Book Description

Web services are leading to the use of more packaged software either as an internal service or an external service available over the Internet. These services, which will be connected together to create the information technology systems of the future, will require less custom software in our organizations and more creativity in the connections between the services. This book begins with a high-level example of how an average person in an organization might interact with a service-oriented architecture. As the book progresses, more technical detail is added in a "peeling of the onion" approach. The leadership opportunities within these developing service-oriented architectures are also explained. At the end of the book there is a compendium or "pocket library" for software technology related to service-oriented architectures.

ú Only web services book to cover both data management and software engineering perspectives, excellent resource for ALL members of IT teams
ú Jargon free, highly illustrated, with introduction that anyone can read that then leads into increasing technical detail
ú Provides a set of leadership principles and suggested application for using this technology. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

5 Stars from the author of _XML:A Manager's Guide_
As a fellow author of a book targeted at managers, I feel that I have a pretty good understanding of their needs. Doug has done an admirable job of meeting these needs for Web services. This is a book for managers that want to have sucessful Web services projects.

Doug starts by motivating the need for Web services with a utopian view of a near future business trip. Then he gives a thorough account of Web services technology basics at a level that even managers whose technical days are long in the past can understand. He ties this account back to the utopian business trip, showing how Web services overcome the technical obstacles to making it a reality.

This book really shines in its extensive treatment of how managers can make their Web services projects successful. As a technologist, I have a tendency to underestimate the impact of "soft" project management issues, but Doug has not made this mistake. His years of experience clearly show through in his thoughtful and comprehensive treament of the forces pushing managers to use Web services, the potential obstacles to project completion, and how to overcome them.

Just Right For Management Types
Frankly, I feel that some reviewers misunderstand the purpose of this book. In my opinion, for the right person, this book is a gem! Any of us who have had the challenge of explaining new and difficult concepts to managers who left technology back in the COBOL days or never were technologists should be grateful.

As technologists, we forget just how much intimidating jargon we use and how many underlying assumptions we make when we explain things. As a software architect once said to me, "if I had more time, I'd make it simple." Clearly Barry has taken on the challenge of making it simple, and such efforts are incredibly valuable.

No proof !!!
Throughout the book the author discusses on the same stuff repeatedly.....as multiple parts and chapters. It is a collection of Web services articles narrates the same story of how Web services technology will impact their business strategies and organization. The author written this book exploding a business article and explored his own meaning of Web services oriented architecture.

I am bit disappointed after reading the book as the contents does not make a case for a manager..... why you would ever build or use web services, what are its benefits and known issues of Web services, etc. Nevertheless, if you are looking for answers what web services really are (e.g. when to use them, etc.), this book doesn't provide those answers. Think twice before you buy...you may save your money.

To thin, to easy
This is management style book. It talks about all of the good things about web services. Yet it makes several crucial mistakes that clearly show that the author is by no means aware of what a service oriented architecture must provide. The crucial points that lead to failures using distributed architectures in the grand scale are not discussed. The whole problem is seen totally as a management issue. It is not. It is a vital technical challenge, and web services are by no means ready to take that challenge. Problems like transactions, security, undoability, Quality of service etc are not even slightly solved today. The savvy managers should read the book, give it to a savvy software architect, and afterwards discuss very carefully. Another annoying feature is that the author sees technical people as the ones being the greatest opposition to service oriented architectures. They can be, but the real problem are business managers and departments who do not want to be service providers in the first place because it means giving up some of their power and probably loose some of their workforce.

Superb Job Barry!
This book is exceptionally well done! I've written 3 books on Web development and I've written a number of articles on Web Services. I've also done a number of presentations on the subject at users groups around the country. I thought I understood the power and future of Web services, but Barry helped me understand the service-oriented architecture and how this what I really saw the promise in. Barry did an incredible job of bringing this topic all together. I found the book tremendously inspiring too! You won't be disappointed by the content in this book. You'll likely come away with 100 ideas too! Great job Barry!!! I can't wait to read your next book!!!

