided in some of the houses). The houses, in a simple style reminiscent of a French farmhouse, also sometimes remind one of a Lutyens-designed out-building or auxiliary structure. All are attractive, much more so than the so-called "French Provincial" and "English Cottage" houses currently being built in cul-de-sac developments across the country.
   
   Dover's claim of 526 illustrations might be misleading, however. Designs for 59 houses are shown with plans, elevations and perspectives on 51 pages and there are 53 small photos and other descriptive drawings scattered throughout the text. There are 51 short chapters ranging from technical issues such as Ridge-Dormers and Mosaic Rubble to philosophical issues such as Truth and Beauty. Scale, Proportion, Heating, Hardware, and Gardens are just a few more chapter headings. This book is recommended as required reading for all who design houses in the traditional style.



3. I was very pleased by this small volume. It opened a new window in my knowledge of modestly priced housing in American architecture.



4. Ernest Flagg was no doubt a genious. I work in construction and recently was at a house built using Flaggs methods. You don't have to agree with his building techniques to enjoy the book. You will come away with ideas of construction that never entered your mind before reading this book. And as a bonus, the book comes with many very good floor plans that would be usable today. Worth every penny you pay!!!

No comments about Wright (Special Edition).

2 comments about Interior Design: Fourth Edition.

1. As a university Professor, I highly recommend this book. It covers all the fundamentals of Design, from historical background to all interior design mchanics. This is it!
   
   If you are an Interior Design student or professor, you will enjoy reading this book, I highly recommend it. Mr. Pile is an authority in this subject, I have been teaching and reading his books for over 3 decades.
   
   I give high rating, enjoy learning.
   
   Michele Beatriz



2. John Pile's this book and his other book on color are absolutely the best books I have ever laid my hands on. These books are what every magazine article is about; most books on interiors have about a 1/10 of what is in these two books. REcommended for serious homeowners and professionals.

5 comments about Child Care Design Guide.

1. This book was a great addition to the work that I do and the designing of a child care center. The author catches the essence of what is needed to consider when starting from scratch.
   Great find! Great resource!!



2. Worth every dime!!! Anita Rui Olds has incredible insight into creating environments that are reflective of children and their interests. She believes that a child care setting should have "spirit." Included are Reggio-type environmental solutions that create a sense of wonder with an architecturally aesthetic sensibility. Lots of great ideas packed into this book. Only regret is that the pictures are too small and not in color. Would have been worth extra [$$] to have an expanded edition.



3. This is a terrific and necessary resource for anyone involved with the design or renovation of a child care setting. The author has clearly and concisely poured into the book her considerable knowledge and understanding of child care facilities, her passionate beliefs, and her attention to the details of good design. Her knowledge of child development is evident in all of her ideas.



4. This must be the best book that exist about designing Child Care Center. It covers everything, but the most important is the focus the autor made on the children. This book is a must for every architect or people interested in design of this kind of buildings, specially if he/she is really interested in children well being.
   The only but is that for the quality of its content, this book deserves a better paper and color pictures. (a 0 star here for MacGrow-Hill).
   Probably this book is call to change the way a day care is seen today.



5. Preeminent authority on design for child care, Anita Rui Olds consummated a lifetime of deep concern and research into the needs of children with the publication of this magnum opus. Lavish use of illustrations--photos, sketches, floor plans, and examples--and attractive layout support Ms. Olds's incisive text to create a remarkably accessible book. Many hundreds of child care professionals and architects who have studied under Ms. Olds will recognize and welcome this work as the summation of the concepts that placed the author at the forefront of her field.

   More and more children are in institutional care and, "in search of a model," day care typically happens in society's "leftover" spaces, church basements, warehouses, and places intended for adults. This book will help anyone committed to doing better for our children to "see that young children are raised in nurturing, spirited settings that honor their precious young souls." (from the introduction)

   The book's only drawback is technical as the reproduction of photographs is of disappointing quality.

   Tragically, Anita Olds did not live to see this book published. We can be thankful that she left it for us, full of her passion for children. In its use we will honor her spirit as we effect her designs.

