5 comments about New York Apartments.

1. Loved seeing the beautiful homes! So much fun to see into the homes of these people. Loved the tradional decor. A great coffe table book.



2. Beautiful book showcasing the elegant style of Greenwich. Unlike many similiar books, this one is more than a pretty cover. Beautiful interior shots, and the kind of book you want to go back and look at over and over. A good purchase, and I have given it a few times as a gift as well!



3. I'm not sure I would have bought it, but I was very glad to get this book as a Christmas present. It's gorgeously photographed, and provides a sneak peek at some stunning New York dwellings. If you're interested in interior decorating, you'll love the photos of works by Mario Buatta, David Easton, and other boldface names. But even if decorating is not your thing, you'll enjoy taking a look some amazing apartments. Warning: This is almost guaranteed to cause envy.



4. Stunning, just stunning, an exquisite inside look at the quintessential New York City apartments. From Central Park West to the Village to Chelsea and Tribeca and Brooklyn Heights ... a glimpse into the urban chick homestyles that is Manhattan and the Big Apple.



5. This is simply an haute couture guide for homes. Stunning photography showcase these magnificent homes and provide a peek into a world few of us will ever actually inhabit. More than just a glamorous photo book, this is a must have for anyone interested in traditional, luxury interior design or looking for elegant styles to emulate.
   
   The 25 apartments featured in the book are beautifully photographed and provide some basic information as to how the rooms were put together to get the over all "feel". This is not a "how to" book but rather a virtual portfolio of some of the best designers in the City.
   
   This is a wonderful coffee table book and would make a traffic gift to anyone interested in design, lifestyles or New York City.

1 comments about Designing the World's Best Bars.

1. This is a nice book for viewing bars that have already been designed. However, I wanted to actually design a bar and this book didn't help me with that at all. Good book. Nice pictures. But if you are looking to actually design a bar, then this book will not help. This book would have been more accurate if it were titled "the world's best designed bars."

No comments about USA: Modern Architectures in History (Reaktion Books - Modern Architectures in History).

4 comments about Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie Houses.

1. Frank Lloyd Wright's work around 1900 developed what are called the Prairie Houses. These houses split off from traditional American architecture to establish themselves as the start of what is truly American. These houses are open with horizontal lines that reflect the prairie from which they get their names.
   
   One surprising thing about the Prairie Houses is that they still look so modern that they could fit into any new sub-division being developed today. They certainly formed the foundations from which the Bungalow designs which followed.
   
   Another surprising thing about the Prairie Houses is that so many of them remain standing, and that so many of them have remained or been restored to as new condition. After all, these houses are a hundred years old, and many of their light fixtures, cabinets, things that get a lot of ware are still around.
   
   The book is beautifully printed and cloth bound. Another recommended book on a Wright Prairie House is Frank Lloyd Wright's Rosenbaum House which describes the house, but also the effort that it took to restore the house to its original form. The house took $14,000 to build, over a half million to restore.



2. Given the the high quality of Frank Lloyd Wright The Houses, this book was disappointing.



3. In the wake of the magnificent "Frank Lloyd Wright: The Houses", this followup volume disappoints on several levels. I expected some duplication with the earlier book. Certainly, extended coverage of the iconic works such as Dana, Robie and Coonley was warranted. As pointed out in my review of the previous book, many houses received coverage only via a thumbnail photo appendix. I anticipated these works would receive expanded coverage here, for the most part I was wrong. What we get instead is much duplication with "FLW:The Houses": of the 22 houses presented here 15 were in the previous volume. There is also reuse of many of the same photos, sometimes cropped slightly differently sometimes identical. Also disappointing is the size of the new volume. It is quite a bit smaller in format with the resultant lessening of impact by the still great photos.
   To sum up, if I had to buy only one book it would be "FLW: The Houses". This holds true even if my major interest was the Prairie period alone. Will a followup Usonian era volume provide the same needless duplication?



4. A sequel to the early collaboration of Alan Weintraub and Alan Hess on Frank Lloyd Wright houses, this work focuses on a series of houses the Wright office completed at the first decade of the century, dubbed "Prairie Style." The book contains some brief essays, prefaces, and then a series of phenomenal photographs of what are arguably the most influential group of houses of the twentieth century.
   
   Ironically the impact of these Prairie houses was spread through the lithographs of the "Wasmuth Portfolio" - line drawings of these houses that captivated the European modernists when published in 1910. These line drawings are still the way this group of houses is often reproduced, taught, or shown in slides in art history class. This book stands as an immediate corrective to that.
   