Brad ... Read more

Book Description

*One-stop reference to both American and international universal design standards *CD-ROM includes new American with Disabilities Act code requirements, illustrated standards, checklists, and technical fact sheets, ready for downloading *Covers guidelines from buildings to telecommunications ... Read more

Reviews (4)

How Universal is Universal Design?
Universal Design Handbook
by Wolfgang F. E. Preiser (Senior Editor) and Elaine Ostroff (Editor)

How universal is Universal Design? Wolfgang Preiser, Senior Editor of the Universal Design Handbook and noted expert in Building Evaluation and Programming, said "Universal Design is not about dimensions. It is an attitude." The impact of that attitude is felt across the world.
The Handbook contains 69 essays from leaders in their fields. Voices from the Third World propose solutions for densely populated regions. Europe and the United States continue to look to technology for labor-saving devices. What they all share is a commitment to design for the greatest number of potential users.
The literary styles are as varied as the solutions they propose. Case studies provide guidelines for professors considering similar studies. Theoretical papers discuss positions and implications. Historical narratives describe accomplishments to date. Topics range from transportation systems to bathroom design, from kitchen gadgets to computers. The authors are extremely candid about their successes and their failures. The common thread is their belief that solutions for one user group often benefit others.
The most remarkable aspect of the Handbook is the list of references at the end of each essay. Almost none of the authors reference the same sources. This is due in part to the fact that there are practitioners in almost every country in the world; however, until the Handbook, there was no keystone, defining text. Future scholars take note!
Elaine Ostroff, editor of the Universal Design Handbook, identifies the start of the Universal Design movement as the landmark legal decision Brown vs. the Board of Education. The resolution of the issue of segregated education led to the demand for inclusion in the classroom for children with birth defects. Activist veterans in turn demanded access to the workplace for veterans maimed in combat. With the support of various Civil Rights groups and the American Association of Retired Persons, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed a decade ago. The hammer of litigation has codified the gains made by this particular movement, resulting in widespread resentment against it. The philosophy of the movement has been undermined by compliance enforcement. Universal Design as an idea goes beyond the letter of the law to benefit the world.

DESIGN RESEARCH News review
...I received a copy of Universal
Design Handbook. On first inspection I thought it was going
to make great door stop, or hold back for the overflowing
collection papers and pamphlets accumulating on my shelves.
However after only a couple of months I already find that it
is regularly dipped into. This massive document is a
fantastic and fascinating resource for researchers who are
interested in the subject of universal and inclusive design
and something of this type has been long awaited by the
design research community. It also provides a good resource
for those who wish to bring universal design into their
design teaching, giving them sound information on which to
base any teaching programme.

This is probably the most comprehensive reference work on
universal design to date. It brings together writings from
an international panel of experts in the field, each being
thoroughly referenced and providing an excellent entry point
for further research. The book, with its 69 international
contributions, addresses a wide selection of universal
design projects that range in scale from an office work
station, to interior architecture, buildings, landscape
architecture, facilities, such as on campus; urban design,
and all the way to parks and wilderness areas. It also
includes some chapters that relate to product design such as
the one on universal design in automobile design.

The research questions, methodologies and findings presented
are focused on how universally designed products and
environments can be created to be usable by most people,
regardless of ability/disability, health, gender, ethnicity,
or cultural context.

Though the emphasis is on the application of universal
design in the built environment, there is a mass of material
that it pertinent to anyone researching or teaching
universal or inclusive design. The fact that it covers a
wide set of issues across the various design communities is
especially useful as it helps designers and researchers
place their own practice and interests in context with
approaches in other design fields.

In my role as a researcher of inclusive design I have found
each contribution to hold something of relevance, which has
added to my body of knowledge and contributed to my own
research activities. As a design teacher I have been able
to draw on the experience of others in framing my own
teaching programme, the parts 7 and 8 on education and case
studies being particularly useful. And as a practising
designer I have been very interested to compare my own
experiences with those of others as outlined in Part 6.
I am sure that in the USA the additional CDROM is also very
useful, enabling readers to access and understand the laws
that have driven some of the universal design activities to
date. Regrettably there is no equivalent disk for European,
UK, Japanese or other country's legislation.

I would not recommend the book as an introductory document
on universal design as it would overwhelm the uninitiated.
It is, however, very comprehensive and in bringing together
the work of the major researchers gives access to this
essential information to a much wider audience than that
which regularly participates in the universal design
dialogue.

