Book Description

This Handbook is about methods, tools and examples of how to architect an enterprise through considering all life cycle aspects of Enterprise Entities (such as individual enterprises, enterprise networks, virtual enterprises, projects and other complex systems including a mixture of automated and human processes). The book is based on ISO15704:2000, or the GERAM Framework (Generalised Enterprise Reference Architecture and Methodology) that generalises the requirements of Enterprise Reference Architectures. Various Architecture Frameworks (PERA, CIMOSA, Grai-GIM, Zachman, C4ISR/DoDAF) are shown in light of GERAM to allow a deeper understanding of their contributions and therefore their correct and knowledgeable use. The handbook addresses a wide variety of audience, and covers methods and tools necessary to design or redesign enterprises, as well as to structure the implementation into manageable projects. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Flexible approach to enterprise architecture
This book is a collection of articles that describe the key elements of the Generalized Enterprise Reference Architecture and Methodology {GERAM}, with each article written by an expert in a particular topic area, and the whole skillfully glued together by the editors.

My take on GERAM - having suffered through more approaches to architecture than I care to relate, some good and some bad, the GERAM approach is a beacon of sanity. First, it logically and clearly divides architecture into domains, which are interconnected as follow:

(1) Generalized enterprise reference architecture (high-level model for integration) employs an enterprise modeling methodology that uses enterprise modeling language(s). The language(s) are implemented as enterprise engineering tools, which are used to develop enterprise models, which are, in turn, used to design operational systems.

(2) Also feeding into the enterprise modeling tools are: partial enterprise models, which are supported by general enterprise modeling concepts, and directly support enterprise modeling tools.

(3) Finally, there are 'Enterprise Modules', comprised of processes, staff resources, and technology, which are the basis for implementing the operational system.

From the above, which is hard to visualize in a text description, one can see that GERAM is a pick and choose model that has a great deal of flexibility. It's not a perfect model, but it's also not rigid, which is the reason I like it so.

With the context provided above, the book addresses GERAM in five parts, each of which contains relevant articles:

Part I Architecture Frameworks, is a well stated and illustrated of GERAM and how it maps to other architecture frameworks.

Part II Strategy Making and Business Planning, covers business aspects ranging from corporate strategy to developing the business model, to developing the enterprise concept and associated business plan.

Part III Defining the Requirements for Enterprise Change, provides a focus on modeling.

Part IV Developing the Master Plan, steps you through the design phase.

Part V consists of four case studies that reinforce the preceding parts of this book.

Do you need yet another architecture approach? The answer is, it depends. I do not view GERAM as much a distinct architecture approach as much as it's an approach to architecture. I believe that it can be applied - in part or in its entirety - to any architecture model because of the inherent flexibility. I certainly believe that this book is an essential resource for any enterprise architect because of the way it separates key elements of an architecture.

A must have for any Enterprise Architect / Engineer...
This is perhaps the most comprehensive book in this discipline. The book is almost encyclopaedic. As it covers several frameworks like Zachman, GERAM, PERA, ARIS, it provides a very good comparison and contrast between these. This book is a great text book for any Graduate Level course in Software / Systems Engineering, Business Information Systems and Architecture. ... Read more

Book Description

For readers who want to go beyond feng shui to the next level of home enhancement, this beautifully illustrated book looks to the mythology and psychology of the home, while showing imaginative and practical ways to use light, color, and sound to give any living space a welcoming and relaxing ambience.

Designing and arranging spaces that improve the quality of life-spiritually, emotionally, and physically-can make a home, be it a spacious house or a single room, a refuge from a stressful world. Readers will find the process of improving their home to be simple and fun as they follow the book's formulas. For example, the "Loose Living" chapter shows how people with no sewing skills can enhance a room by swathing and draping furniture in fresh fabric as an instant cover-up for a battered sofa-or use fabric as an ally to filter the light atmospherically or conceal a dismal view. The "Found Objects" chapter shows how finds from junk shops, flea markets, and other secondhand sources can be transformed into treasured keepsakes. Instructions for arranging the home to attract success and energy and clear clutter painlessly are among the many easy-to-implement tips presented. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Indispensable reading for anyone who cherishes their home
I've read so many books about interior decor, Feng Shui, space clearing, etc., etc. - but this book covers all aspects of making your home a true haven for body, mind and spirit. It is not only inspiring to read but beautiful to look at. Jane Alexander gives many tips which are easy to carry out without a great deal of expense. I can personally vouch for the fact that if you follow her advice, you will notice the difference in the atmosphere of your home - and so will your visitors. This lovely book makes a perfect gift, particularly for someone who needs their spirits boosting or is contemplating decorating their home, or perhaps moving house. Only trouble is that if you buy it for someone else, you'll probably be tempted to keep it for yourself!

Great Overview of different spiritual aspects of home
When I first looked over this book I did not get into it. But as I began to buy new furniture for a new home and pulled together my tastes and sytles (The Domain Book is great for that!), I found this book to be a wonderfully insightful book that helped me to consider Feng Shui and blessing my home and many other spiritual and tangible aspects of this place called my home. I have ordered a second one today for a friend.

