Residential Books

This is the definitive text (in english) on the subject of simple single-residence Japanese construction into the early post WW2 era. Mr. Engels treats the subject with clarity and reverence. I have been reading books on this subject for years and have yet to find its equal.
This edition is a far cry from the much abridged paper bound edition first issued in the 1980's and is far more comprehensive. As costly as it is, like the chisel you buy that seems so expensive at the time, as the years go by the superior value of that better tool displays itself more clearly with every use. Buy this one. You won't regret it.
One flaw exists; all copies I have seen have cracked their binding somewhere between the 50th and 120th pages. Otherwise a perfect book for the carpenter, woodworker or architect.
Enjoy

"In its design, history, symbolism and metaphor, Monticello is the quintessential example of the autobiographical house" (2). Not only did the house remain in a state of architectural momentum for forty years, but it also was the site of its master's involvement in governmental structure. Thomas Jefferson was the architect of his mansion and the key builder of his country.

When young Thomas decided to study at William and Mary, he focused on classical studies and mathematics, while independently trying to put together an architectural foundation. Architecture as a profession did not exist in the colonies of his day.

Thus, Monticello became a dwelling in flux and a site to try out new ideas as he learned them. Herculaneum and Pompeii had been discovered in 1738 and 1740, respectively. These preserved ruins became the basis for the dignity, majesty, beauty, and facade of permanence of the buildings of a new country. Again, Thomas Jefferson was the architect of ideas and substantiating them.

I bought this book years ago and used it when I taught the Declaration of Independence in high school American literature. I wanted to show students the man behind the words. Monticello was great evidence of a man of the Enlightenment--rational thinking, classical studies, science as the basis for philosophy, Deism as religion. The Great Watchmaker creates the world and leaves man to run it. When various people say that our Founding Fathers built this country on religion, I try to tell them that they must mean the Settling Father--the Pilgrims and Puritans, who did establish their settlements on the basis of a New World free from religious tyranny. (The witch hunts are certainly an example of that.) The true founders were inevitably Deists in a time of Enlightenment.

Jefferson's incessant adding to and taking away whole parts and various parts so exemplifies the Enlightened thinker. I am Man. I can make it better. A beautiful winding staircase graced the front entry. Jefferson decided one day that the stairway took up too much room. He removed it and built a little tiny, skinny one large enough for only one person to ascend or descend at a time.

He did not like the kitchen near the dining room so he put it under the main floor on the other side of the mansion. Servants had to carry food from one end to the other, then slip into the dining room to serve. That intrusion annoyed him, so he invented the dumb waiter. Servants--out of sight, out of mind. He hated wasting space for beds, so he built them into walls, including his own. Next to his, leading to the attic, "where he stored his clothes" and Sally Hemmings had her "official" bed, was a built-in ladder.

Many of his inventions are displayed all over the house. He thought of everything: week-long day clocks, windows that can be pulled down or up, a widow's walkway around the property looking out over Richmond's University of Virginia, whose Rotunda he designed. He experimented with many many plants--flowers, fruits, vegetables.

"Jefferson's Monticello" is just one of many books about this man and his architectural gem, but it is the one I own and love. It is a reminder of my tourist visit there.

A meticulously researched and highly engaging book detailing some of the remaining "cottages" (if you consider a 16 room house with 5 bathrooms a cottage) at the Jekyll Island colony. If you're familiar with the subject, you'll already know that some of the wealthiest men of the late 19th and early 20th century made Jekyll (off the southern coast of Georgia, near the Florida border) their getaway of choice; some going to the extent of building elaborate residences for their brief sojourns South. This book details the histories of some of the remaining houses; who built them, who enjoyed them, and how eventually death and financial decline caught up with just about all of them. It's loaded with photos, and not just boring old architects' shots of the finished products- we are treated to casual snaps of the families having tea outside, playing with the kids in the pool, or going for a ride in the pony cart. Add to this the aforementioned well-researched history of the families and houses themselves, and you have a book that you won't be able to put down. I'm a dedicated remainder-and-used book buyer, but I'm going to gladly play Amazon for a new copy of this. It's absolutely worth it. Enjoy!

nos enseña como lograr tener cosas que ya hemos perdido

Katsura: A Princely Retreat offers a unique view of an ancient retreat for the royal family of Japan. It combines enlighting text with beautiful pictures.