Cherie Lebbon, Research Fellow, Helen Hamlyn Research
Centre, Royal College of Art, London

Universal Design Handbook
The publication of the Universal Design Handbook makes accessible the breadth of recent research on Universal Design. The editors have produced a remarkable resource, bringing together a collection of readable essays by the world's leading experts on Universal Design, "the design of environments and products that respect the diversity of human beings." (xvii)

The Universal Design Handbook is a clearly organized reference book. It begins by defining its subject, proceeds with its history and accomplishments, presents research and case studies, and concludes with a look to the future. Web accessibility and telecommunications are presented as industries positioned to integrate universal design principles in their own infancies, while the notion of "smart technologies" promises opportunities for a universally designed future.

As an architect and educator, I applaud the arrival of this valuable resource, both its practical, highly-focused research and its theoretical, broad inquiry. I appreciate the extensive case studies linking the theories and research with practice. Principles are illustrated with examples of built environments that go beyond the minimum requirements of codes, showing how accessible design can enhance a space for all users and/or presenting ways accessible features can be integrated into a pleasing spatial composition. These studies suggest the need to include questions about the ways people experience a space or object when programming a project, so that the resulting products are created to be usable by most people, regardless of ability/disability, health, gender, ethnicity, or cultural context. Examples range in scale from simple hand-held industrial pieces such as scissors to transportation systems such as buses and subways to entire landscapes and cities. This range requires the support of individual designers and clients as well as public, governmental support and corporate recognition that the goals of human-centered, universal design benefit both the citizenry and the economy. Various methods for reaching these constituencies are discussed in a number of chapters, primarily in "Part 4: Public Policies, Systems and Issues."

The handbook arrived just as I was teaching a Spring 2001 course entitled "Social Agenda in Design and Architecture." In addition to the important facts discussed in chapters such as "Principles of Universal Design," students responded to many of the case studies I presented, based on readings from the handbook. Students were reassured that social responsibility and aesthetics are not mutually exclusive, particularly when shown examples from high-design cultures such as Italy, France and Japan. One of the goals of the course was to challenge students to see social concerns as design opportunities and as a basis for contemporary theories of form-making. In addition, I was able to document the relationship of Universal Design to the other hot topic: Sustainable Design. The chapter "Sustainable Human and Social Development: An Examination of Contextual Factors" outlines how a sustainable built environment is necessary for sustaining human accessibility as well as for benefiting the natural environment. Conversely, the Universal Design movement reminds the Sustainable Design initiative that together their goals are truly human-centered.

In addition, at one faculty meeting we used the distinction between " injection and infusion" as defined in the chapter "Advances in Univeral Design Education in the United States" as a means of considering strategies for bringing Universal Design and other social issues into the curriculum. The discussion considered examples from other programs and sought ways to adapt these to fit the BAC program. As a result of the approach, our discussion was seen as part of an education-wide paradigm shift toward a user-centered design philosophy.

The Universal Design Handbook is an important, timely text that is a welcome and much needed resource for those committed to making this new century accessible to all.

Sally L. Levine, AIA

An excellent collection of works: 84 international experts.
The Universal Design Handbook (UDH) is an excellent collection of the works of 84 international experts. Many marketing, MIS, architecture and engineering professionals would agree that it makes sense to design products to be usable by people of all ages and abilities to the greatest extent possible.

Unfortunately many people do not know how to achieve this objective. The UDH compiles much of this information for you. The word "handbook" is misleading. You can't hold this book in your hand. It weighs six pounds and contains about 1,200 pages. The UDH organizes information into 69 chapters and ten sections. The CD, included with the book, contains technical and design data.

The first few chapters of the book provide the reader with a rich history of the birth and evolution of Universal Design (UD). The reader soon discovers the term Universal Design has different meaning, to different people, in different parts of the world. Gaining familiarity with many new dimensions of UD helped me better understand how my knowledge of accessible information technology design, fits into the "big picture."

The big picture in this case incorporates UD guidelines, public policy, accessibility standards, residential environments, UD practices, education, research, and many case studies from every corner of the world.

I found chapters 65 - 68 interesting. These chapters focus on information and telecommunications technologies including the worldwide web, film and media and even smart card technology.

The final section of the book addresses, "The Future of Universal Design." It discusses how the legacy of the twentieth century is defining the challenges and opportunities that facing all of us in the coming decades.

There is a natural attraction that causes consumers to buy one product over another... that transcends status, cost, quality and service. If manufacturers were able to identify, capture and integrate the spirit of this "attraction" into their products and services they would have a mine of gold. Understanding the essence of what UD is all about will move them one step closer to making this a reality.

