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

Book Description

A real-world DESIGN tool for sustainable design
In this comprehensive guide, the world's largest architectural/engineering design firm helps architects, engineers, planners, interior designers, and landscape architects integrate sustainable design strategies into their work. Featuring twenty-four case studies of a variety of international HOK projects, it shows how, far from being an all-or-nothing proposition, sustainable design thinking can improve projects within the conventional constraints of budget, schedule, and market demand. It provides practical guidelines that enhance real projects, including urban planning, site design, buildings, interiors, and renovations. This book:
* Demonstrates how real, completed, sustainable design projects are economically viable and increase client satisfaction
* Provides a clear road map for the integrated multidisciplinary design process that is critical to the successful development of sustainable design projects
* Captures the key principles of sustainable design in a list of "Ten Simple Things You Can Do"
* Provides concise checklists of issues to consider at each stage of the design process,followed by detailed how-to guidance
* Contains a detailed glossary of terms and a list of top print and Internet resources
* Covers issues and design strategies related to site planning and design, energy and water conservation, materials selection and specification, and interior environmental quality ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Must have.
The most comprehensive book yet on sustainable design and green architecture. If you can have only one book in your library on sustainable design, this is the book! ... Read more

Book Description

"This is a terrific book for anyone thinking about a career in architecture. It's very useful and valuable." -- Richard Meier, Richard Meier & Partners

"Required reading for would-be architects, it's also of value for those who teach them." -- Architectural Record

The first edition of Architect?, published in 1985, quickly became known as the best basic guide to the architectural profession. More than a decade later, it is a standard text for introductory courses on architecture and recommended reading on the application forms of many schools of architecture. This revised edition includes new information pertinent to current education and practice and addresses issues and concerns of great interest to students choosing among different types of programs, schools, firms, and architectural career paths.

Roger K. Lewis, a practicing architect and educator, takes a hard look at the education of the architect as he covers such topics as curriculum content, pedagogical theories and methods, program and faculty types, the admission process, internship, compensation, computer-aided design, and the culture of small and large firms. He tells how an architect works and gets work, and explains all aspects of architectural services, from initial client contact to construction oversight.

The author describes the benefits of becoming an architect, including the opportunity to express oneself creatively, to improve the environment, and to achieve notoriety. But he doesn't hesitate to show the other side--the lack of steady work and appropriate compensation, the intensity of competition, the restrictions imposed by clients, and the high degree of anxiety and disillusionment among young architects. Written in a clear, accessible style, the book is accompanied by the authors often-humorous illustrations and a valuable appendix. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

read it, read it again, then read it again
I read this book when I was a senior in high school applying to colleges. It was helpful. I applied to architecture school and got into one of the best programs in the country. I graduated and got my dream job. When I was visiting my parents over Christmas I found this book on my shelf and read it again. This time I had an entirely different view after having gone to school and having worked for three different firms. This time it really hit the gut. I gave my notice at the firm and I'm going to pursue a different career for the next year. I'm not sure if I'm burned out on architecture and need to leave so that I can miss it and come back, or if I really don't want to be an architect. I have to say, the pay is bad. Really bad. That's what got to me. Expect to be paid HALF of what you're worth. That applies to the lowest intern all the way to the top partner. You just don't get paid what you're worth. Then again, it is a really incredible profession. It's a tough choice. So my advice is to buy this book and read it every couple years to make sure you really want to do this. Life is too damn short to do something you don't love with all your heart.

candid indeed
I have now been in the work force for 6 years having mostly worked in, now defunct, internet shops. Now I have a sterile job as a financial analyst working for a HUGE company. After being afraid to pursue my dreams again (after an earlier attempt in my mid-20's withered away...), I am seriously looking to get my masters in architecture although I have a liberal arts degree. I first read Cesar Pelli's "Observations" which inspired me. So I was afraid to get into this book knowing that many reviews here and in newsgroups claim it's harsh or may change your mind about architecture. Actually, it has strengthened my desire to pursue architecture. I won't be making as much money as I do now in my somewhat laid-back job, but there are other considerations far more important to me than working just for money. People who do not wish to be challenged to their fullest or work harder than they ever have worked before should not pursue such careers medicine, law, computer science, etc - architecture is no exception. I already knew architects are rarely rich, work very hard, go through a very tough education, and work in a very competitive environment. None of that came as a shock from reading this. Basically, I can conclude from this book that the field should only be pursued if one LOVES architecture despite all the difficulties. One can dislike medicine or law and not be as discouraged since the money can provide some comfort, but teh same is not true of architecture. Even if this book does talk many out of pursuing architecture, it's better that it tells it like it is. I'd rather know the good and the bad before making a decision. By the way, this book is not nearly as negative as some here have pointed out.

