No comments about Constructing Townscapes: Space and Society in Antebellum Tennessee.

No comments about Manuelle Gautrand Architecture.

4 comments about American Country Churches.

1. I usually don't buy large coffee table books, but I made an exception for this one and I'm glad I did. I love the beautiful photos of the old, historic churches. I think churches are sacred spaces where you truly feel the presence of God and this book reflects that. I like the story and history that goes along with the photos. This is a lovely book and I enjoy looking/reading through it. The church on the cover is actually in Alabama, which I enjoyed because that is where I am originally from. The Southern churches and New England churches are my very favorite.



2. I have ordered several similar books and this is the best of the lot. Great pictures. Great price. Enjoyable. I keep going back for reference.



3. this book was a present for my step-mother,residing in an assisted living facility in brunswick,maine. she is a wonderfully religious woman and really enjoyed this book. congratulations to the authors.and thanks to amazon for making it available.



4. This is a beautiful book. Mr. Morgan made great choices of which churches to photograph. The table of contents uses thumbnail images so you can quickly find the churches that interest you. The photography is superb. Altogether a book that is a joy to possess.

2 comments about Signature Architects of the San Francisco Bay Area.

1. Written in a style that's friendly, accessible, witty, and imaginative, Dave Weinstein really brings the personality and history of Bay Area architecture and architects to life in his book. Great photography too!



2. Every city has a wide variety of buildings. But San Francisco, because of its small size puts a wide variety of architectural styles in close proximity. San Francisco is unique (with the possible exception of Boston) in that the down town residential areas have been kept up, have kept their value, and are considered to be desirable places to live.
   
   As the book says, I'm not sure that there is a Bay Area traditional architecture. Instead it seems that a Victorian house can be adjacent to an ultra modern with no jarring conflict in the mind.
   
   This well written, beautifully illustrated book, perhaps untentionally seems to tell why this is so. Mr. Weinstein describes the work of fifteen of the Bay Areas most famous architects. Their styles vary, and perhaps because of this these fifteen architects just may be the reason that San Francisco architecture is so diverse. Other architects or prospective house builders have taken ideas from this fifteen.
   
   Besides being a history of San Francisco architecture, this book also qualifies as an idea book for anyone thinking of building a house.

No comments about Hitoshi Abe.

3 comments about Burmese: Design & Architecture.

1. I think it's a very interesting book, architecturally. But as a Burmese person myself, I don't recognize most of the architecture as being from Burma. I think they are definitely Burmese influenced but I wonder who in Burma can really afford to have that built, and most rich people in Burma don't really live in those kinds of homes. In any case, I am sure there are some that do and then, those that aren't in Burma, I think it's great they use the Burmese elements in their buildings.



2. We are going to Burma in a few months so we are interested in all things Burmese. The book is gorgeous and well done. I gave a copy to our neighbor a retired Burmese Doctor...she loved it...the book is well done..well organized...and the pictures are excellent. It is a paper back. Now if they just had Democracy in Burma (Myanmar) instead of the present military dictatorship, the world would be better place.



3. Burmese Design and Architecture by Johni. Falconer, et al, offers a perfect balance between excellent photography and enlighting commentary, which together bring alive the splendor of Burmese, Mon, Arakan and other architectural styles.

   Certainly a recommended book for the Southeast-Asia enthusiast!

No comments about San Francisco: Architecture & Design (And Guides).

4 comments about Discoveries: Forbidden City (Discoveries (Abrams)).

1. This book is cleverly laid out, well edited, and the best of the three books I bought on the world's largest palace--the 2000-acre Forbidden City. For a pocket guide it is outstanding--full of everything from photos of rooms in the palace, art objects, paintings, sculpture, emperors, empresses, eunuchs, and poems. It even includes interviews with Bertolucci (maker of the film The Last Emperor), the words of the last emperor himself, and commentaries that give insight into court life.
   
   My only criticism is that there is no large or comprehensive map. The maps included are so small for such a large palace, that at least half of the areas are unmarked. Since the Chinese names for the buildings are etheral, they also make you guess as to the building's function such as "Hall of Concentrated Beauty" or "Gate of Heavenly Purity". More running commentary on buildings would be appreciated.
   
   Luckily, in the palace, there are a few english plaques explaining the purpose of halls, especially the outer or formal section. As I understand it, most of the palace is open for visiting, although the private sections are in need of repair. Check out their website under "Palace Museum" which is the official title of the Forbidden City. I had a hard time with it but it is surprising to me that they are even on the web. I tried to download a map from the web, but it failed and the information provided on the website is incomprehensive.
   
   I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in China's history. It's a lot of book for $10.



2. I think this slim guide, that slips easily into a pocket, is the perfect beginner's guide to the Forbidden City. It does have great photos, historical drawings and the maps (arial and drawn) of this World Culture Site, but in addition, it has an entire section at the back on documents pertaining to the Forbidden City, including historical eyewitness accounts, Ming and Qing chronologies, and a short biblography for going more into depth.

   I have not been to Mainland China (yet), but i used this little book to prepare for a visit to the fabulous temporary exhibit on Emperor Qianlong and the Golden Age of the Forbidden City now on loan from Beijing to Chicago's Field Museum . It made the experience very rich indeed.

   Béguin and Morel's book is their second version, the first one having a slightly different title. "The Forbidden City, Heart of Imperial China. Kean Chhay Chang wrote a very good review of that edition, which you can see under the aforementioned title here on the Amazon site. From what she wrote, I don't think they've changed much (thank goodness!) but in this edition the maps are not straddling two pages, as mentioned in a review of the previous edition.

   My only regret is that it doesn't cover much of the private compounds within the Forbidden City, but then none of the guidebooks I saw at the exhibit did either.




3. I was disappointed at the size of the book for the price. I've seen as the same, and as good historic photographs, on a bigger and better scale. Being in the printing business, I don't believe you take a maginificant picture and put it on the fold. Stupid for so so-called authors Beguin and Morel. Shame, shame, shame. Good subject, very bad presentation.



4. I have been fascinated with the Forbidden City ever since I saw the movie, The Last Emperor. This little book is just jam packed full of information. Lots of pictures (old and new), maps of the grounds, so that you can easily understand the relationship of the buildings to one another, plus old paintings & drawings. Lots of text on the emperors, concubines, artwork, temples and gardens. It is a mini history lesson. I liked this book so much I have ordered others in the discoveries series, I hope they are as interesting as this one.

2 comments about Architecture of Yoshio Taniguchi.

1. Taniguchi's book illustrates the clear visions of a modernists interpertations on each project. Responding to the buildings function, the image of the institution, and the site with refreshing concepts that make the whole much more than the sum of the parts. The book presents coordinated photographs and drawings that do an excellent job of communicating the substance of each project. The text is jargon-free, clearly and concisly explaining the design intent and detail. Taniguchi's modesty is quite refreshing, as is the quality of his work.



2. A very... heavy and bulky book. On contrary to its size and many colourful pictures, Taniguchi's architecture represents the typical modern/minimalist architecture with not much of inspiring insight. It therefore is understanble why there are a lot people wanted to sell it on the web.

1 comments about 99 Historic Homes of Indiana: A Look Inside.

1. This book fits its purpose well. Interesting vignettes into the quirks of old homes ad their owners. Rich photography of homes actually lived in by families. If you don't expect too much you won't be disappointed.