5 comments about Yurts: Living in the Round.

1. Great resource book for anyone wanting to buy a yurt or live in a yurt. Gives a great deal of practical information on purchasing a yurt, deck building, plumbing, bear proofing and making a yurt a comfortable home.



2. My son and daughter in law live in Colorado and have been thinking about purchasing a piece of propertie to put a Yurt on. We gave them this book for Christmas and they loved it. They felt it was very informative and loved the pictures too.I of course injoyed the sneak preview of the book before I sent it. Great book, great price. Thanks



3. The author has lived in various yurts in enough states to have some wisdom to share since climates can change and a yurt in the dessert is different than one high in the Sierras or Rockies where the temperatures can get well below freezing. She writes of the history of yurt dwellers and how modern fabrics here in the states make yurts weather proof in most areas and livable homes year round.
   
   As a member of the Small House Society I am looking for a variety of small house choices and yurts and boats are at the top of my dream list.
   
   Her examples also show the modern yurt like the ones here in the Sierras that all have windows, skylights, doors and most amenities one can find in a small modern home. Read other 5 star reviews who tell you even more. Excellent book.



4. "Yurts: Living in the Round" is put together very well. It is clear and concise, bright and full of photos, and covers just about everything you'd ever need to know about yurts. It is obvious upon reading the book that the author has used her own extensive personal knowledge and experience in writing it.



5. Ever since I first heard that Becky Kemery was writing a book about Yurts I have been looking forward to having it in my hands. The wait has definitely been worth it, now that I can see how fully realized her idea has become. Yurts: Living in the Round was published in 2006 by Gibbs Smith, and is the definitive source of information about anything to do with yurts. Not only that, it is also a fine piece of art in its own right; nearly every page is graced with carefully laid out color photos and drawings. Becky's writing is both clear and well researched.
   
   Becky writes, "Most yurts are portable, tent-like structures. They have circular lattice walls (reminiscent of baby gates tied together) and a cone-shaped roof supported by rafters that meet in a center ring. The outer fabric shell of the yurt can be made of felted wool, coated canvas, or a modern architectural fabric. An ever-increasing number of wooden structures are also called yurts. What defines them as yurts and not just round houses? The Answer lies in the yurt's uncommon roof structure."
   
   "The yurt roof incorporates a unique architectural design. Roof struts meet in a center ring, producing inward and downward pressure. This center ring holds the rafters an a state of compression. Where the struts meet the wall at the perimeter, a natural outward thrust occurs. A band (of rope, woven cloth, or wire cable) a the top of the wall holds the wall and roof poles in tension against this outward pressure. Because of this...long roof spans are possible without any internal support system (like posts, trusses, or beams). This gives the yurt an uncommon feeling of spaciousness and uplift. the roof design also creates an incredibly strong and resilient structure that is uniquely equipped to withstand earthquakes, strong winds, and heavy snow loads."
   
   The historical evolution of the modern yurt from its origins with the nomadic Central Asian tribes is carefully outlined. Both the Mongolian Ger and the Turkic Uy are the forerunners of what we now call the yurt. How these tribal folks traditionally make and decorate their portable homes is both fascinating and colorful. This process is generally a group effort and often involves painstakingly felting the wool to make the covering. The traditional pattern of living within this circular space is surprisingly similar to Native American traditional use of space within a hogan, with various family members and guests having their appropriate places.
   
   One of the early modern adaptations of the traditional yurt design was Bill Copperwaite's "tapered wall yurt." These are wooden structures that incorporate the same roof design, but modify the vertical walls to incline outward, giving them a distinctly oriental flare. Bill has been exploring these interesting shapes since the early 1960's, and has come up with quite a variety of forms, including some with concentric tiers of yurts within yurts. Some of them have scalloped butterfly-like roofs; others have gothic arches that surround the perimeter.
   
   The modern fabric yurt is more like its nomadic predecessor, in most ways, except that modern canvas or synthetic fabric replaces the felted wool. Becky chronicles how various people have adapted the original designs to suit modern needs in a variety of climates. Many of the new yurts have central plastic dome skylights and windows that let in lots of light, making them much more open and airy than the darker, womb-like nomadic yurts.
   