One of the best "sacred space" books I've read
This book was a real "find" for me. I have several books on feng shui and space clearing, and this one was intuitive, yet practical at the same time. It is spiritual but loaded with remedies for clearing one's space on this earth while we are here! I never thought to talk to my house, yet it makes perfect sense! It reads almost like a novel and is just full of information. I wish I could go home from work now and continue with the "read"!

No pictures, but lots of good info.
This book is a good introduction to lots of new age stuff (and common sensical stuff, too) relating to homes. Alexander gives recommendations of other books if you want to dig deeper into a particular topic.

Lots of information but not enough pictures
I enjoy reading, but I am a very visual person and was disappointed in this book because while it offers suggestions that make sense, it takes longer to get through the book since it is practically all words and very few pictures for inspiration. ... Read more

Book Description

New AutoCAD X users will love this straightforward, skills-based guide to Autodesk's newest version of AutoCAD.--This book gets readers up to speed quickly on the essential features and tools, and supplements the discussion with tips and tricks, loads of hands-on exercises, and sidebars.--Features a full-color insert and expanded coverage of 3D techniques and concepts. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

from a teacher of AutoCAD
This AutoCAD manual is clearly written and easy to follow. The book is organized around a drawing or set of drawings of a house. The reader learns by following the steps. My one criticism is that it isn't always possible to determine the general procedure from the specific drafting exercise that it leads you through.

Very Satisfied
This book is great for beginners ! I have bought other books such as the Mastering Autocad from George Omura ,but the thing I really enjoyed about this book was that it was explained in very simple terms , as not to intimidate a beginner !The only reason I got this one was to catch up on this version of Autocad 2002, previously coming from Autocad 14 . It's excellent for novices !

good tutorial if you're starting at zero
I told a potential employer that I'm good with AutoCAD. I had never touched AutoCAD and after playing around with it for a bit, it was obvious that I wasn't going to figure it out by browsing the menus. But I have a lot of computer experience and I learn fast. This book started at the absolute basics--drawing a random line--and progressed using the example of a little cabin, until by the end of the book I was rotating it in three dimentions and rendering it with shadows and a background image. One feature of the book I liked is that the author shows several different ways to do the same thing. It took me about five days to get through the whole thing, and when Monday rolled around and I went to interview, I knew more about AutoCAD than the guy who was hiring, which (though he didn't know much) is all that mattered. I since have acquired another book that I'll use to become an expert, but now I at least know how the program works and can do basic necessary procedures. I don't know what else is out there but this book was exactly what I was looking for and I'm glad I bought it.

Very well edited
This is a great!!! book for beginners with autocad. It is very well edited; meaning it doesn't take you down endless rabbit holes of frustration. It is an excellent book to learn autocad as it relates to architecture. Highly recommended.

Great book for beginners!!!
If you have no experience, this is the AutoCAD book for you!

Contrary to what another reviewer said, alternative line types such as center line and dashed line ARE covered around p.173.

It should be noted that the examples in the books concentrate exclusively on architecture, but this is not really a problem. The differences between using AutoCAD for architecture and using it for any other subject at pretty minor. The obvious advantages of covering architecture is that there are more AutoCAD jobs in building design and related fields than other specific applications. Also more readers understand building drawings than, say, the detailed innards of an airplane. I think it is better to concentrate on at least one specific useful, employable application, rather than being overly abstract and pedantic, like so many math and science classes are.

However, this is of course a beginners guide, so if you want a comprehensive reference, you should get another book such as the AutoCAD 2002 Bible. Buying them together is a great deal. ... Read more

Book Description

The guide that enables you to identify, and place in their historic and architectural contexts, the houses you see in your neighborhood or in your travels across America. 17th century to the present. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

A superior tool for beginner to expert
As a first time buyer of a vintage home I disapointedly rambled the internet look for a definitive guide to identifying the style of my home. Finally I lucked upon the Field Guide to American Houses and using its detailed guidance and illustrations I quickly solved the mystery. This book is well organized and very clear in describing the key identifying features of American homes. The numerous illustrations and photographs allow the reader to visualize the single or multiple influences used in the construction of a vintage home. A must for those interested in walking tours of homes.

A Field Guide to American Houses
This is a keeper book! I keep going back to it month after month. It has home styles as they came thru history grouped by style. It has pictures of house features that help identify what style a home is. It has lots of pictures. The only weakness I can think of is it does not have a lot of information on Home-styles being built right now. AntBiscuit@cs.com

Very useful for this novice
A very useful reference, even for those (like me) just starting to understand different styles of homes. My only gripes: more photos, color photos, and more specific information on the photos would be more useful.

A Contemporary Classic Saves Architectural Books Forever
Are the differences of the Ionic, Doric, or Corinthian Columns a little fuzy to you? And are these columns found on Early Classical Revival, Greek Revival, or Italiante? (it's a little tricky, they can all three be found on all three but rarely together). McAlestor & McAlestor have transformed a world of bleak descriptions and bland designs and turned them into an understand system of brillant diagrams and excellent pictures. This book was assigned in my historic architecture/preservation class and serves as the DEFINITIVE SOURCE for architectural identification. Buy it and throw it in the car. The world has made some great houses and McAlestor does the BEST JOB of explaining it to all of us!!!