   These photographs are extraordinarily rich, and must be said to complement Wright's work quite well. They include luminous photographs of the interiors, beautiful examples of the exteriors, really these are the next best thing to a trip to Oak Park to see the work directly.
   
   I would highly recommend the book to anyone interested in Wright, or architecture, and this book sure would make a perfect gift.
   
   As a very minor complaint, compared to the previous book where the subject was Wright's entire career of houses, as this one focuses on the Prairie Style it would have been nice to have some comparisons to the Prairie work other architects were creating in Chicago. Also, the authors make no acknowledgement that Wright created these houses in the context of an architectural studio practice, and so the efforts of his talented contributers such as Marion Mahoney go unmentioned.

5 comments about Bungalow Nation.

1. Generously adorned throughout this book are beautiful photographs of classic Bungalow homes from across the nation. I flipped through this book at Borders, in the hopes of getting it at Amazon later, but fell in love with it too much to wait for the cheaper internet price. The cover, of course, is eye-catching, with all the rich fall colors, and that same craftsmanship is consistent throughout the book. Job well done!



2. The bungalow is uniquely suited to the homeowner of today: solidly built of good natural materials, unpretentious, yet capable of modification and expansion; usually set in a pleasant and roomy yard, and big enough for the "typical family of four" to inhabit without getting in one another's faces. For these reasons, many cities have seen a "bungalow boom" that has driven up the price of these cozy houses. If you're thinking about a bungalow but aren't sure you want to invest all that money, this book may help you decide. Chock full of all-color photographs, it shows the variations in style and modification possible to the type, the lovingly created details typically found in it, and the ways in which many bungalow owners have contrived to furnish their homes authentically. With a book or two about Craftsman or Stickley furniture, it should provide you with ideas galore about what's possible to a bungalow. And if you simply enjoy looking at pictures of small, simple, yet well-made American houses, it's a volume you're sure to enjoy. For restorationists, decorators, historians, and architecture buffs, it's a beautiful and indispensable volume.



3. When I bought a 1920's bungalow a year ago, I checked out every arts and crafts and bungalow book I could get my hands on. This one rose to the top. Perhaps I'm a little biased because a good portion of the homes featured in the book are located in the Twin Cities, where I live. But the thing I really like about Bungalow Nation, besides the lovely quality of the photograhps, is that it provides excellent inspiration for the interior decoration of arts and crafts style homes.
   
   If you have a bungalow, or just love the style, you will adore this book.



4. Bungalow Nation is a truly sumptuous and detailed look at American bungalows.With color pictures on every page, this book is a wonderful balance of text and graphics. The author's text and the photographs by Alexander Vertikoff together present a well-rounded introduction to bungalow style through brief looks at over 75 specific examples of bungalow architecture.
   
   In a chapter called "In The Land Of The Bungalow" the book starts with a brief history of the origins and growth of the architectural style and its place in American history. This chapter is followed by brief treatments of specific aspects of bungalow style: the outside, porches, the inside, fireplaces, built-ins, and furnishings.
   
   Then the author and photographer take us to five different cities to look at examples of bungalows in each. Sample bungalows in Los Angeles, Seattle, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Chicago and Washington DC are highlighted in two to four page spreads. Each house has a description and history of the house and some information on the current owners. This is followed by some photographs of specific features with captions describing each.
   
   The book ends with a bibliography and lists of organizations and architects in each of the five areas highlighted.
   
   This is a lovely book. The bugalows are beautifully photographed. The endpapers are sheet music for the song "In The Land Of the Bungalow" by George F. Devereaux. The cover has a color print of a crewel embroidery of dragonflies. It is a labor of love that is a delight to read and a treat to the eyes. If you love bungalows, this is the book for you.
   
   I got this book because I am planning to remodel the kitchen and bath of my 1930 bungalow and was looking for ways to do so while retaining the original integrity of the house. This book has given me the ideas I need to move forward with confidence.



5. I live in a California Craftsman bungalow and therefore gravitated immediately to this book when I saw it in Builders Booksource in Berkeley, CA. It's absolutely lovely: the story of 75 bungalows in LA, Seattle, Chicago, DC, and Minneapolis. I was surprised that Berkeley wasn't included, but the homes shows epitomize America's love affair with these cozy, well-built structures. Included are features on porches, fireplaces, numerous built-ins, furnishings, landscaping, and interior/exterior decoration. You'll love this book, as I do.

3 comments about The Lost Vanguard: Russian Modernist Architecture 1922-1932.

