3 comments about Managing the Construction Process: Estimating, Scheduling, and Project Control (3rd Edition).

1. The book was shrink wrapped but it was damaged. Not sure if it was the fault of the publisher or the seller but in either case I expected a better product.



2. Required reading for a construction management course.



3. This book is very helpful and applicable to the real world. It goes through good examples to get a grasp of the development process.

2 comments about Victorian Dwellings for Village and Country (1885) (Dover Books on Architecture).

1. Dover Publications has done an outstanding service in reprinting home plan books of past eras, and S.B. Reed's "Victorian Dwellings for Village and Country" is one of the best. A complete reproduction of the 1885 edition of this book, the Dover reprint is a fascinating and beautiful glimpse into one of home architecture's richest eras.

   The plan of the book is simple and informative. It is a collection of 35 marvelously detailed designs for homes that range from a humble three-room cottage to an imposing boarding house. Each selection contains front and side (and in some cases, rear) elevations, along with floor plans for the first and (for the 2- and 3-story buildings) second stories. Each building is accompanied by a charming descriptive essay and a detailed estimate of the 1885 cost to build it.

   The building plans bear such picturesque names as "Lillie Lake," "Willimantic," "Ravenswood," and "Stepping Stones." Interspersed among the design profiles are a few short essays on such relevant topics as plumbing and building cost estimation.

   The Victorian language of the descriptive essays is a delight. Consider this description of the New Brighton (Design XV): "It has a tasty and picturesque exterior, and is convenient, cosey [sic] and cheerful within." But even more delightful are the floor plans and elevations. Covered verandas, inglenooks, decorative trim, towers and balconies--the full extravagant vocabulary of Victorian architecture is gloriously preserved.

   This book will be treasured by historians, old house restorationists, artists, students of architecture and many more.




2. A delightful book. Each house mentioned is accompanied by a well writtein single paragraph that describes it beutfifully and even adds suggestions on how to build it such as putting the kitchen in the basement which is brilliant for a time before air conditioning. However it only provides two floors of plan rather than a full set. No plans for attic or basement which is a shame. Design XXXV no floor plans at all.
   
   Otherwise great for those interested i archiecture or the history of the victorian period.
   
   A joy.

1 comments about Little Book of Log Cabins: How to Build and Furnish Them (Dover Pictorial Archive).

1. This book is a nice facsimile of a very early (read: pre-modern tech) period that will show you some sketches of different cabins. I think the next step is to go buy a good axe.

2 comments about Log Homes Made Easy, 3rd Edition.

1. This book is a must read for anyone thinking of building a log home. Regardless if you are doing a custom log home or a packaged ssytem this book has helpful device from design to maintenance. I have dog eared more pages than any other book I have read. Since Jim's second edition I have built two log homes and have become a faithful follower and believer.
   
   Anthony



2. I am highly confident that people who are not experienced in the building construction process and who intend to build their own log home should read this book to have an idea on what real problems they may face when they actually begin the construction of a log home. The book helps the reader to define realistic targets in owning a log home rather then reaching for dreams difficult to realize for a beginner. The book provides highly important and critical information on different steps of the process before an owner built log home is finished. The steps begin from defining your goals, expectations, acquiring land, site planning, financing and continue with general contracting, consruction process and maintenence. The chapters are sufficiently detailed for the reader to make decisions in the building process. It also mentions the key issues to be discussed with the general contractors or sub-contractors leading to significant improvement in the overall quality of owner built log home. The book also suggests a buiding process plan which is helpful for an individual to realisticly schedule the work to be completed with minimized risk in waste of time, money and effort. The book is also helpful in estimating the overall time, money and effort needed to succesfully complete an owner built log home rather then focusing on specific problems. I consider that writer, Mr. Jim Cooper, has shared his valuable experienece gained in many years with the readers.

2 comments about Celebrating the American Home: 50 Great Houses from 50 American Architects.

1. Celebrating The American Home: 50 Great Houses From 50 American Architects by licensed architect Joanne Kellar Bouknight showcases the architectural plans for fifty homes selected by a panel of distinguished residential architects (John Connell, Duo Dickinson, Jeremiah Eck, Richard Hayes, Kerry Dietz) based on how well these houses reflect core qualities of great residential design. Profusely illustrated with 350 color photos, Celebrating The American Home is an impressively produced and organized contribution to professional, academic, and community library Architectural Studies collections.



2. The publisher of this book, The Taunton Press, has published a series of outstanding book on homes in America. Unlike many publishers, they have not concentrated on the giant mansions that few of us can afford. This book is a compilation of houses selected from about ten years of hous books. It features fifty homes, perhaps ten percent of the homes featured in all of their books, that have been selected by a panel of distinguished residential architects using a number of criteria based on both attractive design and things like livability.
   
   I'm thinking of building a new house. I live alone, kids are gone, I don't like house cleaning so want a small easy maintenance house. That's not to say that some distinctive architecture would hurt. There are some houses here that really have me thinking. One in Kansas was built to a $50,000 budget using a lot of salvaged commercial building pieces such as trusses.
   
   Then at the end of the book, three of the architects who helped select the 50 houses have short essays on residential artechitecture. This is a splendid coffee table book, but beyond that, if you've any thought of building, this is a marvelous book.

2 comments about New Old House.

1. We have been working on restoring an old victorian for some time now, and this book has been a valuable resource. Through it we found such places as Noreast Architectural Antiques of Massachusetts, who we would never have known existed without this reference. I highly recommend this book. Today I am ordering a second copy to give as a gift...



2. Nice picture book of rustic homes built with recycled materials, however if you are looking for actual how to knowledge this isn't the book. I was hoping for more information on the "how", but instead the author focused almost exclusively on the final product. Would have been nice to see a "beginning to end", with details on how the material was salvaged, prepared, and installed.

1 comments about New Asian Architecture Vernacular Trad &.

1. If they reprint this book, anyone interested in architecture in asia should buy it. We had one but unfortunately gave it away-- to our architect for inspiration-- before we realized it was out of print. The pages are a visual feast, and the text is equally wonderful.

No comments about Containers with Style (Do It Yourself).

No comments about The Green Self-Build Book: How to Design And Build Your Own Eco-home.

No comments about Your Dream Home: A Design Sourcebook (House Beautiful).