   Many of the folks who have experimented with building their own yurts have gone on to make a business of supplying yurt kits for the general public. Becky suggests how to locate and evaluate these yurt companies, and describes various ways that yurts can be adapted for personal needs, such having a bathroom, porch, heater, etc. She even addresses the issues of financing and insuring yurts, and dealing with building code officials.
   
   Another modern adaptation to the traditional yurt is called the "frame panel" yurt. These are much more permanent dwellings than their fabric cousins, and can appear as very solid indeed. They are often prefabricated off-site and shipped to the site for erection. Becky interviewed various people who have lived in these unique homes and shares many insights that could help others who do the same.
   
   The chapter titled "Living in the Round" philosophically evaluates the merits of doing this. Becky writes, "The flexible open space of a yurt is an interior design canvas waiting for the creative expression of each yurt inhabitant. What remains constant is the welcoming embrace of the space, the interaction between inner and outer worlds, and the roof structure that lifts our vision skyward. The yurt also has an inherent ability to bring people together into a circle, which naturally engenders connection and cooperation."
   
   The final portion of the book has several appendices that explore building codes, platform construction, and wood stove installation. There is also an extensive resource guide here for yurt companies, yurt plans, and other media. Becky's website about yurts, [...], is another resource providing additional information.
   
   I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in simple, sustainable living, enduring vernacular architecture, or the possibilities inherent in living in the round.

5 comments about Basic Figure Drawing Techniques (North Light Basic Painting).

1. I needed this book for a class. It's a very good book for someone new to figure dawing. It has some parts that are a bit redundant, but some sections are very helpful, such as; specific points about drawing human hands and heads.
   I wish there had been more of this sort of instruction instead of the huge portion of the book dedicated to gesture drawing and basic forms. In my opinion, these sections could have been greatly reduced.
   Overall, this book is worth the price and very helpful for beginners.



2. I would recommend this book after you have taken a basic drawing class. First you must master the ability to see all around you as basic shapes. After you have completed that task, this book is the next logical step.
   
   From the begininng, this book offers different ways of observing the human body. Nothing much is needed to begin drawing the human body than a pencil and paper, this book will lead the way. However, for those advanced (or really motivated beginners) this book offers a list of other items to purchase.
   
   Each part of the body (except for the feet!) is nicely described in the form of observation and basic shapes. Once you've learned that the human torso is nothing more than a irregularly shaped egg, the rest becomes easy.
   
   J. C.



3. I looked over this book very carefully. At first I thought Greg Albert was the author. [I just finished SLAMMING Greg Albert for a different but poorly authored text elsewhere on Amazon!] But looking carefully, the cover states that Greg Albert is only the "editor" of this book, published by NORTH LIGHT.

   There was something disturbingly familiar about the illustrations which are excellent...and then I realized, that North Light was the same publisher for WALT REED's "THE FIGURE", published in 1976, and that what North Light Publishers have done is invite GREG ALBERT to do a revision and update of WALT REED's "The Figure" with some new illustrations added, and slapping on an entirely new title. Well...okay...

   This may give me an unpleasant feeling concerning authorship, but I did give Walt Reed's text a FIVE STAR rating on Amazon.com, and this has new illustrations added in.

   This is an excellent book on beginner drawing, full of Walt Reed's original BLOCK FIGURES and human puppets. NORTH LIGHT PUBLISHERS was wise to update and revise the current text and continue to polish it.




4. I had high expectations for this book, thought it would teach me the correct way to render my sketchings of people better... I really think the sketches in the book could have been better, I thought it looked a little amateurish. Although the author covers many things and tries his hardest to convey what needs to be done, I think the photo lacks more instructions and step-by-step advice.

   For instance: he will start with a semi outline of a body and just show you how to fill it in... it wasn't until later in the book he actually tries to show you porportions.

   And in the beginning, he has you starting off my scribbling. Maybe that worked for others, but not for me.

   I am starting a college drawing course in about 9 days and have been practicing my techniques from different books, but this is one book I'd rather leave on the shelf.