Great book for anyone considering the profession.
I like how it gives good information and advice for someone like myself who was considering the profession. It gave me an excellent idea of what to expect of the profession. I just wish I had listened even more carefully to his advice when reading the book, especially the advice about taking some time off between highschool and going to school to be an architect. One thing future architects need to realize is that if you are an architecture major, you will have no free time whatsoever outside of your classroom studio. So if you have any wild and crazy side to you that just wants to party, I suggest getting that out of your system first and then go study architecture. If there is any traveling you really want to do, do it first. Cause architects work hard and on average dont even make that much money. Anyhow this book contains other useful information for those who are certain they want to be architects as well. It gives you an excellent idea of what to expect, the types of jobs you will be doing, the skills you will need, ect..

Useful, but negative.
'Architect?' is a useful, practical guide to the field of architecture and the process of becoming an architect. It thoroughtly notes all the obstacles and difficulties involved in becoming an architect. It's a brisk dose of reality, and at times seems mired in these difficulties. The author fails to note that many of obstacles are common to many other professions and graduate education programs (including things like difficult professors, low pay, and the need to juggle many tasks outside of your original love - design).

It's a useful read for anyone with romanticized notions of architecture. But just keep one thing in mind - all life choices are hard, and there are very few creative professions that don't require the ability to stand out and overcome obstacles.

A Candid Look into the Field!
I am an architect and a former student of Roger K. Lewis. This book was a suggested reading before my first year in studio. After reading this book and then taking the classes, I can truly say that it tells the truth about the field. If this book persuades you out of going into architecture, you would definitely not have been happy with it as a profession. If you are seriously thinking about architecture as a career choice, then buy this book. ... 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

Book Description

Now more than ever, vacationing Americans are choosing to stay right here in the U.S., to look inward at our own rich national heritage. Thus, there has never been a more appropriate time for this sweeping, gorgeously photographed look at rural America's most enchanting houses of worship. "The country church tells us who we are. In doing so, it provides a sense of security, especially in times of crisis," says Pulitzer Prize nominee William Morgan in his introduction.

The outcome of an inspired two-year cross-country road journey of writer and photographer, American Country Churches touches the heart of America-and many of its religious denominations-as it presents 250 moving, all-new color images of more than 40 of our nation's most uplifting, soul-soothing spaces. The introductory text places the churches within the greater context of American history, while short essays on each church highlight its particular role in the story of its region, architects, and worshippers. As this glorious volume proves, no matter which state one calls home, there are always nearby places to go to find solace. AUTHOR BIO: William Morgan has taught at Princeton University, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Louisville. His articles have appeared in numerous publications, and he is the author of The Abrams Guide to American House Styles. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island. Radek Kurzaj is a travel and architecture photographer based in Sczecin, Poland, and New York City. His books include Abrams' Living Large in Small Spaces, Colonial Houses: The Historic Homes of Williamsburg, and The Abrams Guide to American House Styles. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Uneasy Transposition
In this book, the authors compared the present construction process of buildings to that of the automobile, ship building and aerospace industry. This is not new (remember Towards a New Architecture?). While Corb's book talked about end products, this talks about processes. Indeed, the authors presented some impressive research evidence on how the building construction industry can learn from these neighbors by sharing many common features of process and final product between industries.

However, what is not clear as an example, is the articulated, and perhaps even necessitated need for a building to emulate the joint tolerances of a car or an airplane. While the latter can sometimes determine the life and death of the user, a "half-inch tolerance" on a hospital facade will occur over the "millimeters" simply because there is no pragmatic need for such an emulation. This is, of course, not even an excuse for the lack of craft, but a statement that there should be a real need presented before a necessitated manifestation in form to occur. One simply should not look over to the greener pastures for the sake of doing so. The book is peppered with many such unclear determination and one has to really specify what kind of architecture does what, in a rather blunt way, before assuming with this pretense that emulation is good. Spirit of the Age has erred twice now over the raison d'etre.