4 comments about Measure and Construction of the Japanese House.

1. Simply, with no doubt one of the best books on the subject. I've been studying Japanese architecture for some time and I always get back to it as a reference. Very technical and well illustrated. I'm looking for the complete volume by Heino Engel.



2. When I ordered this book, I was expecting to see a lot of pictures to help me design my house. But to my dismay, most of the colorless pages just feature blueprints that only an architect would understand. I kept the book for future reference.



3. Anyone who wishes to build a Japanese tea room either in the garden or attached to their house could do well to start with this book. You can also use this book to design accents for a single room, or to craft an entire house. It was written by a German architect who lived in Japan several decades ago and carefully measured surving older buildings as well as studying architecture there. While there are more detailed books in Japanese, this may well still be the best available book in English.



4. If you are an architect interested in japanese constructional systems, this is THE BOOK for you. If you aren't but find japanese culture a fountain of inspiration for living, you must read this extraordinary piece of art. Perhaps it don't shine like a jewel, but once you open it, you'll find the work of a man who decided to share his mastery. In this book, diagrams, materials, craftmanship, even detailed descriptions of the human space requirements are fully explained with precision and simplicity. Every page, and every example in them, is a world that must be carefully examined. And when doing so, you'll find that what the author is showing us, is more than a book about japanese houses: is the heart of the japanese carpenters and architects living in its pages.

4 comments about Great Camps of the Adirondacks.

1. Brings you the history and images of the Great Camps that help make the Adirondacks the Adirondacks. Well illustrated and well written, relating more history than a coffee table book and so more likely to hold your interest and provide insight. The history is social as well as architectural/formal, and puts the region and its unbelievable heyday in perspective. A good gift, or would be fun as a guide or trip planning tool for a visit to the region to get the most out of what there still is to see.



2. From the 'opening' of the Adirondacks in the 18th Century to the present, Harvey Kaiser delivers a premier photographic history of the Great Camps of the Adirondacks. Exploring the architectural history from an owner's whinsey to the details of a porch railing, Kaiser guides the reader through a history of gorgeous excess and an age of bountiful richness that few knew. Camp Uncas (owner J.P. Morgan), Topridge (Marjorie Merriweather Post) and Nehasane (Dr. William Seward Webb) are just a few of the detailed highlights showcased in this volume. Many of the larger hotels and lesser known camps (and castles) are photographed and discussed here at length. This book is not just for the architect, builder or historian. It is a display of architectural beauty build into a unique and mysterious landscape. It is a history never to be repeated and never to be forgotten.



3. The discovery of this book made me set aside all the others on rustic architecture. The author does a marvelous job in explaining the beginnings of rustic architecture and why it has a permanent place in our culture. The mix of social background and the history of the early Adirondack camps with superb photographs provides a designers guidebook. The arguments for historic preservation are skillfully written and should be read by anyone in the field.



4. I'm giving this the best review - but, I admit, I am the son of one of the owners of a house mentioned in the book! The house is Kildare Club. However, I'm unbiast! (SORT OF)
   Anyway, I think it is an interesting book that is certainly worth reading and it revealed alot to me that I hadn't discovered about the Great Camps of the Adirondacks. (NOTE HOW I CLEVERLY INSERTED THE TITLE IN ORDER TO DELIVER A SUBLIMINAL MESSAGE. HEHE!

1 comments about Architectural Drafting: Procedures & Processes.

1. Architectural Drawing by hand is a fading art. In the age of computers and CAD, almost all architectural schools teach only CAD. As a professor of the American University of Mayonic Science and Technology, (www.aumscience.com) teaching building architecture of Sthapatya Veda an Vastu Science and Vaastu Science and Technology to architects, interior designers, and lay persons, I require my students to hand draw during their first design classes. This book has been one of several that are a saving grace because so few books still focus on hand drawing.
   
   The author has put forth simple, straightforward instructions and examples that will help anyone involved in learning architectural or interior design drawing. It is a required text for my classes.