For those wishing to see the "Forrest for the trees" of Universal Design, having a copy of the Universal Design Handbook in their library is a must. ... Read more

Book Description

In its eleven-year history, Oppositions, the journal of the New York-based Institute for Architecture and Urban Studies (IAUS), had an impact far beyond what its modest cover might suggest. Indeed, Oppositions set the agenda, introduced the key players, and published the seminal pieces in the theorization of architecture in the last twenty years. It is a testament to the enduring importance of the journal that its issues are still highly sought after today, prized (and priced) as collector's items, and found behind the desk at virtually every architectural library.

Oppositions Reader collects the most important essays from 26 issues of Oppositions. Essays from the editors of the series--Peter Eisenman, Kenneth Frampton, Mario Gandelsonas, Anthony Vidler, and Kurt Forster--are included, along with texts by such noted architects, theorists, and historians as Aldo Rossi, Alan Colquhoun, Leon Krier, Denise Scott Brown, Bernard Tschumi, Rem Koolhaas, Mary McLeod, Georgio Ciucci, and Rafael Moneo. The page design, by Massimo Vignelli, has been faithfully reproduced. Harvard Professor K. Michael Hays has selected the writings for inclusion.

Contributors include:
Diana Agrest,
Stanford Anderson,
Giorgio Ciucci,
Stuart Cohen,
Alan Colquhoun,
Francesco Dal Co,
Peter Eisenman,
William Ellis,
Kurt W. Forster,
Kenneth Frampton,
Mario Gandelsonas,
Giorgio Grassi,
Fred Koetter,
Rem Koolhaas,
Leon Krier,
Mary McLeod,
Rafael Moneo,
Joan Ockman,
Martin Pawley,
Aldo Rossi,
Colin Rowe,
Denise Scott Brown,
Jorge Silvetti,
Ignasi de Solagrave-Morales,
Manfredo Tafuri,
Bernard Tschumi,
Anthony Vidler, and
Hajime Yatsuka.

It is an understatement to say that this volume is indispensable for any scholar or student interested in contemporary architectural theory. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

necessary
a great project, a necessary book to understand the Seventeens, not only in the architecture, not only for architects. ... Read more

Book Description

Homes in a Box - Modern Homes from Sears Roebuck is a facsimile reproduction of the Sears Modern Homes catalog. It gives a nostalgic look at the more than one hundred home kits sold by Sears Roebuck in the early 1900s. These homes were offered either as simple kits with only the blueprints and bill-of-materials or as complete homes with all materials and finishes. The architectural styles ranged from simple bungalows to beautiful homes with a strong Frank Lloyd Wright influence. Much of this Wright influence can be traced to the proliferation of Wright homes in the Chicago area, Sears home base. Thousands of these homes are still standing and still providing shelter to families across the country. Many of them are unaware of the source of their home's design. This book will help them trace their architectural heritage. It will also be an invaluable tool to those looking to trace the architectural history of the American home. is a facsimile reproduction of the Sears Modern Homes catalog. It gives a nostalgic look at the more than one hundred home kits sold by Sears Roebuck in the early 1900s. These homes were offered either as simple kits with only the blueprints and bill-of-materials or as complete homes with all materials and finishes. The architectural styles ranged from simple bungalows to beautiful homes with a strong Frank Lloyd Wright influence. Much of this Wright influence can be traced to the proliferation of Wright homes in the Chicago area, Sears home base. Thousands of these homes are still standing and still providing shelter to families across the country. Many of them are unaware of the source of their home's design. This book will help them trace their architectural heritage. It will also be an invaluable tool to those looking to trace the architectural history of the American home. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Apparently a reprint of an old Sears Catalogue...
If you're going to buy *all* the books out there on Sears Homes, you'll certainly want this one in your collection. But the Dover Reprint [of Sears 1925 Catalogue] is a better resource. Of the two, I'd pick Dover over this one.

However, it does have some designs of homes I'd not seen elsewhere and that makes it a valuable resource. But once again, it is JUST a reprint - not a contemporary book explaining the history and ongoing rehab of (now) historic Sears Catalogue Homes.

I've written a few articles about these Sears Homes and I find the topic endlessly interesting. If you're *that* kind of old house nut (like me) you will enjoy "Homes in a Box." ... Read more

Book Description

Quickly master architectural programming concepts, skills, and techniques

In the essential discipline of architectural programming, the ideas of philosophy, sociology, anthropology, psychology, and history find their focus in the realities of site conditions, budgets, and functionality. Author Edith Cherry vividly demonstrates in this inspiring tutorial that the programming process not only helps architects avoid the endless design revisions occurring in most projects, but that it is also the key to designing for optimal form and function.

