Residential Books

Roger Moss's new book on the historic house museums in greater Philadelphia fills a void that has existed for a long time. From the turn of the century through the 1920's there were many guides published to help a newly mobile society re-discover the landmarks that the new highways were both making more accessible and threatening. The Bicentennial did not bring a major updating of the available literature, but it did give many local historical societies and sites a major boost. This new book spotlights many of the smaller house museums in groupings meant to encourage touring. While not an architectural guide, the design of the buildings is given equal emphasis with descriptions of the history and collections. There are many interesting themes that are independent of specific buildings. The introduction recaps the history of historic preservation in Philadelphia in the context of the national movement, with the early effort to preserve Independence Hall and other 's! hrines' of democracy. A theme of this topic is the relationship of private citizens and the government. Many of the sites described are only still in existence due to the efforts of concerned individuals, families, or grass roots organizations. Women play a particularly important role, again through individual efforts or through groups such as the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Colonial Dames, or women's groups connected with museums. The huge number (relatively speaking) of historic sites in the immediate area makes any kind of guide a daunting proposition. Moss cites almost 200 house museums alone. His criteria for inclusion in this book consisted of location, original use as a residence, being open to the public without a special appointment, and finally, those houses where the interiors and collections are also distinguished. The fifty properties are grouped geographically to encourage visitation of multiple sites in one trip. The text aids in planning da! y trips. The text is very informative, with the themes pr! eviously mentioned, and interesting anecdotal information. For example, an owner of the Physick House stripped out most of the original woodwork because of her phobia about dust. The Barclay Farmstead is a 32 acre park in the middle of Cherry Hill, The Solitude sits in the middle of the Philadelphia Zoo, Woodlands in a cemetery. Harriton in Bryn Mawr was originally a tobacco plantation with slaves. Henry Mercer's 44 room house in Doylestown with 44 rooms 200 windows and 18 fireplaces is built entirely of reinforced concrete. The generous support of the Barra Foundation ensured that the production of the book is of the highest quality, and available at a moderate price. The photography by the noted local architectural specialist Tom Crane is first rate. In combination with the text the illustrations are a strong enticement to take a few weeks off, hop in a car, and start checking off the list.

I have always had a fascination with South Africa, it seems so beautiful and exotic; the Horn of Africa. This is a gorgeous book and the estates are amazing. The text is highly informative and the images just jump off the page. I love the way the Europeans take their native architecture, then comform it to the elements of Africa. Looking at these houses, it's easy to forget the injustices inflicted on the indigenous people, this breathtaking country is God willing on the way to healing, thank you Mandela.

48 international houses and apartments located in the city, beach, mountains, countryside in hundreds of color photos of the best possible quality showing used materials. All houses are evenly spread between 7 chapters, one of which is separately emphasizing utilizing concrete, stone, brick, metal, wood, light, and recycled materials. The text is minimal, and there is a very few small plans, elevations, sections, and a site plan. The modernistic style and derivatives, and rather warm to hot climates dominate, but there are a few more traditional houses, and a cooler climate is represented as well. The design is excellent.

With his typical readable and informed style, Sudjic gives a design precis of the innovative house designs of this century, often relating them to allied domestic product design. Excellent photography and invaluable floor plans clarify the spirit of the designs, and captions contextualise the background to many buildings in an informed and entertaining manner.

The latter half of the book inspires with its choice of innovative contemporary architecture and interiors, emphasising superb form and volume, simplicity and honesty of finishes and function, and elegant use of light. This book is a beautiful lake, reflecting the best current approaches to House design, yet has depth and substance to be savoured.

BOOK REVIEW: You've Got Home Buying Questions? Illinois Attorney Has the Answers in 'The Home Buyer's Answer Book'


Reviewed By David M. Kinchen


A well informed consumer buying a car or truck will read Consumer Reports to check out the best vehicle for the money. Most people wouldn't buy a vacuum cleaner or coffee maker without a similar investigation.


