5 comments about Where We Lived: Discovering the Places We Once Called Home.

1. I can barely put this book down. There are so many wonderful photos on each page, and fascinating descriptions on how our ancestors actually lived. What I especially like is how Mr. Larkin describes the reasons behind building homes the way they did. It's an easy read for the everyday person and will make you thankful for what we have now.
   
   I am disappointed that I'm reaching the end of the book, and can only hope Mr. Larkin writes a follow-up edition that covers from 1840 on.



2. From the moment I saw this book I knew I had to have it. It's fascinating to read about what everyday life was really like in early America, not only what it looked like but also what it SMELLED like. You can get lost in the photographs, some of which take up two pages. Different regions of the country are covered, from New England to the South, and you get the sense of living in the houses from that past time. Not just a picture book, this gives you a real history of early America, and it's well-written.



3. I really enjoyed this book, and read it cover to cover the day I got it. One unfortunate reality is that only well-built houses survive - so we have minimal knowledge of how "the other half lived." But the author did his best to deal with this issue, and I , for one, was delighted that he did not waste pages going over well-trodden ground. Mount Vernon, Monticello, Montpelier, and other grand houses have already been covered in excruciating detail by other authors. In this book, the author concentrates on the homes of the "middling classes," and also on as much of the data as can be found on the huts, hovels, and cabins of the poor. The scope of the book is really the eastern seaboard and the original colonies, so the reader who is primarily interested in the architecture of the Southwest will not find it here. I wish that he had included some coverage of the Native American dwelling places indigenous to these areas of the eastern seaboard, and also perhaps some discussion of how Native dwellings changed in response to exposure to White ideas and building materials. (But that topic would properly fill an entire book of its own.)
   This was an expensive book, by my penny-pinching standards, but I consider it money well spent and it will be a permanent addition to my library.Early American Houses: with A Glossary of Colonial Architectural TermsHow Buildings Learn: What Happens After They're Built



4. I am so pleased with this book. It's one of my better purchases. I started reading it immediately after receiving it and could hardly put it down. I read it from cover to cover very quickly but I am going to re-read it for "remembering".



5. A fascinating account of the homes folks lived in 200 years ago and what each space and room in the home was used for. Mr. Larkin vividly describes by area (New England, the Middle States, the Southern States, and the Western States - as far as what was considered west by 1840), how the people of the past utilized their living spaces. It also describes in detail the many different styles of housing in the geographical areas mentioned, and how the Middle States structures may differ from the, say, New England area.
   As mentioned in other reviews, it truly is amazing how many human beings could sometimes be squeezed into a small house with, most likely, little complaining.
   In addition to the lively, well-written text, there are many photographs - most taken 50 or more years ago and are in black and white - to enhance the reader's enjoyment.
   As an amatuer social historian, I can honestly say this wonderful book is a great find to add to any collection. I am thankful we have historians like Jack Larkin to help us in our quest for real American History.

1 comments about Theory and Design in the First Machine Age.

1. This book has held up well over time, as Banham explores Modern Architecture with a critical eye. First published in 1960, Theory and Design has had numerous editions but the themes remain the same. Banham looks at the major figures in European Modern Architecture through a series of penetrating sections.

   He begins with the "Predisposing Causes," the academic and constructive traditions of the later 19th and early 20th century. Of particular note is the relation between the English Arts and Crafts Movement and the Deutscher Werkbund through Hermann Muthesius. He follows with a section on the "Italian Futurists," whose work was widely misunderstood at the time and now widely emulated, as many of the their principles of design have been absorbed by the Deconstructivists. Next is a section on Holland and "The Legacy of Berlage and De Stijl." This is a particularly interesting chapter as he notes the influences of Frank Lloyd Wright and Cubism on this Dutch abstract movement. He also describes how De Stijl went international, influencing many other movements in Europe. The fourth section describes "The World of Art and Le Corbusier" in Paris. Here he gets into his fullest exploration of the role Cubism had in shaping architecture. Cubism had had an influence on Futurism and De Stijl, but it was the analytical branch of Cubism, led by the Duchamp brother, that would have the most impact as Le Corbusier absorbed many of these ideas into his work, evolving Cubo-Futurism into what he and Ozenfant called "Purism." The last section charts the course of the Bauhaus in "The Victory of the New Style." This is where all the separate strains came together in an international school which would have a profound influence on the shape of architecture in the 20th century.

   It is a tremendously insightful and well-presented study, which is a must for anyone hoping to gain a better understanding of the ideas which underlie the various strains of Modern Architecture. The focus is on Europe before WWII, with only mention of the influence American architects like Frank Lloyd Wright had on European architecture.

5 comments about Wright Style: Re-Creating the Spirit of Frank Lloyd Wright.