Programming for Design lets you rapidly acquire the knowledge and skills needed to successfully program a moderate-size space. Rather than simply describe basic principles and practices, this straightforward guide helps you master architectural programming by actually doing it.

Professor Cherry identifies the central issues involved and describes the skills needed to work with clients to identify problems to be solved by a design effort. Emphasizing designing for people, she offers proven strategies and techniques for goal setting, information gathering and analysis, concept development, program synthesis, and communicating with clients.

The book is also devoted to practical applications. The author walks you step-by-step through a project of your own choosing, providing numerous examples and four case studies within each step that vividly illustrate how to effectively gather, process, and communicate information.

Programming for Design features more than 200 supporting illustrations, diagrams, and sidebars appearing throughout the text, reproducing pithy sayings by such far-flung figures as Plato and Yogi Berra, Einstein and Lao Tzu, that help relate the programming process to other disciplines. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Essential for the UNESCO-UIA's architectural education
In July 2002, UIA agreed to promote their criteria on Architectural Education, worldwide. Among various criteria, we can clearly find necessity of teaching the architectural programming in school. With understanding this situation, I can recommend this as the BEST TEXT BOOK among others in this field,
compulsory for students and educator. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

A visual lexicon of the colorful slang, from alligator investment to zoomburb, that defines sprawl in America.

Duck, ruburb, tower farm, big box, and pig-in-a-python are among the dozens of zany terms invented by real estate developers and designers today to characterize land-use practices and the physical elements of sprawl. Sprawl in the environment, based on the metaphor of a person spread out, is hard to define. This concise book engages its meaning, explains common building patterns, and illustrates the visual culture of sprawl. Seventy-five stunning color aerial photographs, each paired with a definition, convey the impact of excessive development and provide the verbal and visual vocabulary needed by professionals, public officials, and citizens to critique uncontrolled growth in the American landscape. 75 color photographs. ... Read more

Book Description

In the bestselling tradition of The Elements of Style, The Elements of Design is a comprehensive visual survey of the design styles that have had the greatest impact on the decorative arts in the Western world. With more than 3,000 prints, photographs, and line drawings, the book covers five centuries of the Western decorative arts tradition, including Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Regency, Gothic, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Modernism, and the Space Age.

The key elements of the Western decorative arts tradition are explored chronologically. Each chapter begins with a broad introduction to the era, summarizing its key style features. Within the chapter there follows close examination of individual objects, including ceramics, glass, silver and metalwork, furniture, and textiles. All the items illustrated form a visual vocabulary of each design movement. The book also includes biographies of innovative designers, information on conservation and maintenance, and a comprehensive glossary of design terms.

Compiled by a team of experts under the guidance of design specialists Noël Riley and Patricia Bayer, The Elements of Design is an indispensable reference work for collectors, design historians, interior decorators, set designers, and all those interested in our decorative arts heritage. ... Read more

Book Description

This major reference describes and analyses the recent developments in the architectural application of the latest digital design and fabrication technologies. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Great Compilation
This book provides a great overview of the developing technolgies in digital design and fabrication. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a comprehensive study in the current trends in digital architecture. A series of 20+ articles by designers working in this area of architecture, this book updates the conversation to what is happening today and what is being projected in the future. Great resource! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

History through Architecture
This study of vernacular architecture is a great contribution to the social history of slavery. By looking at facets of design such as settlement patterns and the formal qualities of buildings, Vlach shows how patterns in material culture provide clues for understanding the patterns of history that one can read by examining the buildings. This remarkable book not only documents plantation architecture as an important contribution to the historical record, but it also provides a fascinating interpretation of the subject. It is an especially important study because of the dearth of written documents left by slaves.

Excellent Study of Plantation Architecture
John Vlach's book is a thorough study of the architecture of plantation slavery in the South. He primarily used resource materials from the 1930s Historic American Building Survey and WPA interviews with former slaves to develop a social history. The research is solid and comprehensive. Vlach demonstrates ways to interpret the buildings for information about the life of the people who worked and dwelled in them, and he backs up his conclusions with interview materials. It's a terrific way of studying architecture that merges folklife studies with architectural history. The conclusions expanded my understanding about history, and this book is an essential contribution to learning about black history. ... Read more

Book Description

How the world's great artists envisioned the future
A panoramic exploration of works of the creative imagination throughout history, Visionary Architecture: Unbuilt Works of the Imagination, by Ernest Burden, introduces you to a wide range of far-reaching, original designs that, unbuilt, survived purely as artistic vision.