An indispensable tool
I stand in awe of the amount of work that must have gone into this book. Photographs of existing examples of every style of architecture (from #1, a Winnebago bark wigwam, to a sampling of NeoVictorians) in every region of the United States dominate its pages (their size is the only reason I don't rate it at five stars: you'll definitely want a magnifier). A lengthy (61pp) preface explains the roots of American house styles and all their basic elements, from plans and shapes to methods of construction to decorative details. Each chapter concentrates on a basic style, from "Pre-Railroad" (log cabins and plains soddies, including a splendid series of sketches showing the former's possible permutations) through "NeoEclectic" and "Contemporary Folk;" all include a map showing the locations in which that type was common and the period of its outward spread, and most have ink sketches of details such as doors, windows, roofs, and general shape. Whether you're a dedicated "house-walker" or just curious about the kinds of houses people have lived in over our nation's history, this comfortably sized and clearly illustrated volume should be on your shelf. I refer to it regularly in writing about past house styles. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tuscany's hill towns and countryside have enthralled inhabitants and visitors for centuries--the golden light in the afternoons, the grape arbors, and the rolling hillsides dotted with rustic farmhouses and villas. Private Tuscany invites us into these dwellings, giving us a glimpse of how life is lived in this warm, inviting place.

The homes featured in this gorgeous volume are as enchanting as the Tuscan towns and hillsides they're built on. Many embody a style we've come to associate with Tuscany: dark-timbered kitchens with dried herbs and garlic ropes hung from the rafters, original terra-cotta tile floors, large-windowed living rooms, and artfully frescoed walls. There are centuries-old furnishings crafted by skilled Italian artisans and elegantly manicured gardens containing hidden grottos and classical statuary. But the homes also reflect the special touches of the people who occupy them. For instance, a theater lover displays his exquisite collection of miniature theaters in the salon; the daughter of a villa owner paints traditional murals on the walls and mosaic patterns on the floors.

Simon McBride's photographs skillfully capture the magic of these Tuscan homes and feature a variety of residences, from simple farmhouses to grand villas and palaces. The book's four chapters divide the homes into types: rustic, classic, grand, and modern. An index at the back serves as an introduction to Tuscany's pleasures, providing contact information for sampling the region's wine and produce, fine dining, hotels and houses, gardens, and crafts.

Several of the homeowners featured in Private Tuscany have gone to painstaking lengths to restore these buildings after decades, or even centuries, of neglect. The results, from the simplest farmhouse kitchen to an elaborately frescoed dining room, are breathtaking. --Kris Law ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Beautiful, inspiring,full of memories of Italy
This book was so lovely. It contains exquisite photos and many, many ideas applicable for my own home. Great decorating ideas. I've shared this book with other people who have been equally inspired by the warm, gracious, elegant living portrayed throughout. Highly recommend this book for yourself or gift. A lovely way to remember past visits to Italy or inspire a personal visit in the not too distant future.

A visual feast!
A beautiful book -- I enjoyed it much more than Tuscany Interiors which I also own. The houses range from simple to elaborate and -- of course! -- the landscapes and gardens are gorgeous. This is a great book from which to "lift" Italian decorating ideas. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is a deep, magical, densely captivating book about space, our homes, how we live in them, and how dwellings and space affect us; it is as much a book of philosophy as a work of serious literature. It requires careful, preferably leisurely reading, with the possibility of moments to pause and digest and re-read the words. It will change the way you look at your home and your life, providing a deeper, more insightful relationship with the spaces you occupy. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Eye-Opening Book for Those Interested in Place or Language
Though you may not immediately think that there is a connection between language and the places where you live and pass through, your sense of your surroundings and of language itself will be transformed after you read Gaston Bachelard's "The Poetics of Space." Bachelard argues that language--especially poetry--can reveal hidden aspects of our experience of space, especially of our home space. For example, he considers how common phrases such as "go up to the attic" and "go down to the basement" are revelatory of our typical sense that stairs to an attic are stairs one ascends, while stairs to the basement are stairs one descends--in spite of the fact that both sets of stairs must be equally ascended and descended. As he does with other such observations, Bachelard extends his observation regarding the directionality of different staircases into a discussion of how the attic and basement hold different roles in our daily and imaginary lives. In addition to exploring how we experience space and place, Bachelard equally attends to the way in which language can function either as a daily and common means of communication or as a site of new and creative insight; roughly speaking, he argues that poetry happens when the motions of language itself open us up to a new way of seeing or understanding something. By reading this beautifully written and engaging book, you will likely come to understand or see anew experiences from childhood through adulthood that pertain to places where your have lived, grown up, felt comfortable or alienated, had a feeling of wonder or fear, etc. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the experience of place or space, in language and what it can reveal to us, or in what counts as poetry rather than as common everyday language.

incredibly brilliant book
When I read I dogear pages with especially interesting quotes on them, & in this book I dogeared almost every page...& on each page I can't tell now what quote I was dogearing for, because everything he says is so amazing. This book is so beautiful with its ingenius motion through psychology, architecture, poetry, & on & on. Of all the books in my personal library, this is one of the very most highly recommended from me to any reader. I am sure that no one was mistaken in hailing Bachelard as one of the 20th century's greatest philosophers.