1. The book landed on my doorstep 2 weeks after I ordered. The photos are well made and the whole atmosphere breathes the true wright stories.
   Too bad that the webshops listed have very little to offer which was the only disappointment.
   The level of detail and attention for seperate elements gives inspiration on how I want to decorate my house and how the harmony was created.



2. All of the other customer reviews were extremely positive, and I would like to concur in their respective judgments.

   Wright's life was filled with controversy, and his work is subject to complex interpretation. Other authors, in my opinion at least, devote way too much book space to these matters; Lind, on the other hand, has done a masterful job in organizing the key elements of Wright's style (furnishings, usonians, etc>) and gathering stunning, modern photographs that illustrate each.

   If you buy one book on Wright, this should be the one. Better than anything else I've seen, it will demonstrate why the man's work lives on -- 45 years after his death.




3. This book takes a look at what makes Frank Lloyd Wright's designs still so popular today. The book itself is so gorgeous, focusing not just on the houses but also on the furnishings, which can be breathtaking! The photos were excellent and conveyed the feeling of really being there.

   I read three books about this architect this weekend, and this one was the most complete of them all. It gave me a peek into so many of his uniquely designed buildings and the furnishings and decorative arts that he created for them.

   Something I had never seen before: at the end of the book there is a catalog of items that can be purchased from different vendors. These are FLW reproductions, items inspired by FLW, and those "in the style of FLW". These items range from furniture to rugs to lamps to fabrics and decorative items.

   On my "tour" of over 40 houses (designed by both Wright and his followers), I saw that all of the designs were simple ones, with natural colors and finishes, the buildings seeming to spring out of the earth. I saw the open flowing floor plans that are sheltered by overhanging, gently sloping roofs. Many of the places I "visited" had built-in furniture and fixtures.

   It was interesting to view all of the things that Wright designed for his homes....besides the items mentioned above, he also designed the windows (art glass), light fixtures, skylights, wall murals, and even the landscaping!

   Wright changed American architecture forever, resulting in open floor plans, multi-purpose rooms, naturally-lit spaces--- and showed us a different way of living.




4. This is a wonderful book: gorgeous color pictures with an informative and most insightful text. Far beyond a coffee table collection, this is a real contribution to understanding Wright, and American housing. Lind discusses the design ideas of a number of Wright's most famous or typical extant buildings. You get a good idea of the exhilarating play of light and space in his houses, and the real significance of such modern cliches as ranch-style, strip and corner windows, patio doors, and built-ins. Besides real insight into Wright's aesthetic, the book is notable for its unique coverage of 12 houses by Wright disciples, and appendices on interior arts and sources of reproductions. (Wright would be appalled, since he saw furnishings as uniquely integral and scaled to particular houses!) A "dangerous" book, it singlehandedly reawakened my interest in Wright's architecture. It may draw you, too, into learning more of Wright, and influencing your choice of home.



5. The book has many photographs an does a credible job of detailing each of them. I found that the book well organized. . I would highly recommend this as an intro to Wright's work. The author tries to touch on as many subjects a possible, as result there are times when it was somewhat lacking in depth. That being said there is a great reference of things Wright in the back of the book that is worth the price of admission alone.

1 comments about Programs and Manifestoes on 20th-Century Architecture.

1. This book is mandatory for the library of any architect or student of architecture. It is the point from which any discussion of Modern Architecture could begin. I am hard pressed to think of a notable architect Conrad has neglected to include in this handy little book. From these pages I have seen generated a good number of arguments and debates on the state of architecture today. This is a small price to pay for such a wide array of ideas, both good and bad.

5 comments about Bohemian Modern: Living in Silver Lake.

1. Graphically interesting and architecturally significant picture book.
   The line drawings are whimsical and enhance the overall idea of the book...which is that modern architecture in a warm climate creates this unique, warm and intertesting environment. This book illustrates the warmth, charm and social connected-ness of modern architecture given a self-selecting artistic, creative community. It is the antipode to so many of the dreary, static, and people-less coffee table books on modern architecture. The author's friends seem to be the kind of people you see in Dwell magazine, casual and style-conscious, but not obviously pretentious. This book is much better than Dwell, because the emphasis is more on improvised-rehab of modern dwellings, than Dwell's push to sell so many new Modern commodities, products, and style.



2. Forget Ron Burgundy's review. This is a great book. Real people, real houses - not impossible to live with Architectural Digest layouts. One of the few books I have seen that shows everyday (almost - these are sort of trendy ie bohemians of the title) people in their own homes. Ms. Bestor includes not only Silver Lake but the surrounding areas like Atwater and Echo Park to give a glimpse of the entire area. As for the inclusion of shops and restaurants that Mr. Burgundy so disliked - this is the world Ms. Bestor knows and has included in her book of Silverlake so the reader can acknowledge Silver Lake as a whole, not just a series of houses. If that (famed architectural houses) is what you want buy a book on Neutra or Schindler. If you want a taste of the real Silver Lake, but this. PS - I don't know any of these people so my review has no hidden motive.