5. An excellent choice, for beginning artists. This book includes many essential tools in figure drawing; such as the underlying bases of the figures, many different distinct poses, and also a good introduction to anatomy from an artistic view, yet still easily understandable by beginners. Within, this book you will find many introductory techniques that start from scribble and transform into to beautiful life forms as well as, well-written passages thoroughly explaining everything every step of the way. Therefore, if your interested in figure drawing and have never before even picked up a pencile;this book is your best choice!

No comments about Skin + Bones: Parallel Practices in Fashion and Architecture.

5 comments about Cards that Pop Up, Flip & Slide.

1. I make my own greeting cards. I purchased this book from Amazon, couldn't wait to get it. Glad I did. Many different types of popups are presented. Some very easy, some I didn't find so useful, like sliders. However the illustrations and instructions are very clear and I have made several different designs. This is a no brainer for those that enjoy doing something different.



2. This is not what I expected. You can pass this one by and choose a book/pamplet with better designs and ideas. If you don't already know how to make pop-ups, you will need a book with better instructions. This book is really only useful for those that have NEVER even thought of adding pop-ups to cardmaking; very basic ideas, and not a good How-to.



3. This is a great book. I have been using it to create my own greeting cards. My friends and family love it. Easy to understand.



4. This book is a must for the card maker in your life. No longer will you have a flat, boring card to send to family and friends. This book teaches you to make action-packed three-dimensional cards...fun to make and fun to share. Great addition to your craft library.



5. The book give a lot of great ideas for action cards... And those ideas can be manipulated for variations so easily.

5 comments about Building the Timber Frame House: The Revival of a Forgotten Art.

1. My friend is a master carpenter and he saw this book at a recent trip to Hanford Mills museum.
   He is an avid reader and loved the book so much that I am inclined to read it as well!! Enjoy.



2. If you are expecting a book full of glossy sharp pictures, this is not the one to buy.A lot of drawings and BW pictures that inform what they need to. This is a very good manual for those who want to venture in a timber frame project.



3. My husband loves this book. He said he has learned so much and that this was the best book to learn how to build a timber frame house by.



4. The details on this are excellent. Sketches, plans, perspectives, maths, tables, formulas, theory, you have it all. All graphics hand-drawn! Each joint has a photo, a drawing and cutting details and dimensions. Focused too: nothing outside the scope of the *classic* timber frame.



5. I have read all the major timber frame books on the market, including both titles from Jack Sobon. Benson's book is packed with information on how to build a timber frame and has an index in the back that allows one to figure out what size timber is needed. This book is one of, if not, the best on this subject.

5 comments about Becoming an Architect: A Guide to Careers in Design.

1. If your son or daughter is thinking, contemplating, dreaming, or planning on a career in architecture please buy this book for them and be sure they read it cover to cover. My son went to Catholic University's 3 week architecture camp this past summer and enjoyed a speech by Dr. Lee Waldrep, associate dean at neighboring University of Maryland's architecture school. After the speech Dr. Waldrep gave each attendee a copy of this book. Dr. Waldrep made quite an impression on my son as he announced after the camp that he also wanted to investigate Maryland, a school not initially on his college list. I saw the book at home and read it in two nights (295 pages). The book is laid out and presented in a way that offers "real world" insight, from noted architects, about the profession and what it takes to become an architect. This profession's "passion" really jumps out of each page as successful architects describe their education, interests, challenges, influences, etc. For me, the parent of a young aspiring architect, I felt very proud that my son has chosen such an interesting and respected profession. Well done Dr. Waldrep...and thank you!



2. If you are exploring design careers for the first time, this book is a must read! Waldrep skillfully coalesces insights from various faculty, students, and practitioners in order to provide a depth and breadth that is normally missing from typical career guides. There is advice on everything from the definition of architecture to establishing a design career, and everything in between; this advice cemented my intent to apply to a graduate program in architecture and urban planning.
   
   I really loved the diversity of viewpoints expressed in the book. Modernists, neo-traditionalists, nontraditional students, traditional students, deans, and admissions professionals all have their own ideas about what attributes are necessary for a good architect, how to choose an academic program, and what employers look for. Finally, the text was so fun to read that I finished it the same day I received it and plan to read it again.



