No comments about Eastern Iowa's Historic Barns and Other Farm Structures: Including the Amana Colonies.

1 comments about Provence: The Art of Living.

1. I bought this book for ideas on paint colors for my 1920s Spanish Colonial home. It is beautifully done, full of design details and the gorgeous colors of Provence, the south of France, that derive from the paint colors, the food, the gardens, pottery and the surrounding dry, burnished mediterranean landscape. It is the perfect inspiration for any California home or a richly hued coffee table book!

3 comments about A Guide to the Historic Architecture of Piedmont North Carolina.

1. I've enjoyed this book ever since I bought it hot off the presses back in 2003. Its coverage is absolutely exhaustive. The entries are long enough to be truly informative, but short enough to keep your attention from wandering. There are many effective small black & white photographs that make for hours of casual browsing. A word of warning on this point, however: The book is not intended to be a picture book, but is a reference work. Don't buy this one for your coffee table.
   
   The author includes an introductory essay about the development of architecture throughout the region, and then tears loose on the catalog of buildings; a wonderland of dates, styles, functions and locations. This book, along with its companion volumes for eastern and western North Carolina, does justice to a beautiful state, rich in historic sites.
   
   A must for all architectural historians, preservationists and serious enthusiasts. They don't get any better.



2. My mom moved to Charlotte, and thought this book might list not only architectural landmarks, but places to visit as well. This was a little less than expected.
   
   
   This book is broken up into two sections. The first is interesting - 70-odd pages on the 'history' of architecture in the Piedmont area. Some nice reading, some learning on why things are they way the are, and how certain styles made their appearance into NC.
   
   The second part, the bulk of the book, is a bit of a dictionary of examples. Small black & white photos with short descriptions of the buildings and their architecture. This part was kind of dry, and of better use as a reference than good reading. It was surprising to see entries like "There's a great example of XX on 1234 main street". Well, it may be a great example, but I'm not exactly going to drive to this persons house to admire their house. Given that, the small, B&W photos, it make it hard to appreciate the examples given.
   
   I also have to give my gripe about a lot of books today - printing in color today is cheap. having a book such as this on architecture, color would do so much to enhance my experience in the architecture examples. Yet despite the grand cover, all the photographs in this book are small and black and white. Big let down.
   
   I expected a lot from this book, and was disappointed. it might be a great book for a classroom or such, but not the best choice for your coffee table.



3. I am a documentary photographer, specializing in endangered historic buildings. Having explored New England for a number of years, I am in the process of moving to Charlotte, NC.
   This book will be the starting point for my work in the south. It is well organized, with sites listed by counties and there are clear maps. The book is detailed, with a good basic history of the area at the beginning. A particularly nice feature is the notation as to whether a site is private, open to the public or may just be viewed from the highway. I also own the Guide to the Historic Architecture of Western North Carolina and find it equally valuable.

4 comments about Richard Meier: The Getty Center.

1. Just a spectacular building, the perfect building for this breathtaking site. This book is well conceived and the images just pop off the page. This building was a long time coming, but it was well worth the wait. I am a huge fan of Meier, his work is so light and inviting. I love how the L.A. sunlight plays off the tavertine, it just glows. Of all the great buildings Meier has designed this will be the one for which he is remembered and I'm sure he is fine with that fact. Fine book on a fantastic building, oh and not a shabby art collection either.



2. After visiting THE Getty Center, I've become a huge fan of Meiers' work. Although most of his work in the past seems untouchable to me, this project has a clean but warm inviting feeling around every corner. The photographs in the book are superb and layout the book with remarkable light, clarity and stunning imagery. The photographer John Linden is a true master of the camera. His work carries the book. Not a bad read either, but who reads books on architecture? This book and the project itself pure eye candy. Buy it.



3. Despite the succinctness of the book, I knew all I needed to know about the Getty Centre which costed a whopping US$1 billion to build. Getty Centre is to the other extreme of the Bilbao Museum by Gehry. The latter one is both an architecture building & a sculpture as a whole but the former offering is a Modern building in the best traditions of Le Corbusier, Philip Johnson, or even Miles van de Rohe. I'm disappointed to read that Richard Meier didn't get the chance to realise his total vision upon the project & therefore, the integrity of his design is ultimately compromised. 2 of the incidents worth mentioning are the engagement of the interior designer, Thierry Despont to provide the colour coordination of the galleries. He's better known as the designers for the rich & famous such as Ralph Lauren & Bill Gates. In this instance, Theirry applied heavy & bold colours to complement the art works & when the art works melted into the scene, the emphasis upon the art works themselves are lost in totality. Secondly, the engagement of the landscape artist, Robert Irwin who introduced the circular garden which broke the link between 2 main buildings of the Getty Centre. It's interesting to read about the material chosen, the travertine, & how it blends nicely with the white metal panels that Richard Meier is well known for; the maximisation of controlled light to highlight the artworks & yet, not harming them in anyway required fine detailing & ingenuity in which Richard Meier & team delivered. The book comprises of many photographs taken from many angles imaginable under different time of the day. Many elevation plans, sectional plans, conceptual plans, model plans, detailing plans, & all you need to know about the Getty Centre. Definitely worth reading for an architecture enthusiast.