3. The book offers a great visual journey into the BOHOMO style



4. The L.A. neighborhood called Silver Lake is home to a large number of iconic Modern-era houses, with many created by the West Coast's masters of the period. In recent decades, as "mid-century modern" has found new admiration, a new generation of architects has been called on to add to the already rich Silver Lake Modern storyline. Thus, today, perhaps more than any other neighborhood in the U.S., Silver Lake---a neighborhood with distinct, widely acknowledged geographic boundaries---is a mecca for Modern. What's more, there's actually enough extant iconic Modern houses in Silver Lake to merit a book-length treatment. After all, many of these daring examples of design have fascinating stories.
   Sadly (and frustratingly), Bestor's book, despite its title, isn't about Modern residential architecture in Silver Lake. While it does consider a small portion of Modern houses there, including important houses by Neutra, Schindler, and Lautner, it spends much more time looking outside of Silver Lake (Echo Park, Elysian Park, Atwater), in places that have their own distinct identities and architectural histories. Almost immediately, the reader is forced to ask, "What happened to Silver Lake?"
   Just when one recluctantly accepts this fact in an effort to move on to experience the other houses she's selected, Bestor abruptly ends the house tour and devotes the balance of the book to her favorite restaurants and other businesses, complete with photos of the owners, recipes, and flat-footed self-promo quotes from the managers and other employees of these establishments. Few of these businesses, it must be noted, are contained in Modern buildings. Why are they in a book about Modern in Silver Lake? Page after page, it all smells of blatant advertising.
   If there is a common thread binding each of the author's very odd selections of subjects, it is her seemingly incessant need to use the book's very casual short texts to promote her own firm (as well as that of her many friends mentioned in the book) and give the proprietors of her neighborhood hang-outs a pat on the back.
   How a book with such a confused sense of focus got past its publisher is shocking. The door to do a good book on Silver Lake remains wide open.



5. Beautifully illustrated and informative exploration of the design and architecture of America's most unique and unheralded artist community. The author seems a bit eager to anoint herself the leader of the BOMO movement, taking great pains to establish her legacy as its central figure. At times this leaves the book feeling like an overpriced brochure for the Barbara Bestor Studio, however, there is enough content to make it a worthwhile read, particularly for those familiar with the area.

1 comments about Small and Chic: High Style for Small Spaces.

1. I bought this book for my boyfriend, whose personal style is reflected tremendously in this book. We saw it in a little shop in Cannon Beach, but I knew I could get it for a better price on Amazon.com. This book is for the Interior-Decorator types that won't get bored after one 'flip-through'. There isn't much text, mostly just pictures of different styles of houses from all over the world, some quite breath-taking.

5 comments about A House on the Water: Inspiration for Living at the Water's Edge.

1. If you are about to build a home...or just enjoy seeing the details that make other structures a "home" then you will love this book...
   
   Very informative...beautifully executed...homerun all the way...



2. I was excited to get this book in the mail, as I thought it would have some real good ideas on how to build a larger home on the water that had some character. I found most of the homes rather odd, homes for people that would name their children Jupiter or Flower. I am back today ordering more books. Also most homes either are RIGHT on the water or set back in rock. Didn't find much in the way of regular 100ft setback from the water, woods, maybe a walkout basement type of MN lakes home. There was one from WI but again, it was right on the water, which you normally can not build now days.



3. This book is wonderful at capturing the rare beauty of various architectural wonders through vivid photographs and welcoming text. You never get bored flipping through this book and it is incredibly inspiring. It combines several differently designed homes that will appeal to a variety of readers. Reading this book is like daydremaing on paper. Highly recommended.



4. I found this book both educational and handsome in content and in photography. As an architect practicing in different regions of the country, I'm always thankful for having opportunities to do design work in Maine. Maine, as a place to live, is simply wonderful and unique, but the sense of peace in these "Houses on the Water" is elevated creating a noble inspiration for the reader.



5. As a landscape designer, I was consistenly impressed with how these wonderful houses fit into their site, lifting out the critical views and respecting the nature of the place. Having enjoyed the houses that Robert Knight designs, I was pleased to learn why his houses and those selected for his book are so satisfying to see and experience. O'Rourke's photographs are spectacular and with the plans, really help to visualize the structure and the setting and how they fit together. Design professionals and homeowners alike with whom I've shared this book rave about it. A perfect gift for friends and family!