3. One of my daughters is very interested in becoming an architect and this is an ideal book for her. I think any young person of even an undergraduate college student considering this career path will find this book very helpful.
   
   I appreciate that the book asks and answers the most likely questions a young person will ask or should ask about the career. Even more I appreciate that the author has brought in a broad range of practicing architects to answer than and share their views. This range of opinions and suggestions is quite helpful. It also has the benefit of being interesting.
   
   There are five chapters, the first provides some definition of what an architect is by talking about the wide range of things architects do, and helps the prospective architect think through if such a career is for them. The important skills of architects are also discussed.
   
   Chapter two talks about the education of an architect and even gets back into childhood toys, books and activities. For the high school student considering this career they suggest which courses are most beneficial for the student. They also discuss the licensing, paths to various degrees and what they are needed for. Appendix B also gives a list of accredited architecture programs. There is also information about the application programs and academic enrichment.
   
   Chapter three talks about how to gain experience as a student, how to get noticed, what hiring companies look for, and moving towards licensure. Chapter four helps the student design her career and what the options are. Chapter five lets the participants in this book speak about their wide range of views of the future of architecture. Appendix A provides a resource list for architects - professional organizations, institutions, community service, recommended reading, and websites.
   
   All great stuff, very readable, and with lots of interesting illustrations and photographs.
   
   Very good!



4. I don't know. I expect this book to have more information than it is. There's not much content but too many interview. In fact the whole book is all about the interview from different people in different architecture backgrounds.
   
   It may be a good book to those who want to knwo more about architecture, to architecture students who have never had internship before. Since I already worked for more than one year in architecture firms, I feel this book contains much less information than I expect.
   
   Anyway, it's just my personal opinion. Hope it helps.



5. A coffee table book; This is not a "cover-to-cover" read that teaches one how to become an architect. It does, however, provide a range of possibilities for the futures of aspiring architects. It is compiled of interviews with different professionals, preceded and concluded with resourceful information about schooling, exams, licenture, etc. It does present "answers" in a way, through examples of different paths and interests that lead to the varied careers in architecture. I would recommend this to students, in particular, who are considering an education/career in architecture: at moments while reading the book I felt insecure about my contrary approach to architecture; at other points while reading, I felt confident in the ability to relate my approach. It is reassuring to read the first-hand experiences of persons who are already at the point where I may be some day.

5 comments about Watercolor Painting Outside the Lines.

1. I believe this book is good for beginners as it instructs the reader on how to analyze pigments (transparent, staining and opaque)and how they will behave. Most beginners do not know about these pigment characteristics, so from that standpoint alone it is a good investment for your library. It also illustrates the right way to lay in a flat wash and build depth through "glazing". Many of the exercises are beneficial to the reader no matter what approach you will want to take to your own watercolor paintings.



2. Well-laid-out basic procedures. Two pages in the back which are truly useful checklists for planning and starting paintings. I am excited about applying this method to subjects I have painted in the past.



3. Linda's work is so bold and fresh it borders on the abstract. The approach is groundbreaking, and the resulting work is rich and fluid and inspiring.
   The book starts out with suggestions on materials and supplies. She then leads you through very simple exercises to teach the basics of understanding negative shapes. She also provides instruction on modifying shapes, composition strategies, and color. Then she leads you through more and more intricate layers. It's an entirely new way of thinking. I have used these techniques in my own work and with my college students as well. Artists at any level can benefit from her ideas.
   
   (I also took a workshop from her and highly recommend her as an instructor.)



4. This author takes watercolor to a useful and understandable technique for the person new to this media. Her directions are clear, consise and knowledgable. Her demonstrations, while challenging to duplicate, are easy to follow. I highly recommend her book to anyone seeking to widen their understanding of what watercolor can do for their art.