The second major criticism for this book is the uncritical constant comparision between the building and the . As much as I can appreciate the way automakers think of creative ways to make money from us, the allegedly "creative" folks through the streamlining of the process, a car differs vastly from a building because of context. Sure, context is too well hyped these days but surely we can speak the same for a plane or car in any context but we cannot do the same for every building we make. A car is driven in Asia or Europe but a building, as the authors noted, does not move very much. Context, therefore, as well as the ill-defined problem space of design is the problem here.

Thirdly, one cannot talk about refabricating architecture without commenting on the economical, labor structure of our society. Who are the conceptual workers of this industry? What is their wage and labor structure like? We simply cannot compare industry to industry on such a macro-scale because some fundamental aspect, though microscopic at this scale, dictates much of the process. The automobile or aerospace engineer can streamline their methods compared to architectural designers because of a marked difference between their wage, working and corporate conditions. What about forms of insurance, legal laws governing these different industries? All these are "form-makers" of the design process too. One cannot proceed to such an unbridled admiration of other design processes without at least commenting on these discrepancies.

The only salvation, in my opinion, of this book, remains to be the salvation of an architect's vision (architects, in this case of two authors). The very last part of the book displayes what modern architects are trained best to do, a marketable vision, possibly manifested in physical or representational format. While this remained as one of the rare books out there to tackle difficult topics of architectural process and methods, it needs a rigorous rework and editing (and perhaps peer review) before what is simplistically presented can be deemed as a useful reference for folks out there who is trying to do what the authors intended.

As a last reminder, F. Brunelleschi had the might of the Medici's empire backing him when he invented the cranework or the shell of the Dome. One simply cannot compare singularities in history with the challenges that the small to medium size offices face in this country everyday.

(The author of this review is not an Architect, but is interested in design in the larger context.)

Outstanding
Once again, Stephen Kieran and his firm has put out a great book on Architecture. He has totally transformed modern Architecture and taken it to another level. Seeing his work first hand is truly a treat for those of you interested in this field. A gold Medal - Congratulations ! ... Read more

Book Description

This new collection of architectural details provides new and innovative details to inspire and instruct architectural designers. Each annual collection, published as Graphic Standards updates will be culled from the work of today's leading architects and will include photographs, working drawings and descriptive text.
It is appropriate that the first annual is titled Openings as it brings together examples of inspiring openings across all architectural scales from the residential interior to the urban park, from dynamic urban gateways to modern sliding doors and commercial entryways. So wide is its coverage on the topic that it even includes some expertly crafted and weather-tight pet doors.
* The book contains more than two dozen projects from today's top designers
* It is illustrated with hundreds of sketches and detailed construction drawings
* It combines inspiration with problem-solving working knowledge ... Read more

Book Description

The two decades after the Second World War are typically viewed as an inchoate interregnum between an expiring modernism and an incipient post-modernism. Yet this tidy narrative tells only half the story, leaving out a second development, an evolving and powerful modernism. The essays here reveal that a wide range of postwar architects and theorists -- including Saarinen and Rudofsky in the United States; ATBAT-Afrique in Morocco; Price and the Smithsons in England; Bakema in Holland; and the Metabolists in Japan -- were determined to renew rather than abandon the legacy of modernism.

Presenting new research, these essays analyze an individual or movement that grappled with modernism in response to developments within and outside the architectural profession. They reveal a nexus of pre-occupations that dominated discourse of the postwar era, including authenticity, place, individual freedom, and popular culture. In addition, the introduction and coda discuss the critical themes of postwar architecture and propose a framework for conceptualizing architectural modernism and its evolution after the war. Together, the book's essays remap the emerging field of postwar architectural studies, refocusing attention on modernist ideas and work that have had a critical, ongoing impact on architectural culture.

Copublished with the Canadian Centre for Architecture ... Read more

Book Description

A delightful look at America's past. From 1908 to 1940 some 100,000 people purchased their ready-to-assemble homes from Sear's mail order. Presented here are approximately 450 models sold by Sears together with a description, a picture, floor plans, prices and locations. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Very Helpful Information
I found Houses by Mail to be very helpful and informative.

size matters!
This book probably provides useful information for persons otherwise unfamiliar with this genre of house and architecture, but personally I found two things about it particularly annoying: first, its small size. Many plans are reduced to the point where they might just as well be heavy line diagrams, and second, I find direct reproduction of original text to be far preferable to the uniform re-typing found here. Original text tends to be just as legible and lets the reader know with no uncertainty what is, in fact, original text. In all fairness, I have to say that since I am an architect and very familiar with house plans in general, my review may not apply to all readers. I much prefer the direct reproductions, and without a doubt favor a larger format.