4. A question everyone must ask when they first visit the Getty Museum is, "How did anyone ever build this enormous, complicated, graceful complex of buildings?" In The Getty Center by Michael Brawne, the author takes you to the earliest stages of the project with breathtaking photography and detailed text. The photography from beginning to end allows you to feel that you can take part of the" Getty Experience" home with you. I bought this book for my daughter when I was at the Museum gift shop and got home feeling sorry I didn't have my own copy, so this is my second purchase of this beautiful book

3 comments about The Missions of California.

1. This was very interesting to read, as well as a terrific photographic reference for the California missions. The landscape-page layout lent depth to photos of the beautiful colonnades and porches these missions are famous for. I am proud that my native state of California has done such an outstanding job of restoring these missions, and enjoyed the skill Young and Levick used in crafting this volume.



2. I've looked and I've looked, but I still haven't found a better pictorial representation of California's missions. If you appreciate architecture, you'll love this wonderful, definitive reference source. Bravos to Melba Levick for her terrific photos - they capture the very essence of each mission in a way I've never seen. Minor quibble - earlier editions were elegantly art directed and printed on glossy stock. The design work on this edition is heavy-handed and the photo reproduction on matte stock isn't nearly as brilliant or as sharp. Ah, but those gloriously composed photos! Nothing can deter their splendor.



3. I've looked and I've looked, but I still haven't found a better pictorial representation of California's missions. If you appreciate architecture, you'll love this wonderful, definitive reference source. Bravos to Melba Levick for her terrific photos - they capture the very essence of each mission in a way I've never seen. Minor quibble - earlier editions were elegantly art directed and printed on glossy stock. The design work on this edition is heavy-handed and the photo reproduction on matte stock isn't nearly as brilliant or as sharp. Ah, but those gloriously composed photos! Nothing can deter their splendor.

1 comments about New Houses: 36 of the World's Most Spectacular Home Designs.

1. This book should not be bought.... I buy and study lots of books like this one and this books offers nothing and is poorly done.

1 comments about Newport Houses.

1. This book covers all of the most famous homes, I would not say that it is comprehensive, but it does a very credible job of discussing the best homes. The photographs are well conceived and the text, though not indepth, is informative. If you are someone interested in the most famous mansions of Newport and appreciate quality photography then I believe you will be pleased with this book, if you are however, looking for an indepth guide to the all of the mansions, then you may want to wait on that book, which unfortunitly, as far as I can tell, has not been written.

No comments about Great New Buildings of the World: Works from Tadao Ando to Zaha Hadid.

2 comments about Majesty of the Mississippi Delta.

1. If your love of beauty and history extends to architecture but your travel budget is limited, consider obtaining a copy of THE MAJESTY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA.

   Author Jim Fraiser and photographer West Freeman traveled the 200-mile length of the Yazoo-Mississippi Delta, the heart of of the realm of King Cotton, to assemble the text and illustrations for this handsome, informative little book. The result is replete with fascinating anecdotes about times long past and splendid pictures of the extraordinarily beautiful homes, churches and public buildings that stand as a monument to an era.

   Beginning at Port Gibson, the "Gateway to the Delta," and the classic simplicity of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Messers Fraiser and Freeman trace the history of this diverse and scenic region in both the lives of its founders and the exquisite constructs they created. The text is filled with gossipy tidbits as well as less-familiar history, like the chandelier from the famous steamboat Robert E. Lee that hangs in Port Gibson's First Presbyterian Church and the tale of the ghost of owner John Bobb, murdered by Union soldiers, that purportedly still roams the flying-wing stairway and double-tiered galleries of McRaven in Vicksburg.

   This book is for those whose hunger for beauty extends to that crafted by the hands of man. If it has a flaw, it is that the taste of these magnificent structures it provides leaves the reader hungry to sample them first-hand. Should one be fortunate enough to do that, they could do worse than to tuck their copy of THE MAJESTY OF THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA into their tote as a reference.




2. Majesty Of The Mississippi Delta is as much a travel account as an architectural and art history of the homes, churches, and stores on the Mississippi Delta. Color photos of both interiors and exteriors are accompanied by quotes from historical documents and descriptions of each building. A rich history for those who enjoy architectural history in general and the Mississippi area in particular.

3 comments about Gates of Savannah: A Walking Tour.

1. This book is simply amazing. The pictures in here make you feel like you're standing in front of the gates of Savannah! There is even a little map inside the book so that, when you venture to Savannah, you can see all of the gates yourself! The history of the gates keeps me going back to this book again and again. You should definatley get this book!



2. This book is a great little guide book for a leisurely stroll thru the streets of Savannah. The artwork is very detailed and exquisite! These paintings catch the iron work gates and their surroundings during various times of the year. (A personal favorite is the house at Forsyth Park at Christmas time...)
   For those that live in Savannah, this is a great book to have on hand for your guests to use for a stroll around town. A great way to spend a few hours on a spring day to work up an appetite for all the great restaurants and pubs. (helps make room for those sinful desserts available all around town!)



3. The combination of the exquisitely painted gates as illustration with the well-researched and intriguing facts about each gate make this book a simple MUST on any serious walking tour of the area. Ms. Cadorette's work is breathtaking; my only regret is the book is not larger to truly enjoy the love so obviously put into these paintings. She has made the already beautiful Savannah even more so, by carefully merging artistic creativity and local knowledge. After taking the walking tour myself, I would love to thank her for enriching my whole experience. (And for being so gracious as to sign my copy!)