5. This is an original book that will expand your painting skills by providing you with techniques to approach painting through negative spaces. Everything is explained meticulously in step by step diagrams that leave nothing unclear. It is a valuable addition to painters who want to expand their repertoire of skills. However, the technique explained in this book, fascinating as it is, has its limitations, as it can only work in pictures where the negative spaces are darker than the positive ones (you will understand how and why when you read it). Should the painter want their negative spaces to be lighter in color than the shapes depicted, this technique would not work.
   
   Maybe it is a first step and the author, or somebody else, can expand the possibilities of this technique further; what we learn in this book is certainly not the last word on negative-space painting. The author explores mostly landscapes, and the results of her specific approach gives results that are highly original, but that have a specific eerie-spooky character. Since I haven't tried applying the technique yet, I cannot tell whether that eerie quality is an inevitable consequence of that technique, or is it the result of the author's/painter's specific choices, and whether a different painter could get results of a totally different quality.
   
   Despite these limitations, it is a very useful approach to get to know, especially for painters who do not just want to learn a new trick, but who also want to learn how to see in new ways. Highly recommended.

1 comments about Statics and Strength of Materials for Architecture and Building Construction.

1. Items arrived in perfect shape and also arrived ahead of schedule...Great seller.

4 comments about Mies Van Der Rohe: 1886-1969 (Basic Architecture Series).

1. it' nice to have it in your colection or a travelling pack. you can starts to explore his works and get a idea about him. its ideal for the students, but if your looking for more minimalist details and plans you better find a another.



2. this books introduce lots of important works of Mies Van Der Rohe
   If you're his fan or like the art works of the Bauhaus
   this book is a good option to know the artist



3. I wish I had more floor plans and pictures and also more buildings.
   Not bad though for the price.



4. Mies Van Der Rohe is one of the father's of Modern Architecture. He began his career in Germany before the Great War and ended it in the United States in the late 1960's. Not only did he design some of the most iconic buildings and furniture of the Twentieth Century, Mies was also a teacher who deeply influenced generations of architects. We see his influence in cities throughout the world.
   
   The volumes in Taschen's Basic Architecture Series are a must for anyone interested in the history of architecture. At $9.99 a volume, they are an affordable and attractive introduction to the works of the most influential architects of the past century. The sole hesitation I have with this volume is Claire Zimmerman's writing style. She writes in a flowery academic style that is off putting. However, at $9.99 a volume, you cannot go wrong. Recommended.

5 comments about Bungalow Details Exterior.

1. This book was a wedding gift. The recipients are restoring a Bungalow home. This book was on their gift wish list



2. Jane Powell is THE bungalow author to read. As a remodeler who specializes in 1920's bungalows, it pleases me to no end to read an author who really knows what she is talking about. Every Jane Powell book I have read is like a college course on that aspect of bungalow history, preservation, and renovation. This book is no exception. And she is really funny! Beautiful photos (as usual)by Linda Svendsen.



3. I enjoy this book and look at pretty regularly. I plan on using some of the details on future construction projects. However, the author is a bit too politically correct for my tastes. She keeps reminding us how "poison" vinyl is. That sort of bothered me. I am sure, given a choice, most people would choose to live a beautiful wooden or stone home rather than a vinyl clad manufactured home or tract home.. however lets be realistic. Those types of home are often what is affordable to the average family. Other than that issue.. I would recommend the book.. it has some great pictures and lots of information about bungalow exterior details.



4. Together writer Jane Powell and photographer Linda Svendsen create the best bungalow books on the market -- full of information, not just fluff. Whether you are thinking of remodelling your house, changing a few details, or just want to understand the history of your bungalow, this is the book to buy... and really, this book is very cheap compared to the price of a bad remodel.
   
   In my opinion the chapter on avoiding replacement window scams, while energy-retrofitting your house, should be required reading for all homebuyers.



5. I don't live in a Craftsman bungalow, but I'm adding a number of Craftsman details to my existing NW cabin style house. Over the years I have collected numerous books full of photographs of various bungalows but I have sold all of them now that I have this book. This one book contains information on nearly every exterior detail you are likely to need, and is lavishly illustrated with photographs and drawings. It's an excellent reference for buffs and restorers. I have already pre-ordered the next volume which will cover interiors. Shame I have to wait 6 months!