Wanted a bit more
I was happy to see all the different style and enjoyed all the photos. BUT I really wanted to see the house size and the floor plans they were so small you could not really make out what size the rooms were. I wanted to see the sq. footage of each home. I also would have like to see what each floor plan size was. So if each page had been the floor plan so you could read it I would have enjoyed it more. What was hard is all the info was there just so small could not make out what numbers were.I think all the info in the book was good I guess I just wanted a little bit more out of it.

If Only the Pictures Were Bigger...
...I'd give it five stars. This book is a treasure trove for old-house mavens, especially those interested in early 20th-Century domestic vernacular architecture. Houses of all sizes and styles are included, most with full floor plans--which, unfortunately, you often need a magnifying glass to view clearly--and all with an illustration showing the exterior, as well as the dates sold, price, and other useful information. Many of the writeups also show interior suggestions. A very useful book.

A Great Book for Old Home Lovers and Bungalow Lovers Alike!
This is a magnificent volume of historic treasures by Sears, Roebuck, and Company. The charming residences in this book are fascinating to anyone who loves old houses or bungalows. The introduction is an interesting lead-in to the dozens of houses with floor plans and some with interior drawings as well. There are houses of many styles: bungalows, colonials, craftsmen style, and others such as Dutch Colonial and multi-units. Very cool!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Focusing on architecture from all regions of the world, this three-volume set profiles the century's vast chronicle of architectural achievements, both within and well beyond the theoretical confines of modernism. Unlike existing works, this encyclopedia examines the complexities of rapidly changing global conditions that have dispersed modern architectural types, movements, styles, and building practices across traditional geographic and cultural boundaries.

An international team of 300 writers--architectural historians, architects, engineers, preservationists, urban historians, critics, and scholars--presents a comprehensive and critical assessment of buildings, architects, cities, and numerous related topics. In addition to a list of further readings, essays are supported with photographs as well as architectural drawings and plans.

With 700 cross-referenced articles, this encyclopedia provides experts and general readers alike with an integrated view of the practice of architecture around the world in the twentieth century. ... Read more

Book Description

What are the unique characteristics that make a house Colonial or Craftsman, Modern or Deco, or any of the other approximately 20 styles of domestic architecture common in the United States? At a time of near-obsessive attention to home design and renovation, this compact, easily accessible guide-the only book of its kind with all color photography-makes the identification of house styles a breeze. Each style is described by author William Morgan, a Pulitzer Prize-nominated architectural historian, in a short historical summary, alongside a list of its distinguishing features. Multiple examples of each house style are provided-the book includes 350 houses from more than 40 states-so the reader can see the region-specific variations. Complementing the beautiful color photographs is a selection of line drawings highlighting each style's key attributes.

Both at the desk and in the field, for a wide audience of discerning house hunters, homeowners, and realtors; architects, builders, and students; and the ever-increasing public with a seemingly insatiable curiosity about residential design, this elegant, informative, portable volume will be an invaluable resource for years to come. AUTHOR BIO: William Morgan has taught at Princeton University, the University of Kentucky, and the University of Louisville. His articles have appeared in numerous publications, and he is the author of Abrams' American Country Churches. He lives in Providence, Rhode Island. Radek Kurzaj is a travel and architecture photographer based in Sczecin, Poland, and New York City. His books include Abrams' Living Large in Small Spaces, American Country Churches, and Treehouses of the World. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

50 of the World¿s Greatest Structures
Probably the only thing better than owning this book, would be to travel to all these locations with someone you absolutely loved and who absolutely had a love for life and architecture.

Features:

-Every important architectural style from ancient Egyptian to Contemporary

-50 sites illustrating changes and developments in architecture in all cultures

-Authoritative text to explain developments in technology, materials and styles

-Detailed annotations

Some of the sites featured: Notre-Dame-du Haut, Ise Shrine, The Chrysler Building, The Parthenon, Taj Mahal, Temple of Amun, Karnak, The Colosseum, Santa Sophia, Pisa Cathedral, Durham Cathedral, Sydney Opera House, Tokyo Olympic Stadium and Notre-Dame, Paris.