The significant international content, from Prehistory through Medieval, Renaissance,and Modern periods: includes full-page illustrations of baroque stage sets, designs for the film Metropolis and urban cityscapes by M.C.Escher, Frank Lloyd Wright, Hugh Ferriss, and much more. A timeline integrates architectural events alongside their historical and cultural counterparts. The architectural imagery is represented by several media and stylistic techniques; sketches, drawings, paintings, models, andcomputer-generated images. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

beter than a coffe table book
Unbuilt works of Imagination is just that. this book has gotten picked up a looked at more then the typical t.v guide( not to compare too). With each look at this book you notice something diiferent everytime which keeps you coming back for more. The cover in itself will hold your attention for quite a period of time. As one who may flip pages- the color contrast will entice you to see what each page does hold. As for those who dream or are forever thinking (as I myself do) you will find your self in the greatest of unknown worlds wondering if and when this will be the new sights in our future. thank you Ernest

Judge a Book by its Cover!
While built architecture always reflects the compromises designers have to make with physics and economics, unbuilt visionary architectural projects do not have those limitations. They show the pure imagination and non-compromised execution of conceptual design imaginations. The sophisticated appearance of the jacket reflects very much the content of the whole publication. It is a firework of bold and innovative design concepts. The selection of projects demonstrates clearly that architectural design can be interpreted as the ultimate three-dimensional art form. The works presented in the book were created over the past 250 years by some of the world's best known (and unknown) architects. I highly recommend this book with its fresh array of unconstrained architectural design as a stimulant to all who will or already practice architecture. For those who are just interested in the subject, it will be a dazzling, provocative alternative on the coffee table to issues of Architectural Digest and Martha Stuart Living!

Prof. Hans-Christian Lischewski

Splendid Collection
A dazzling collection of the most creative expressions of the world's greatest architects. Every page in this book is as much art as architecture and the printer has done a magnificent job of preserving every detail.

If you ever get a chance to examine this book you will insist on having a copy for your own library (or coffee table). Every practicing architect, and architecture student should have this book for reference. The rest of us will simply enjoy it for the art.

I can't imagine how Ernest Burden managed to assemble this splendid collection. I think it is his best work so far.

William C. Dunn

the incredible WOW!
To pick up this book, with its unbelievably compelling jacket design, is to enter into a world of incredible imagination. From cities of the future to Blade Runner, Star Wars, and the remarkable insights of Y1K, this book has it all! There are futures both sanguine and frightening, and unbeliebable architecure and drawing. Read it and feast! ... Read more

Book Description

A visual feast of 500 iconic houses and traditional dwellings from all over the world.

The House Book presents a vibrant and fresh view of architects and designers responsible for some of the most diverse international houses of all time. From Hadrian's Villa to Palladio's Villa Rotunda and Le Corbusier's Villa Savoye through to the contemporary houses of Richard Rogers and Frank Gehry, it features the widest range of both architect-designed and traditional dwellings.

Following the format of The Art Book, it presents 500 architects in A-Z order, offering an easily accessible and informative sourcebook for experts as well as readers coming to an architectural survey for the first time.

Some of the houses are acknowledged for their role in architectural history, others will be iconic for the individual features or structure, but all are seminal forms of dwelling. The selection ranges from the palaces of kings to the individual huts of the Hutu, but the book illustrates that the essential qualities of the house or dwelling remain greatly unchanged over the centuries.