Heraclitus with a Fountain Pen
Owing to its elusive origin, we would do well to read Bachelard's The Poetics of Space as a kind of voluptuous epilogue of the absent image. The pages glisten to the simmer of echoes, Proustean recollections entwine with a phenomenology of the immediate and the vast corresponds with the intimate like distant lighthouses resonating each others beam. Flickering the pages with scholarly fervour, naïve with the melancholy of the insignificant, and impatient with reveries with the absent will only lead to vexation since here one has to allow the words to diffuse with their natural lucidity. Battered and laced in a forgotten history, it travels in the arms of poets whose voice chortles to express itself (Heraclitus is a distant allegory buried beneath a tree). Thrown upon the floor, pencil-sketched like the lithographs of Alfred Kubin, gargled, chewed, and spat out: the pages rustle, the breeze stirs, the binding cracks.

Gaston Bachelard: suddenly ' as though by revelation ' we are led amongst the house, inspecting its corners for crevices of inspiration and comfort. Indoors, secluded from the ontology of the outside and with only distant murmur of the viola for company, clutching our sketchbooks we lose ourselves within the intimate space. A philosophy of the kitchen table, a psychology of the terrace unfolds. A conjuration of the nostalgic but a distillation of the present, the expression is passive, mild, and pendulous: it is the Grand Canal at dawn viewed from a secret bedroom within the Doges Palace. Knowing that the day will pass without having to be disturbed, we are able to extend our reveries beyond the immediate confines. Form the vantage point of age, which Bachelard was attuned to, one can glance down beside themselves, beside their memories, allowing the absent images to unfold like a kaleidoscope of foreign apparitions. The house dances with passion, the garden a landscape of pastoral splendour, the cemetery an ocean of the unwanted, the park a palace of the unknown ' the cottage a lugubrious enclave into which only chimerical reverberations emerge. Bachelard thus writes to himself, writes to purge himself of this painful, convoluted beauty that torments him: 'And the entire reality of memory becomes spectral' thus he writes with devastating clarity. A benign temperament, had his nature been more attuned to the negative, then such reflections would have led not to passive descriptions but to anguished expressionism ' a task which perhaps will be fulfilled by another author...

Fascinating Exploration of Spaces, Psychological and Real
This is a must-read for ANYONE interested in the arts, architecture, home buying, renovation, interior designing. Along with his in-depth exploration of how spaces work within our minds, he leads to beautiful poetic passages that will leave you breathless no matter how well read you are. After reading this book you will no longer think of the world around you as a vacuum to be rushed through. Everywhere has meaning.

A beautiful lyrical explorative journey
How do we associate emotional relationship to intimate spaces? This is the basic premise of this book. Gaston Bachelard unleashes our imaginations as he helps us to explore these feelings with an journey through our house - a sacred place that holds dear to most of us, a place that we grew up, a place that is full of memories both from our childhood and our present existence.

From the cellar to the attic, Bachelard also shows that these fantasies are not only common to all of us, but also can be viewed in a greater context and reflected in literary works, poetries, philosophies, etc. Also, these kinds of primal response also can be reflected in our relationship with natural spatial objects like nests and shells. It also deals with the metaphysical question of outside and inside.

This is a book that is full of philosophical treasures and wonders! ... Read more

Book Description

Culled from the remains of an original scrapbook comes a long overdue publication of the work of an architect who all but defined the Spanish Colonial Revival of the early twentieth century. Containing magazine articles and photographs published during Smith's lifetime, this book is an essential addition to the library of any student, practioner or afficionado of Southern California Architecture. It also contains a brief introduction written by Marc Appleton. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fantastic collection..
This is truely is a must have book for anyone remotely interested in Santa Barbara architecture. Beautiful images and sketches of the historic work of George Washington Smith make up this coffee table treasure. Highly reccommended. ... Read more

Book Description

In Light Revealing Architecture, nationally recognized authority Marietta Millet goes beyond fixtures and hardware, lumens and light bulbs to explore the timeless principles of lighting, as evidenced in architecture by using examples ranging from ancient to contemporary buildings. Providing over 400 illustrations—plans, sections, diagrams, paintings and photos—Millet shows how specific lighting effects are achieved from an architectural approach. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A very EN"LIGHT"ENING book!
Any spatial experience is intimately connected with the experience of light. The author has very articulately described this phenomena in architecture, using four major themes - where light helps with a physiological EXPERIENCE, gives a building FORM, defines and enhances SPACE, and thus gives it MEANING. This is an excellent book, well written and has a good association with all aspects of lighting, studied and explained with the help of a wide range of buildings and architecture. It makes a very strong (and convincing) argument, for all designers to pay attention to the importance of light while planning and designing their spaces or buildings. ... Read more

Book Description

Living Color taps into the current trend for using flowers not only for special occasions, but also as a key visual element in home decoration. An explosion of intense color mixes are accompanied by unique flower arranging recipes that include quantities as well as exact floral ingredients and methods needed to recreate the innovative floral bouquets for which Paula Pryke is internationally famous.