But millions of people make the biggest purchase of their lifetimes -- buying a house -- without adequate information. It's more than a pity -- it's a crime, considering the large number of useful real estate books on the market.


"The Home Buyer's Answer Book" by Diana Brodman Summers (Sphinx Publishing, an imprint of Sourcebooks, 288 pages, $16.95) will provide all the information any home buyer needs in a logical, readable format, with the jargon of real estate translated into very readable English.


In my four decades of covering real estate, I've read and reviewed many books on buying and selling real estate, but this book is the most up-to-date and comprehensive one I've come across in a long time. Indexed, with a glossary of real estate terms, the quality paperback takes the inquiring reader through the entire process of buying a house. Summers, an attorney and member of the Illinois bar, also provides useful information about selling a house -- an important subject since most people have to sell their existing house to buy another one.


Summers is a woman of strong opinions, inveighing against the process of staging, making a house look better than it is with fancy furniture, drapes -- and even, horrors, on the West Coast -- actors playing homeowners. Good for her! Most home buyers like to see a house without furniture in it, so they can visualize how their own will look
in the new place.


She also states -- correctly -- that the run-up in home prices in the early part of this new century was a bubble that increased far faster than stagnant or even declining salaries. This is a sound Midwestern approach to reality that I, as a fellow Midwesterner, heartily approve of.


The question and answer format of the book, plus its comprehensive index, makes this book easy to use. There's enough stress in buying -- and selling -- a home without wading through real estate jargon.


Topics covered include real estate law and taxes, appraisals and home inspections, working with real estate professionals, dealing with owners selling without an agent, hiring an attorney specializing in real estate (something more important than most people think), foreclosures and flipping, improving your credit rating, avoiding predatory lenders and even building a house.

"The Home Buyer's Answer Book" is available on Amazon or at most well stocked book stores. Publisher's web site: www.sourcebooks.com.

This is a must have for a home buyer. especially a first timer like myself. Irwin's book covered many scenerios I experienced in my home buying process. It totally streamlined the process and eased many of my fears. It is tough buying a home especially if you're single. There was no one available to me to ask questions of. I would hate to think what would have happened if I hadn't read it. And for the record I leveraged my closing cost with the mortgage broker and the seller to come up with a zero down and zero out of pocket closing with an interest rate of 5.5% on a 15 year. But just a word of caution: READ as much as you can about buying a home before doing so and don't take someones word and what to do as dogma. And finally, find a good agent and leverage the hell out of the seller.

I have checked it out twice (and renewed it several times each time) from a local library. Wonderful interior drawings and photos which I have not found elsewhere. I have asked Dover Publications to consider re-publishing it as they re-publish many books of this genre. Got a nice "thank you for your suggestion note from them", but no further news.

Art history teacher Fred W. Peterson presents Homes in the Heartland: Balloon Frame Farmhouses of the Upper Midwest, the true story of the architectural phenomenon of balloon frame house construction that pervaded Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin from 1850 to 1920, which allowed settlers to establish affordable permanent frontier homes. Homes in the Heartland examines the social, economic, and aesthetic aspects of these homes, including their impact both on architectural history and on the lives of the people who lived in them. Enhanced with more than 150 black-and-white illustrations such as vintage photographs and house plans, as well as brand new preface for its paperback edition, Homes in the Heartland is a welcome addition to college library and American architectural history shelves.

Hospitality & Restaurant Design No. 2 packs in far more detail and scope than the first edition, including an international focus and designs by almost forty contemporary architectural and design firms. Over 500 color photos pack an architectural display which describes the function and clientele of establishments, along with interior and exterior shots of designs.

From back cover:

*Features work from 36 of the top hotel designers identified by "interior design" and "hospitality design" magazines.

* Over 140 hotel and resort installations from all over the world are shown

*Spotlights a wide range of hotels, from traditional and conservative to exotic, elegant and luxurious.

A valuable resource that will inspire designers and hoteliers alike.