Residential Books

Huge book, full of beautiful photographs of homes and castles in Normandy. Interesting text as well.

i think that in this fabolous book there are the best place where a man can live

What an inspirational book, beautiful photos, just makes you want to go and visit, so instead you can create I little bit of Marrakech in your own home which I have decided to do with some lovely paint and lots of cushions a great book to flip through and dream

Marrakech, that magically mysterious place in Southern Morocco - just the sound of the name gives birth to visions of intrigue, romance, secrets. It is, perhaps, the city many of us dream of visiting. Well, if Marrakech is not included in your vacation plans this year you can enjoy an in-depth colorful tour through the pages of this beautiful volume.

Readers will find a telling description of the glories of this city: "With the coming of twilight Marrakech gives itself up to all manner of seduction, the senses discover the thrill of happiness. On the horizon it seems that all the purple in the world, in its infinite shades, has chosen the Atlas chain as its domicile...."

Thanks to the spectacular photography by Florentine artist Massimo Listri we know this to be true. His camera takes us behind the high walls and enormous cedar doors of Moroccan houses to discover magnificently decorated interiors, with a melange of colors, fabrics and lighting all reflecting the blend of cultures found in the city - Berber, French, Spanish and Arab.

One finds traditional homes called Dar as well as the magnificent palaces with interior gardens known as Riad. Some 27 residences are featured as well as twelve outside of the city. Each is unique, delightful with shaded yards, fountains and pools enhancing the lives of those who dwell on the edge of the desert. Where else would we find a pool with mother-of-pearl lining the bottom or a home in which artists have used "what might be called chiffon painting," which involves "processing the layers of plaster with a thin fabric, the only way to obtain certain faded blues and linen grays...."

Daniel Rey, author of numerous travel accounts for Conde Nast Traveller and the Louis Vuitton City Guides, divides his time between Rome and Marrakesh. His narrative is a splendid companion to Listri's photographs as he details behind the scenes life in this contemporary Eden.

If you have not already dreamed of Marrakech you surely will after browsing through this lush volume, which is surely one of the most enticing books to be found.

- Gail Cooke

This is the only book that I have found that focuses solely on this subect ... that is the traditional whitewashed buildings of the Mediterranean basin. It covers the areas from Spain, Morroco, Tunsia, Italy, and Greece.

It is mainly a beautiful colour photographic journey with some helpful text along the way. If you have been inspired by the forms in books such as 'Shelter', 'Architecture without Architects', 'Built by Hand', then this is a superb addition to focus one area and style.

If you are looking for a book that covers the architectural history of these areas, dont buy it ... it deals only with the whitewashed buildings.

This book is just as the title indicates, one of my favorites. I absolutely love the village type look of the countries in the Mediterranean coast. Since I've travelled throughout various of these places, I've become addicted to their beauty, both natural and manmade. This book, on Vernacular Architecture is something for me to hold on to, when I think of such lovely places, with their tiny passageways, whitewashed walls, and the ocean down below. I first discovered this book in the library, and must have checked it out over a dozen times... Now, I own it, and can't resist looking at it, at least once a day.

I love the Fansworth House but I've not been there yet. The book shows us full of images of the masterpiece and takes us into the house imaginarily. Black and white photos work very much and some Mies's drawings are also helpful to understand how the house was beyond the notions. It is still quite new and less is more, of course.
Yoko Lewis, Berkeley in Califorinia

a magnificient book about the last domestic project built by mies, where an extraordinary complexity of details results in a very simple home. truly the work of a lifetime achievement.

I loved this book! Rarely have I read a book that combines the richness of Japanese architecture, history and culture with the personal experiences of an American correspondent who simultaneously adopted a Japanese son and eventually gained a 18th century Japanese farmhouse in the process. It is a lively and fascinating account of John Roderick's life over a 50 year period of living in this country that remains an enigma to most foreigners. This is a refreshing look at a bit of Japanese archecture and family life accompanied by a witty, candid, and entertaining writing style. I strongly recommend it!

Describing the loving restoration of an 18th century Japanese farmhouse by a well-known AP correspondent, this book also gives intriguing glimpses into Japanese culture of today and yesterday. John Roderick is careful to point out that he could not have accomplished the restoration without the Japanese family who "adopted" him. I found the book hard to put down, so skillfully is it constructed.

I just got this and looked through it for the first time, page by page. The decision to buy this from a secondary vendor here at Amazon was easy, as I had recently seen the newer version in a bookstore for five times the price and was impressed. I can't make a good comparison between the two versions because I only casually skimmed through the newer one at the store. It seems the newer one might have a handful of additional houses, but I can't be sure.
It is mainly a picture book and a beautiful one at that. The photos of the older houses, from the 1950's and 60's, are almost all black and white, which is probably to be expected. The ones from the 70's and later are almost all color - very nice.
Floorplans are included for about half of the houses, although some of the plans are incomplete, with a level missing, usually a basement level or some such.
The accompanying text descriptions are of the usual architectual type, ie, how the architect(s) sought to achieve this-and-that in relation to one-or-the-other, etc.
I would have liked to see complete floorplans for all the houses, the lack of which tempts me to give only four stars, but since not everyone cares about this, I'll give it five. The book delivers as advertised.

I have read this book time and time again (from the library) and it is excellent. The photographs are exquisite, and I, being compulsed to read every modern architecture book available, thoroughly enjoyed it.