Using teaching methods honed from the author's highly successful flower school, Living Color demonstrates, step-by-step, how to create the kind of professional flower arrangements to accessorize and transform your living space, infusing it with color and style. Beginners and amateurs alike can easily achieve the same polished creations that have made Paula Pryke Britain's leading floral artist in constant demand internationally by royalty, celebrities, presidents and heads of state.

Following in the footsteps of her other successful flower arranging books (Festive Flowers, Flair with Flowers, Flowers, Flowers! & Simple Flowers), Living Color is the new addition to her definitive and expanding library of books to teach the creation of exceptional environments. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Source of inspiration
This book has numerous samples of flower arrangement. The photographs are very brilliant and come in full page. I learn a lot from the photographs. The flower arrangement are very nice, some of them come in a very daring color combination that you never think before. Paula Pryke has showed me that flower arrangement can be transformed from craft to art. I got a lot of inspiration about color combination, texture and composition from this book. The design principles that Pryke used on her flower arrangement can be applied in other field also. This book can be a source of inspiration for other designer (for interior designer, graphic designer, and illustrator). ... Read more

Book Description

Bungalow Colors: Exteriors addresses the importance of color in Arts& Crafts architecture. Drawing on the works of such Arts & Crafts master as Greene & Greene, Stickley, and Wright, this new volume outlines the history of color within the Arts & Crafts movement. Schweitzer provides practical advice for integrating historically accurate colors today. Whether restoring an older bungalow or aiming to impart an authentic flavor to a new Arts & Crafts-style home, Bungalow Colors: Exteriors focuses on "outside" solutions. Schweitzer addresses exterior walls, windows, roofs, and other architectural features, plus body, trim, accents, stucco, shingles, and clapboards. It's everything an Arts & Crafts enthusiast is looking for to create a visually stunning bungalow exterior.

Robert Schweitzer teaches architectural history and historic preservation at Eastern Michigan University. He is an advisory board member for American Bungalow magazine and a columnist for Victorian Homes. He live in Ann Arbor, Michigan. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

One of the best.
A very informative and usefull book for all designers.

DO NOT BUY! it's hard to imagine a more worthless book
This book is a fiasco. As a professional in commercial space planning for many years, I picked it up based on a 'glowing review'. I find another few good ratings here on-line. The authors mother must be writing them, because no one who actually attempted to verify the faulty and incomplete information within, could ever see this tome as worth the paper upon which it is printed.

One reviewer was accurate though; it isn't a bad door stop.

Interior Graphic and Design Standards
This is a very good book. Deals with the in and out of the interior design standards

* WARNING: THIS BOOK'S BEST USE IS AS A DOOR STOP! *
...so S T O P; don't buy this book. It's Junk. Anyone who's been in the profession a while knows it because many of us received it as a Designer's Book Club intro title in the late 80's or early 90's. It wasn't worth the cost of its S&H! Ask around to people in the profession and look it over first. I received mine while having just a few years of experience in practice. Initally excited and impressed with myself having identifed a clear technical error, my feelings quickly changed to surprise and then anger as I began to realize the whole book was packed w/ errors and critical omissions. It was generally a frustratingly incompetent presentation with widely incomplete information on its proposed subjects. That the editors and publisher let this trash out, and were, I presume, making their livings with this level of incompetence was disheartening.

Interior Graphic and Design Standards
An excellent book for "standard" measurements and dimensions of both commercial and residential spaces. A wonderful teaching tool! A book that should be on the shelves of every interior designer, architect and design professor. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Full of brilliant ideas that are actually useful!
Finally a book with some "meat and potatoes" content that is enhanced with beautiful photography and actual floorplans! Not just a book of pretty pictures that have little to do with actual cooking. These kitchens combine the best of design, performance and above all, personality. The written background is also fascinating and really gets into these chef's heads about their approaches to their own, personal kitchens. When's Book TWO?!!!

For cooks who are remodeling
My husband and I both love to cook and we're looking at remodeling our kitchen. This book has great inspiration on how to think about your kitchen space and how you use it. It's got some great ideas on how to think about your kitchen arrangement and storage options from people who KNOW what can get irritating very quickly. The downside of this book is that these kitchens were obviously done on budgets that most of us would never dream of -- we're not going to be installing professional/commercial grade appliances, and we're not going to have granite countertops or custom-made cabinetry. However, just to read how professional chefs planned out their own kitchens to make their lives easier, and their ideas on storage and display make this book well worth while.

A great "Go By" book on Kitchens, but watch for pot holes!
I really like this book alot!
Ken Hom's kitchen fascinated me. The 90 second Hobart sanitizing machine is De Rigueuer but you still have to wash all your dishes before you put them in the Hobart.

Secondly, study his work triangles and read the text. There were sink plumbing restrictions during remodeling and design focus on teaching. Su cuccina, mi cuccina? Maybe not but a great collection of design ideas, just look closely. See waht ideas would work for you and why. Some of these kitchens (John Folse)were designed for TV Production with ample room to move cameras around.