1. In the West, we often forget the Modernist agenda was rapidly adopted throughout the World. Young architects in the Soviet Union were especially eager to embrace this radical break with tradition. From 1922-32, Soviet architects were on the leading edge of the Modern Movement. This experiment with Modernism came to end with the rise of Josef Stalin. The Iron Curtain soon cut off the Soviet Union from the rise and eventual decline of architectural Modernism in the West.
   
   The collapse of the Soviet Union opened new opportunities for Westerners to explore countries that had been cut off for nearly seven decades. In 1993, architectural photographer and curator Richard Pare first entered the former Soviet Union. Pare's goal was to find these "lost" early Modernist buildings and photograph them. "The Lost Vanguard" is a compilation of photographs of seventry three structures. Richard Pare is a first rate photographer and his images are impressive.
   
   A wonderful companion work to "The Lost Vanguard" is "Havana Deco." While the Soviets were adopting the latest Modernist designs, Cuban architects were embracing Modernism's more sensual sibling, Art Deco. In both Cuba and the Soviet Union, these cutting edge buildings were allowed to fall into the worst kind of disrepair. Yet in Cuba, no matter how greatly neglected the bulding is, there are always sensual bones beneath the decaying exterior. In contrast, there is something nightmarish about the Soviet buildings. In looking at Pare's depressing photographs, I am reminded of the slum photos of the great Chilean American photographer, Camilo Jose Vergara. These early Modernist buildings are not long for this world and we are fortunate the Richard Pare got there in time to document them. Highly recommended.



2. 
   Beautiful modern architecture, beautiful postmodernist photography -- a labor of love, worth the labor that went into it!



3. Richard Pare is one of the best architectural photographers in the world today. In more than ten years he has documented Soviet architecture from after the 1917 revolution (1922-32) and this book is a catalog of that work, some of which is on display at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York (July-October 2007). It is a large (12" x 10.75") and heavy (most plates are in color) volume. An excellent source for those interested in this facet of modernism!

2 comments about Introduction to Indian Architecture (Periplus Asian Architecture Series).

1. Though I can't improve upon the Midwest Book Review's overview of this book, I hope it helps prospective buyers to know that two sources think INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN ARCHITECTURE is terrific. Especially pleasing are (by my count) the 216 colored photographs, which include a number of close-ups of details of buildings. Also excellent are the many line drawings that are included to show structural detail. For those who want an in-depth exploration of a particular period or type of Indian architecture, there are other (far more expensive) books to choose from. For one who is interested in ALL Indian architecture, however, this is the book to buy.



2. The architectural heritage of the Indian subcontinent spans thousands of years and layers of diverse civilizations, beginning with the Indus Valley settlements and the early Vedic traditions. Impressively illustrated by Suparna Bhalla and Surat Kumar Manto, Introduction To Indian Architecture by architect Bindia Thapar (currently a visiting lecturer at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi) surveys the Hindu, Jain, Mughal (Islamic) and colonial (British), and post independence architectural styles. Showcased are monuments and/or buildings which represent the various individual schools of architecture singled out. Enhanced with maps, site plans , and other visual materials, Introduction To Indian Architecture is ideal for non-specialist general readers with an interest in Indian culture and history, students of multicultural architecture, as well as an essential addition to both academic and community library Architectural History reference collections.

1 comments about American Art and Architecture (World of Art).

1. Professor Lewis has undertaken a very ambitious project and has accomplished his mission with an astonishingly clear, easy to read and engaging review.
   The study of American art and architecture is a hobby for me and I have read several texts on this subject prior to this one. I say this to frame my comments as coming not from a professional or scholarly point of view but not from a novice, either. I am not certain that this would be a good entry point for this subject if only because the author covers so much ground in the space alotted . For the reader who is familiar with well known works and the lives of the characters discussed here,the book provides a flowing narrative that connects the developments in both art and architecture to the historical events of the times. There is little attempt to dig into the psychological or political underpinnings in any great detail, a trait of some of the other reviews in the field that can often make the going a bit tough. (I find this to be a problem with some of the Oxford series books).
   The illustrations are not the high point of this book. They are adequate and serve to reinforce the text, which I think is the point here.
   The brief glossary and comprehensive index were helpful when trying to return to a point discussed in brief detail which returns later in the text.

3 comments about Architecture of the Cape Cod Summer: The Work of Polhemus Savery DaSilva: New Classicists.

1. I was given this book as a gift and I have since spent many hours thumbing through the pages. The photographs, detailed architectural drawings and renderings give the reader an in depth understanding of each project. The architecture is both beautiful and inspiring. Any designer, architecture enthusiast or student will find this book a worthwhile addition to their collection.