2 comments about Reading Architectural Working Drawings: Residential and Light Construction, Volume 1.

1. Seller described the book as gently used, not missing pages. Book came used but with many pages missing. I started my class in architectural blueprinting, and I find half the homework I cant do, would not buy from this seller again.



2. This is a very useful book if you are looking to draft something it is full of information on everything you will need to know.

4 comments about Prescriptions for a Healthy House, 3rd Edition: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders & Homeowners.

1. I have read hundereds of books and articles on non-toxic homes and lifestyle and this book is top notch - highly recommended.



2. As a Building Biologist I work with people who want healthier homes and there is no better resource for creating a healthy home than this book. Every builder, architect and home remodeler needs to read this book before they start their next project. It's cutting edge thinking.



3. Home is where the heart is - and what's around the heart can make it unhealthy. Now in a newly revised, updated, and expanded third edition, "Prescriptions For A Healthy House: A Practical Guide for Architects, Builders, & Homeowners" is especially for those who are building homes. "Prescriptions For A Healthy House" discusses how to improve the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of those who would reside in the home being constructed. Looking critically at current building practices, and offering advice on how to improve one's techniques, "Prescriptions For A Healthy House" is an expert manual on so-called Bau-Biologue - building biology. Highly recommended for community library architecture collections.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



4. Paula is a committed and dedicated architect and one of the leaders in the green building movement. She is a pioneer, and her book is an absolute treasure of information. Paula has integrated many of the safe building practices that are time honored and tested, and incorporated them into contemporary American building practices.
   
   The dangers of conventional building materials, and how they are toxic and contribute to indoor air pollution is one of the areas of her expertise. She carefully details why standard building practices are harmful, and how to take a healthier route. Comprehensive guides on how to find some of these alternative building materials and resources are found in A Prescription for a Healthy House.
   
   This book is an absolute must for those who are considering constructing a new building, or renovating an older one. If you are interested in health, this book is a no brainer. Why wouldn't you invest a few dollars to learn what one of the most talented and knowledgeable leaders in this field haves learned so you can apply it to your home?
   
   I actually hired Paula as a consultant for our new office building. With her help we were able to achieve the highest green building certification on the planet. The new building is Platinum LEED certified. There are only 17 buildings in the US, and 70 in the world that have achieved this certification level. If you are ever in the Chicago area, I hope you will stop by and visit our new office building, located at 3200 West Higgins in Hoffman Estates, IL.

4 comments about Complete Masonry: Building Techniques, Decorative Concrete, Tools and Materials (Sunset).

1. This is a very well done book, and I enjoyed it very much. It has nice projetcs that you really can do by yourself. The pictures are wonderfull, and full of great ideas and details. The instructions are so clear, so anybody can understand easly.



2. I was looking for a book on how to build a brick mailbox. This did'nt help much. Thanks anyway.



3. 
   I bought Sunset's "Complete Masonry" because I am thinking about using concrete for my next kitchen counter top. I had heard on a radio home improvement program that concrete kitchen counters are popular in some other countries. Complete Masonry has one chapter on concrete counter tops, but the example they give is an outdoor barbecue, not a kitchen. The techniques can be adapted to a kitchen, but it's not the same as having illustrations of specifically what I want to do.
   
   Other than that, Complete Masonry has lots of information for the home gardener or handy person. You get pictures and details for laying out and construction of walks, stairs, patios, walls, ponds, rock gardens and all kinds of decorative and imaginative masonry work around the home. It's aimed at the home improvement market, not for the professional mason, although a professional might get some creative ideas from it's illustrations. Complete Masonry starts with very basic teaching such as "what is a shovel" and works up to include all the details you would need to construct the projects in the book. Like a lot of Sunset books it's full of ideas and examples of very elaborate projects, though the projects appear to have been done by skilled professionals. Even so, with a little practice you could probably finish any of the projects if you have a little construction skill and are willing to do the work. It's a good idea book, and a practical how-to home improvement book.



4. Sunset has published several books on this subject, 3 of them called "Complete Masonry" with different subtitles and a basic one, possibly others. This is the only one that I've actually gone through cover to cover and it is superb. I have the Black and Decker flavor of Complete Masonry too and this one is far better at 1/2 the price.

   The projects described are quite a bit more appealing than the B&D's plain cookie cutter boring wall and walkway offerings. More importantly this book offers better techniques of design that can be applied to your own unique design.

   Another of my favorites on the subject of concrete that is also applicable to walls, walkways, flooring or whatever else you wish to conjure is a book called "Concrete Countertops: Design, Form, and Finishes for the New Kitchen and Bath" It actually offers much more than what the title leads you to believe and suggests concrete as a very versitle replacement for standard brick and tile uses of the past.