These chefs will tell you some of the mistakes they made and give you the reasons why they designed their kitchens the way they did. A great read and a great drool! Kitchen Kudos to you Miss Ellen Whitaker, et al!

I'm swimming upstream on this one
To be perfectly honest with you, I was a little disappointed in the book. I expected to see kitchens that I could only dream of. Instead I saw utilitarian efforts by America's top chefs. Imagine looking into Mario Andretti's personal garage. Would it look like a dream shop, or more like a GM assembly plant? One kitchen in this book had tall, bare cinderblock walls, that were not even finished, right in the center of the kitchen. How do you prevent dust from accumulating in bare cinderblock, and inadvertently arriving in some of the food? Their were some kitchens that were nicer than that, but nothing that inspired me.
Personally, I am interested in a kitchen that is as beautiful as it is practical. I found, the book, Kitchen's That Work, A Practical Guide to Creating a Great Kitchen, a much more informative, and inspiring book, no matter what your budget.
If you want to throw your pinky in the air, and poo paa your neighbors, then leave Great Kitchens on your coffee table. Their is plenty of names to drop in there. But if you want to create a great-dream kitchen, then get Kitchen's that Work. From soup to nuts, that is the book to have for the practical to the particular.
In all fairness, I am not sorry I bought Great Kitchens, as I am sure I can glean information from it. If you would like to hear about some of the considerations the top chefs like to see in their kitchens, then by all means buy the book. I guess I was expecting something awe inspiring, and that is not what this book is. I gave it four stars, because I never met a man, I couldn't learn something from.

Excellent Kitchen Planning Book
This is hands-down the best kitchen planning and design book I have seen. I learned so many things from it about picking materials, lighting, fixtures, sinks, layouts, etc. that my remodeled kitchen will be better because of it. I paged through endless books and magazines filled with lovely photos, but that lacked information or substance. This book stands out because it discusses pros and cons, budget tradeoffs made, the good decisions and "if-I-had-it-to-do-over-again" mistakes. These are kitchens put together by demanding professionals who won't tolerate (bad)or lightweight materials that are hard to clean. I learned many lessons about flooring, countertops, backsplashes and so on that were never touched upon by other books. Sure there are appliances to drool over, but there are also chefs who ran out of money during the remodel, or bought factory seconds tile to save money. Real-life issues and lessons. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture--so massive that it comes in its own plastic carrying case--is one of the rare publishing events that lives up to its hype. The book showcases 1,052 buildings completed since January 1998 with thousands of well-chosen color photographs plans, elevations, and cross-sections. Major elements of each project are described in elegantly succinct texts. Rather than simply pay lip service to the concept of "world" architecture, this book ranges throughout 75 countries on six continents. And although the big names in the field are here--Rafael Moneo and Herzog & De Meuron are each represented by nine projects; Tadeo Ando with eight, Frank Gehry with six--the focus is on the ingenuity and diversity of contemporary architecture, regardless of the fame of its creator.

Reviews (1)

A superb achievement
8 kilos - but not too hard to bear! Whoever wants to know about the jewels of modern architecture in the last 5 year, he must have this book. It covers great buildings as well as lesser known gems in exotic places. BUY BUY BUY!!!!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the foremost practitioners of New Urbanism, Peter Calthorpe, an urban designer and architect based in Berkeley, California, offers one of the most coherent and persuasive arguments for moving the United States away from sprawl and toward more compact, mixed-use, economically diverse, and ecologically sound communities. This book presents 24 of Calthorpe's regional urban plans, in which towns are organized so that residents can be less dependent upon their cars and can walk, bike, or take public transportation between work, school, home, and shopping.This book is not just for architects and urban planners, but for all concerned citizens interested in developing a cohesive, feasible vision of the sustainable city of the future. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Small Step
The one point in favor of this book is that it promotes a much-needed land use concept: Plan and build near transit. The critical downfall of the book is that it perpetuates the auto-centric lifestyle. While Europe and Asia are beginning to perfect pedestrian districts around their transit stops, the best that we Americans can do is to simply build residential units with 2 parking spaces each near metro stops. Too much land (typically 40%) is wasted in providing for streets, alleys, driveways, and the large number of parking spaces for each vehicle.

Such a design is still auto-centric if it makes automobile use the quickest and easiest way to shop at [a physical store] versus providing a pedestrian environment to walk 2 blocks to shop at a Mom & Pop store. Pedestrian environments with local grocery/pharmacy, schools, offices, day-care, sports fields, and other weekly needs are going to be able to eliminate 90% of automotive travel requirements. The other 10% can be easily provided through carsharing, a fast growing market in 21 North American cities now. Parking structures on the periphery of the district provides parking for carsharing and private automobiles (though the latter is retained by a modest percentage of households).

A book that envisions the progression of cities to pedestrian/transit use is Carfree Cities, by J.H. Crawford. There are also many websites that describe the many carfree areas already in place in Europe and Asia, whose residents require very little in the way of imported oil.