Favorites: Santa Sophia, Kandariya Mahadev Temple, Pisa Cathedral, Durham Cathedral, Angkor Way, Florence Cathedral, St. Basil's Cathedral, Hardwick Hall, Taj Mahal, Castle Howard, Sagrada Familia and The Ark.

Each site has a two-page spread. You can see a large picture covering the middle/center of the two pages and then it is surrounded by facts about the specifications, history, floor plans, sketches, inside views, specific decorations and styles.

When viewing the pictures of the Leaning tower of Pisa, you also get to see the inside of the Pisa Cathedral and read about Romanesque vaulting.

My favorite site is the Notre-Dame, Paris. This is the most amazing Gothic cathedral ever and was well worth the bus ride to Paris! Unfortunately they don't have room to show you the interior, which is rather amazing in itself.

An exploration into human creativity. This book will make you want to travel the world to see these fascinating buildings in person. Just to imagine walking amongst all this inspiration makes one feel overwhelmingly alive.

Who would not want to walk along the stone-vaulted corridors in the Castle Drogo?

Feeling Inspired.

Pictures and info about the world's best structures.
Every D-K book I have had the pleasure of reading has been a feast for the eyes as well as the mind. This one is no exception. I enjoyed it because it explores many famous structures as well as some which should be famous but are not. I knew little about architecture before I opened the book and so I learned a great deal and enjoyed every minute of it. I love this book! ... Read more

Book Description

Saving resources and cutting costs, protecting the environment and using renewable energies are the criteria which are important for modern buildings, and as such, designers today face the complex challenges of "integral planning", demanding the interaction of various disciplines to create a building with optimum efficiency whilst saving material and running costs. Active factors such as construction, buildings skins, layout of rooms, and exterior space should take up as little of the internal technical units as possible and all passive measures should be exploited to the maximum.

Daniel's Advanced Building Systems provides an up-to-date overview of all essential building installations and most recent technologies, complete with a wide range of detailed technical plans. It is not merely a systematic handbook focusing on building technology for students of architecture, civil engineering and mechanical engineering, it is also a reference work enabling the practitioner to draw up initial plans and dimensions. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

German through and through
Craftsmanship is to the Germans what style is to the French, tradition is to the British, or independence is to the Americans, and it shows in these books: the drawings, coated paper, printing, and so on are all head and shoulders above the competition. The basic format for all the books is the same--history, followed by science and engineering, followed by examples. In this book, the technical section emphasizes structural matters, with a large chapter on precast construction. There's nothing on reinforcement requirements because they're covered in building codes. Shell structures are discussed, and another chapter covers surface finishes. The translation to English is OK but lacks the nuances that make for pleasant reading.

Too bad there is nothing for the US architect of this quality, because all the technical references are to German or European standards. But they're educational nonetheless. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Useful book for preliminary design phases
It was in our varsity library where I opened "Neufert" for the first time back in late 70s (they had a two-volume Russian version). Amazingly, then as I studied Architecture I was rather impressed by a broad selection of examples of Western Architecture than by reference data themselves. Now I am more interested in the latter... And the newly edition I have surely provides that! You may blame it for slightly outdated materials or general incompleteness. But, remember, those features are generic for sources like this. Instead the book is useful specifically at preliminary design phases when an architect needs the most general guidelines. You can quickly navigate in a fat volume and can get desired information easily and in full. The only drawback, I think, is that the book is rather based on a continental (mostly German) and British content which can be somewhat inconvenient for, say, an American reader.

international standards
I have used the previous editions very frequently especially during my time working abroad. This is the only comprehensive source of metric and International standards for design data that I am aware of and is organized in very readable way. In fact, when I introduced the book to my co-workers abroad, everyone bought a copy. It is a great book for rules-of-thumb reference for designing buildings, spaces and layouts for national and especially International standards.

A useful but limited tool for non architects.
I heard about this book in college in 1981, but I first used it in 1993, it has many valuable architectural data for design, especially for civil engineers who need to come up with simple architectural designs. Although it provides the basic data, however it would be nice if more details can be provided in some areas, even if it requires the book be published in more volumes. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Additional Note
I think I was a little hard on Judy Juracek with reference to the included CD. What Ms. Juracek has done in the way of cataloguing is nothing short of miraculous and one should not expect that every image on the CD would be photographed dead on and shadow-perfect. I was just really irked by the image quality of a CD I had such high hopes for. I purchased this book when it first came out for a Hundred Dollars retail but the price I now see listed online seems almost a steal for the treasure trove contained within.