Each architect or designer is represented by a full page reproduction mostly in colour of their most significant house and accompanying text that describes the image and its designer. Each page includes cross-references to other architects working in a similar style, movement or time period. The book also includes an easy-to-use glossary of architectural terms and movements and a directory of houses open to the public. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A Sumptuous Feast For The Eyes
A roof over our head is a need just as the air that we breathe, the food that we consume, & the water that we drink. As human gradually evolves & that our mind is getting more complex, a house doesn't serve the need simply but it also has become a form of expression, a display of the occupants' personality &/or their wealth, bringing into fruition an ideal or an -ism, &/or a culmination of both. Irrespective of which countries we're going to, & what cultures we immerse ourselves into, we still need a house to go home to. And the "House Book" delves into the residential end of architecture scale by showing us all range of houses that transcend boundaries, dollar value, time. I view this book as a collage of 500 houses. I wish certain iconic houses could be discussed further with provision of additional pictures but what we are provided with are simply pictures taken from the most potent angles, which supposedly do the most justice to the houses. Having said that, I would opt the strengths & weaknesses are exposed & they are to be judged by their own merits but then, the size of the book would have been increased quite significantly & so does the cost of owning the book. Still, this is an exceptional book with high grade quality pictures, good summary, good end notes for us to delve into a particular style, particular countries. At the end of the book, there is also an index of further information regarding houses that are available for public viewing. Overall, a very well-done book & it is featured permanently & prominently on my coffee table. Highly recommended

Really fun to look through
A great collection of 500 houses, from huts in thirdworld countries, to historic castles and palaces and estates and chateaus, to modern architecture, done by 500 architects. This is a visuals-only book. It does not have much information about the buildings or the architects, but it makes up for the lack of text with the large, vibrant photos, which is what the book is all about. This book is a trade-off - it has more homes and architects than any other book out there, but it also has very little information, since with 500 architects, that only leaves one per page.

Fun to look through and mentally design the dream estate of my retirement years...and to learn about a lot of architects I'd never heard of.

Steal of the century
Why ....O....Why is this book so cheap???!!??? It's so wonderfully done. Each designer gets exactly one page (even Frank Lloyd Wright). One beautiful photograph(and thank [goodness] not too many words), then on to the next,500 in all; an incredibly diverse view of the different ways that "Home" is accomplished, with suggestions in fine print of other entries that might interest you if you like this one. Every book I've ever bought even close to this quality really hurt me at the checkout counter....but this one is [PRICE]..!!?? Perhaps it's the ugly cover photograph of bricks. Who knows, but inside is one of the most incredible and inspiring collections of images I've seen in a long time...kind of like "Shelter" without the excess verbage. Years ago, my sister cut thousands of small photographs out of years of National Geographic and laminated them into an incredible montage that covered the entire wall surface that separated the kitchen from the dining room. Colors, textures and images provided us with endless amusement. I'm ordering 2 extra copies of this book to chop up. No [kidding], I'm not associated with this book in any way, I'm just an economy minded Architect that can spot an incredible buy.

The House Book
If you liked The Art Book you'll love The House Book. An alphabetical listing of the most important 500 houses from all time. This concise visual history of icons covers everything from ancient cave dwellings to the latest in architectural wonders. Everyone one is there - Gehry, Aalto, Eames, Thomas Jefferson, Henry VIII, Palladio.
Beautifully photographed and printed, I ordered 10 copies of this coffee table book for holiday gifts. ... Read more

Book Description

Few constructions better epitomize leisure and comfort than the swimming pool. Although at times pools serve landscaping or sporting functions, they are most associated with relaxation and leisure. This new collection features dozens of innovative pool designs from the United States, Tuscany, Spain, Marrakech and more. Pools continue to challenge architects, landscapers and homeowners to create serene beauty and peace; More Spectacular Pools is just the book to inspire such plans.

Book Description

To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the founding of Pamphlet Architecture, we are proudly reissuing the first ten issues--most of which have been long out of print--in one hardcover volume. This graphically stunning and theoretically stimulating collection includes the early works of many of today's best-known architects, including Steven Holl, Lars Lerup, Mark Mack, Lebbeus Woods, Zaha Hadid, Livio Dimitriu, and Alberto Sartoris.

The Pamphlet Architecture series was founded in 1978 by architects Steven Holl and William Stout as a venue for publishing the thoughts and works of a younger generation of architects. Each issue was written, illustrated, and designed by a single architect, which gives each its unique character. The series, which received an American Institute of Architects award, continues to influence new generations of architects as it disseminates new and innovative ideas on architecture and presents the work of the luminaries of tomorrow. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

The freedom of Architecture!
A book where architecure doesn't follow a school of thought. Rather the liberty of artistic expression. The kind of work that must be seen before starting an architectural magazine.

a cornerstone book on theory and architectural research
a long waited and very well conceived series of reflections on architecture.
A must to have in every creative library. ... Read more

Book Description

The words we use when we talk and write about architecture describe more than just bricks and mortar—they indicate the ways we think of and live with buildings. This original and thoughtful study provides the first thorough examination of the relationship between architecture and language as complex social practices.