2. Good architecture can enhance or destroy a natural vista and this monograph of the work of Polhemus Savery DaSilva demonstrates how the development of a piece of property does not mean destruction. The architecture is first rate and like all Images books the quality of the publication is exceptional.



3. This is a great book! Below is an edited version of my article that appeared in The Cape Cod Chronicle, July 24, 2008:
   
   "Inventive reinterpretations of historical elements" are major features of the houses of Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders (PSDAB), according to architect John R. DaSilva.
   
   In this magnificent book 25 major works by the firm are collected into one handsome volume. The houses are pictured inside and out in over 400 color photographs, with site and floor plans included.
   
   In his essay in the book, DaSilva outlines the firm's belief in architecture that recalls the past, "rather than literally re-creating it."
   
   "I always wanted to be an architect" DaSilva said during a recent interview. He followed his dream to Princeton and Yale. He married architect Sharon McGinnis DaSilva (now a senior designer at PSD) whom he met when both were working at Venturi, Rauch and Scott Brown.
   
   The decades following the Civil War were the period of America's "first real `summer,'" DaSilva writes. In the introduction, Michael Crosbie, who writes extensively about architecture for such publications as "Architectural Record," compares our time to the earlier period. "It harkens back to the age of grand houses by the sea..."
   
   Take Pepperwood, a 7,500-square-foot house which DaSilva designed (his wife collaborated) in Chathamport. "The client asked for a large house, but one that would not overwhelm the more modest suburban Capes and colonials of its post-war neighborhood," Crosbie writes.
   
   In speaking of his designs, DaSilva frequently mentions great architects of the past. In the case of Pepperwood he evokes John Soane and Edwin Lutyens, who was known for adapting traditional architectural styles in the early years of the 20th century. "The interior of this house is, in many ways, informed by the kind of things they did," he says.
   
   Playfulness and wit are traits that "make our projects fresh," DaSilva says. At Pepperwood this is expressed by repeating the gambrel roof shape of the front elevation throughout the house in whimsical details.
   
   DaSilva proved his versatility as a designer when he took on a radically different project-- a municipal restroom. "This was a challenging project," he says. It's on Chatham's town green. "Putting the rest rooms there, you don't want it to look like a camp structure." DaSilva used, of all things, a Greek temple as his model. "It's a simplified and more abstract version." (On the morning after the grand opening someone strung toilet paper across the portico with "Acrapolis" on it - the firm took this as a compliment!) PSDAB designed the building pro bono.
   
   Do PSDAB projects share common elements? DaSilva believes so. He mentions the firm's fastidiousness in orientation that takes advantage of natural lighting. While every site differs, "we try to have every major room have two exposures," he says.
   
   "Architecture" took about a year and a half to put together. Now, DaSilva says, "I want to put this book aside and create the work to go into volume two."

5 comments about Private Splendor: Great Families at Home.

1. PRIVATE SPLENDOR is by far one of the best of its type. Author Alexis Gregory and photographer Marc Walter are guests in eight great houses still inhabited by their aristocratic families. An intimate view into the lifestyle of today's owners is presented in a good blend of the scholarly and the artistic. Granted, more about the architecture, art, furnishings, family history, etc., could have been told and shown, but each palace is worthy of its own book. This is a very good book that shows life in great houses beyond the velvet rope that would restrict the casual visitor.



2. I find this to be a beautifully photographed book, I have dupilcated one of the floral arrangements already. A great idea book.



3. This book is excellent! If you've ever wondered what it must be like to live in grandeur like the British nobility and some European Royal Families, then this is the book for you!
   
   Buy it today!



4. This is a fabulous book. I bought the book because of my connection and time spent at Harewood House in England. The photographs are so fantastic and the text very competent. Which in the case of Harewood is quite an accomplishment since the history is long and quite complicated. Alexis Gregory is to be congratulated on getting all the facts right. I know this home intimately and the photos show Harewood just as it is in all its glory.
   
   I was also fascinated with St. Emmeram Palace in which I have also spent much time. Again the images and the accompanying text are best examples of their craft.
   
   But the best part of the book was discovering other stately homes and palaces that I did not know about. It was exciting to get a look inside these private spaces. A more beautiful book will be hard to come by. I could not put it down. The only complaint with the whole book is that there was not more of it- more photos and more homes included!
   
   I am often disappointed by such photography/history books, but this is the exception to that rule.
   
   My highest compliments!



5. Beautiful objects, great architecture, photos show dark inhospitable living conditions of a time gone by. I would have liked more photos of living areas and brighter conditions