A must read!
This work is terrific if one is interested at all in the way in which cities could be developed. The ideas which Calthorpe presents are revolutionary and instrumental if one wishes to gain any sort of idea of the concepts and ideas proposed by "New Urbanism". His explanation of his Transit Oriented Development (TOD) is vital in understanding the difference between these developments and traditional versions. His use of specific examples makes the work that much better as it becomes more tangible and less simply theory. I would highly recomend this book to anyone involved in any sort of urban or city planning or simply interested in cities themselves. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great book
I am new to landscaping and bought this book because I have a lot of questions. This book gave me a lot of great ideas. If you are new to landscaping you will find it very usefull. Don't hesitate to buy if you are a newbie to landscaping.

A excellent buy; very good structure and content.
This book walks you through the processes of landscaping, from planning to installation, in a very readable, understandable and enjoyable manner. As a landscape designer, I'm always searching for references of any type to use when creating "yard spaces" and presenting those ideas to my customers. With books, I'm usually disappointed either with the graphic and/or written content regarding the details of landscaping, particularly those publications sold at the Home Depots et al. This was different. Technical to the point that's necessary and not too "flowery" in it's narrative, it just provides well written ideas and executions for many landscaping tasks.

The illustrations & photography in many books I've seen work OK but give the books an "old" feel, because, in many cases, they are old in date and style. With few exceptions, the artwork and landscape "styling" in this book appear current and appropriate. That made it a more believable book too.

All said and done, this book is an excellent value for those seeking general-to-semi-technical information for a wide variety of landscaping tasks. With its emphasis on extensive and educated planning, this book is an asset to the homeowner and the landscape professional alike. In my opinion, one of the book's greatest achievements may be that homeowners, after reading it, can decide better whether to tackle a project themselves or work with professionals. ... Read more

Book Description

An all-in-one architectural practice toolkit! AIA Kemper Award winner James R. Franklin'sArchitect's Professional Practice Manual is a no-nonsense compendium of well-tested methods, valuable tips, and contracts, forms, checklists, and other tools in a graphics-oriented, at-a-glance format. Beginning with how to position yourself in the marketplace, it takes you through the entire process of marketing, pricing, negotiating, designing, and carrying out projects, showing you how to build repeat client business while maintaining your joy and profitability through exemplary practices. This lean-and-clean fieldbook stresses the project-driven principles of good practice, emphasizing collaborative behavior, doing right by the client and the people you work with and for, as a key to upward mobility. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

REAL FROM THE TRENCHES ADVICE
If you are opening or running a small architecural practice, this book is IT! Real life- from the treches advice, that I used right away. The format is readable and visually clear. More than worth the price. I hope my competitors don't buy it. Franklin is the guru of good practice!

By an architect for architects
Excellent grouping of ideas. The author doesn't talk down to you, doesn't talk over your head, and doesn't have the ego of saying he knows everything. This is current, timely, and easy to read. The adhoc diagrams are exactly the kind of medium that is effective to architects. I'm buying another and requiring the entire office to read it.

Great source for any professional architect
This book is a wonderful source for architecture firm owners, and employees working in small firms. The "hands-on" diagrams give you the clear vision on proceedures, rules, and guides. Included in this book are tips, and tools you can use to organize yourself, understand cause and effect relations, and help you work more efficiently. Great not only to read, but I use it as a reference often. I have hundreds of books, but this is one of the select few that resides on my desk!

Great Book for architect negotiations
I really enjoyed this book. It is a great book to reference for business negotionating. It is put togther so very well that makes it enjoyable to read as well as an extremely awesome resource. ... Read more

Book Description

The latest installment in the popular Then and Now series showcases the capital of the Heartland and one of the premier cities in the nation and the world: Chicago.Chicago's change and growth over the last century is captured in this photographic history.Modern color photos sit side by side with black and white archival photographs.Every important building, avenue, neighborhood, and point of interest is documented.It covers all of Chicago's landmarks from Navy Pier to the Stockyards and from the Southside all the way up the Magnificent Mile.Take in a game at Wrigley Field, then take it all in from the top of the Sear's Tower.The Water Tower and all the other architectural features that make Chicago great are also included. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Nice Review of Past and Present
I enjoyed this book. Some of the pictures do not compare well because they were taken at different angles or from a different side of the street. Nevertheless, this is a great book. I found lots of stuff to compare. Native Chicagoans, who take an interest in the city, will like it. I purchased it for my brother for Christmas...liked it so much I purchased one for myself.

flawed but fun Chicago historical pictorial
I have several of these "then and now" books, and I would say this is the weakest of the bunch. I dearly love Chicago, and some of the old photographs were very interesting, but the book has a few problems. First, the photographic perspectives are rarely in synch, so it is difficult to compare the two pictures directly; either the angle is off to the side, or it's at a different distance. This seems rather to defeat the purpose of a "then and now" theme, which is to facilitate comparison. Secondly, a great many of the buildings and scenes are virtually identical to what they were, so one wonders why they were included. Finally, a map should have been included.

On the positive side, many of Chicago's key spots are targeted, such as the Water Tower, the stockyards and Hull House, and the paragraphs that accompany each picture do convey a lot of interesting information.

If you are interested in Chicago or urban history you will undoubtedly still enjoy this volume, but lower your expectations a bit before the book arrives so you won't be disappointed.