The first section of the book consists of six rigorously argued essays that investigate the language of modernism, language and drawing, "masculine and feminine" architecture, language metaphors, science in architecture, and the social properties of architecture. The second part provides a vocabulary of key words, providing rich analyses of critical terms such as Character, Form, History, and Space. Each investigation locates a word's modern meaning within a framework of historical enquiry and theoretical discussion, setting out clearly the term's invention and treatment by architects, historians, philosophers, critics, and the people who actually use buildings.

This wholly original study changes and enriches the way we think and talk about architecture, and will interest anyone concerned with architecture and culture in the modern era. 216 illustrations. ... Read more

Book Description

Make compliance with the Uniform Building Code a cinch with this complete set of project-oriented checklists. They decode the often arcane and unwieldly requirements of the UBC and reduce verification of code compliance to the simple act of running through a checklist. No matter what stage your project is in or what type of structure you're working on, this resource provides the needed time-saving, code-verifying tool. Divided into four major sections, this book/CD package gives you checklists for the design stage, architectural documentation, structural documentation, and specifications. Provided in both print and computer-ready format, these checklists simplify record-keeping as well as compliance. This valuable tool reduces the need for time-wasting design changes, expensive construction change orders, and worseÑclaims that can result from failure to design and build according to code. Concise and easy to read and to use, the Uniform Building Code Manual is your key to quick and complete verification. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Fundamentally, a Check List
This book is a big check-list. Do not buy it if you are actually looking for building code information. However, it would probably be useful to contractors who want to be sure they have covered all bases. (I gave it two stars because it was not useful for me.)

A Must Companion for the UBC Code
This book makes an excellent Companion for the 1997 UBC Code. It is broken into section like the UBC code, each section has check list that can be used to insure compliance with the code.

The CD Rom in the back of the book allows you to print out check list that can be used in project files for documentation. An excelent tool for any design Engineer. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Really deserves 10 stars! However, I must warn you...
This is THE BEST book there is on Versailles (which is probably why its normally a hundred bucks!) There is only one problem I have ever had with the book and that is the poor physical quality. I had to order it twice because my first copy fell completely apart within a few weeks. Needless to say I was not happy at all when that happened. Every copy that I have seen (in libraries, other bookstores) has the same problem. Normally, I would not have tried again after that, but I HAD to have this book. My second one has also begun to separate from the binding, so I rarely read it... but when I do, I use **EXTREME** care. I think the main reason for this is the size and weight of the book, so if you decide to purchase it, keep that in mind. I recommend turning the pages *slowly* and not leaving it completely flat and/or open for any long period of time. Also, store it horizontally, NOT vertically... the pages are so heavy, they will end up tearing themselves out!

Absolute perfection!
Without a doubt, the most beautiful and informative book ever on the Palace of Versailles. Architectural history , decorative wonders, sumptuous furniture, this book explores it all! THE BOOK for all lovers of Versailles or eighteenth century French art.

The definitive Book On Versailles And The French Court!
I knew when I first visited Versailles in 1986, that I did not see everything. When I found this book I was floored! It answered all my questions about the social life of Versailles, and gave me a thorough foundation on the history of the French Court. As a lover of historic architecture and garden design, I can honsetly say that this book is a DREAM!!! French Architectural historian Perouse de Montclos brillantly traces the history of Versailles from hunting lodge to this incrediable architectural masterpiece. The photographs are fabulous, the text first rate. My favorite section was the one devoted to the extensive grounds and fountains. If you are a collector of "coffee table" books on architecture, add this one to your collection!! ... Read more

Book Description

This richly illustrated book illuminates the principles and elements of classical architecture, which have been at the heart of the Western experience for over two millennia. It explores Greek and Roman architecture and the architecture of eras that found in antiquity a basis for their own design—the Renaissance, the Baroque and Rococo, Neoclassicism, and the modern era. 333 b/w illustrations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

I Loved it! Very Rich, Vibrant, Detailed Photograhs!
This book is a compliation of showcase design displays across the country; the Best of the Best. Incredible Variety of Styles!
I enjoyed perusing through this BEAUTIFUL volume; had a Tremendous Time! BUT it took me several DAYS! i would pick it up; get so emmersed in the incredible vivid detail of the rich, full colored pictures that time would fly and i had only covered a small section! ... Read more