In any case, A recent search reveals that even more books in the series have been written by the author and I'm excited to purchase these as well--let's hope the image quality has improved on the included CDs for the new millenium we're in. I guess you could still expect "middlin'" quality for an image CD produced back in the "stoneage" of the 90's. The book is GREAT!

GREAT BOOK but the CD leaves something to be desired...
I have found this book to be very useful for many years. It is sensational and I feel very possessive about it as it has become one of my number one resource tools--I turn to it often and it rarely leaves my library! It's worth every dollar for sheer volume and the sound aesthetic choices Ms. Juracek made in archiving.

However the other two posters were correct about the CD. The images are of dismally low quality and the shadow problems do come up and haunt you time and again. The resolution should have been at least 300 to 355 dpi for each and each photo taken dead on square. There's an awful lot of work to be done if you need to use these as image maps (I like to use them in 3d environments as texture maps to preview large outdoor sculptures I'm developing). I can't understand for the life of me why the images are of such low quality--there's still plenty of disk space available on the CD. The CD was one of the main reasons I just had to buy the book. Otherwise, the full cover price seemed just a little steep--just a little. But I gladly would have paid more if the CD had been up to snuff. I'm hoping that the CD will be upgraded to include high-rez images for any revisions in the near future but I'm not holding my breath.

Otherwise, the book is a gold mine. Irregardless of what creative industry one might be in, it is a wonderful resource tool. And at the very least, a great coffee table book one will often turn to.

great reference
This is one of the best color, texture reference books I've ever seen. It is definatly a must for all visual artists. The addition of the cd-rom is also a big asset.

A Great Resource for Scenic Artists
Juracek's book has practically every type of surface you could want to duplicate in real paint. I find it a great tool both for use with designers and in trying to guide clients who have no art vocabulary and only a hazy idea of what the hell they want- the images provide a fine jumping off place. It is already a "must have" if not exactly an industry standard- though I'm sure that day is not far off either- highly recommended. Everyone I know has a copy.

Great reference for computer graphics texture creation
This is the book that everybody who writes shaders should have. It's just wall-to-wall reference images of every kind of surface or material you could think of.

I found the CD-ROM to be useless, however, mostly due to the fact that the images are all quantized to a palette of 256 colors each. This makes them completely worthless as texture maps. But that doesn't detract from the fact that the rest of the book is a fantastic visual reference. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is a guide to the architectural styles of American houses. Highly illustrated with photographs and overlays to identify key recognition features, it covers a variety of architectural styles from colonial to modern America. In a section by section treatment, The Houses We Live In details how the various styles were developed, its originators and proponents, the main dates when the style was popular, and the main houses and regions that saw the style. Detailed photographs show variations of the style from all angles and close-ups of key points. Contents include: Vernacular architecture (Native American, log cabin, etc.); Colonial; European Revival (Greek, Gothic, etc.); Victorian (Second Empire, Richardson Romanesque, etc.); Pre-WW2 (Neoclassical, Beaux Arts, Tudor, Mediterranean, etc.); and American Modern (Prairie, Craftsman). ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great overall reference
Like the previous reviewer, I found this book on sale at the local store. It's a super survey book, unambiguous and well illustrated with each type of house discussed in the text. It has a glossary of architectural terms, and a chapter of architect bios, including pictures of the houses they lived in. Better than a [money] Abrams art book!

Big book - Great value
I saw this in a bookstore and scooped it up without checking online prices. Its a huge book for the small price. I'm no historian, but this book seems very comprehensive. Awesome color photos, floorplans, sketches, etc. History, details of construction technics. Pretty much every photo has a description with location, date, and many times the architect. Beautiful examples of houses from each period... something for everyone. Tons of info. ... Read more

Book Description

A comprehensive, illustrated reference for those who choose fabrics for interiors. Fabrics provides designers with the information they need to make their fabric specifications easy, informed, and appropriate to the job at hand, considering aesthetics, performance, and green design. It describes and illustrates the many fibers, construction techniques, processes, finishes, styles, and applications of cloth for furniture and window-, wall-, and floor coverings. 300 color illustrations. ... Read more