A look at old Chicago
An interesting look at Chicago as it appeared in the past, compared to now. More than just a picture book, it also gives some historical perspective for each location. If you're a Chicagoan, this is a must have. There are two problems that keep this from getting a top ranking. First, the focus of a "then and now" book should be to compare and contrast, so we can see how much has changed. There's several locations shown here that haven't really changed, and you wonder why they were included. Also, the "then" and "now" pictures should be shot from roughly the same location, showing the same perspective. That's not always the case here, and you may have to spend some time figuring out how to get things lined up. Still, it's a good way to see how the city used to look, and a rare look at some of the now-missing architectural treasures.

A wonderful coffee table book
This books brought back lots of memeories for all my family. The pictures were excellent!! The stories of how they came to be and how they were reconstucted were so interesting. Alot of history here. A must have for all Chicagoans. I bought 5 of these as Christmas gifts for my family and friends. Thanks. ... Read more

Book Description

Bare, stark swimming pools - those rectangular concrete holes in the ground surrounded by a chain-link fence - are going the way of the dinosaurs. Pool owners (and there are 7 million of them across North America) have begun to see the pool and the area around it as an outdoor living space, a place for entertaining a crowd or relaxing alone. In response to this hot, new trend, gardener and landscape designer Catriona Tudor Erler has written POOLSCAPING, a one-of-a-kind handbook overflowing with inspiring ideas and practical advice on how to make your swimming pool the lovely, welcoming centerpiece of your property.

Erler takes readers step by step through the poolscaping process, whether starting from scratch or renovating an existing pool. She begins with choosing the best location for the pool and designing (or refurbishing) the deck and edging that will surround it. She presents a host of ideas for dramatic pool lighting, including underwater options. The fencing chapter addresses choosing styles as well as safety issues and even how to disguise a fence with plantings.

Erler explores design options for building or renovating a spa adjacent to the pool, as well as how to incorporate furnishings, pergolas, and pool houses into the poolscape. A plant directory features the best poolside plants, with a focus on varieties of flowers, vines, and shrubs that are low maintenance and look attractive throughout the pool season. Erler also offers ideas for outstanding poolside planters and containers for bringing greenery and color right up to the pool.

Illustrated with beautiful full-color photographs of outstanding poolscapes, this unique guide demonstrates how any pool owner can transform the pool area into the showpiece of the neighborhood. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Covers swimming pool decor and appropriate landscaping
Transform the swimming pool of a backyard into a Tuscan paradise with tiles and flowering plants, or create a pool with a beach-like presence filled with beach plants: that's the idea of Pool Scaping, a title which covers both swimming pool decor and appropriate landscaping around it. Pool Scaping is a lovely guide which covers the specifics of plants in a water surrounding.

Professional and to the point
The writer starts out with "Swimming pools have come a long way from the turquoise water holes surrounded by stark paving. Increasingly pools are being integrated into the design of the house and garden..."

I'm happy to see a book on this topic, especially one written by an accomplished writer and photographer. Many garden swimming pools stand out like a sore thumb - a harsh rectangle of Hollywood blue water with cold tile edges. They're lovely and cool in hot weather, but UGLY. Anything that helps to change or disguise this is all good.

The writer has many suggestions for doing just this. She addresses in depth topics such as decking, enclosures, structures, furniture and plantings. She has researched and offers suggestions for problems such as awkward rocky sites and the need to have an enclosure around the pool that doesn't block the view or make the place look like a prison.

It was good to see a generous number of pages given to plants and plantings - everything from container planting to landscaping the entire site. The writer also focuses on planning ahead when installing a pool or landscaping around it, and on matters relating to the budget. Both are very important and often overlooked.

The writer obviously has an encyclopedic knowledge of her topic and her writing is crisp and to-the-point. She understands the issues facing people who want to integrate their pool into their garden and addresses them directly. Her photographs illustrate her points with relevance and clarity. I'd recommend this book to anyone trying to add some style and class to a garden with a swimming pool.

Read the Content!
I was a little disapointed when I first got this book as the photos weren't all eye-popping fancy layouts - BUT - - I have found the book surprisingly good to read!! I've been up late every night pouring over it's content. It's written very, very well and you will learn some great hints, regardless of budget. I am so pleased I decided to write a review (which I've never done). I hope the authors continue to write on this suject! It's a GREAT BOOK! Thank you!

Great for ideas
I loved the book for design ideas. Although the book contains pools that must cost over 50K, you can get some great ideas from it. We have a palper's budget, but there were a lot of beautiful photo's to get you started and give you ideas to break the standard ho hum swimming pool look. Designers in our area had no imagination and some told us that we do not have room on our property for a pool,,, bah humbug! We're not going with the 'sale pool package' most companies wanted to sell us, but we still will have a pool worthy of their next book (cross my fingers!!) for a few dollars more. We just had to find the right company with a little creativity.

Nice
This book contains some nice ideas, although most or very very expensive. I pulled a lot of good ideas from this book and would definitely recommend it to someone who is considering building a pool, but doesn't know how they want it landscaped. Good book. ... Read more