From the rock gardens to the moon-viewing platform, Katsura offers westerners the chance to gaze at enchanting scenary, buidlings and gardens.

The East never looked so good.

This is my last buy, and i need to say taht is a excellent buy. This book contains one of the most beautiful house project in the contemprary scenario. Is in Japanese and English, and contains detailed plans and very goood pictures. This package contains instead other mini book with other projects of sejima about social houing like a catalog.
The best of all, the price, a masterpiece under the 20.
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Este libro ha sido lo ultimo que he comprado en arquitectura y tengo que decir que es una compra excelente. Contiene uno de los proyectos de vivienda contemporanea mas interesantes. Esta en japones y en ingles, lleva en el interior planos detallados y muchas fotografias. Este libro ademas viene con otro mini librito donde aparecen otros proyectos de sejima realacionados con vivienda social. Una muy buena compra.

I like so much this book, it gives you plenty of inspiring ideas. I also bought "Child Style" by BHG: it is good but most of the projects are too much complicated to be done. In this book there are a lot of decorating tips, "paiting- and textile-projects" from whom you can take inspiration to decorate your kids' room. Buy it!

I am a Kitchen & Bath Designer and own my own Showroom. I have put together one of the best reference libraries, for my clients. I preordered this book and received it today. I generally give them a look thru and see if any pictures jump out. I must say that I found myself reading this book. It has great information for anyone wanting to redo their kitchen or bath. It educates in very clear language but not so elemetary to bore the design professional. It is peppered with little nuggets of wisdom from designers and the author .....things that even us "old" designers can learn from. It covers everything from floor to ceiling and everything in between. They have included sections on Universal design, which we are all always looking for new ideas to incorporate accessibility in an attractive manner. I would highly recommend this book to both the homeowner or designer.

Le moine benedictin et architecte Hans van der Laan (1904-1991) a ecrit ce deuxieme livre dans son abbaye de Vaals aux Pays-Bas (pres d'Aix-La-Chapelle) pour exprimer sa vision pleinement aboutie de la conception en architecture en particulier, et en arts plastiques en general.

Son premier livre, le Nombre Plastique, basé sur le calcul des proportions, se retrouve plus concentre dans celui-ci, tel un outil devenu une incontestable decouverte de la pensee humaine.

La methode decrite s'inspire en partie des travaux de l'architecte romain Vitruve. Elle concerne donc tout d'abord l'architecture, mais elle s'adapte complementairement d'une part en plus grand, a l'architecture paysagere et a l'urbanisme, et d'autre part en plus petit, a la conception du mobilier, de tous types d'objets, et egalement a la creation de vêtements.

L'objectif de cette methode (qui demande un temps d'apprentissage), s'il n'est pas clairement exprime (par pudeur ?), consiste a mon sens, a faire passer l'amour divin dans tout ce que le concepteur concoit. Une fois la maison construite, nous ressentons - si nous y sommes sensibles - l'amour universel et inconditionnel comme lorsque nous nous trouvons dans une cathedrale ou au coeur de la foret.

L'abbaye dans laquelle vivait l'auteur lui a servi de champ d'experimentation reel, pour sa plus grande joie et celle de ses amis moines, en enracinant la theorie dans une pratique qui peut actuellement se visiter respectueusement chaque jour. C'est dire que peu d'architectes peuvent a ce point concretiser leur propre theorie.

TABLE DES MATIÈRES : I. Nature et architecture II. Espace, forme, grandeur III. Dedans et dehors IV. Plein et creux V. Ligne, surface et volume VI. Triple fonction VII. Rapport fondamental VIII. Systèmes de mesures IX. Symetrie X. Eurythmie XI. Disposition du mur XII. Disposition de la maison XIII. Disposition de la ville XIV. Triple expression XV. Un exemple : Stonehenge

Although this book qualifies as a typical coffee-table book, the photography and text provide an intimate, intriguing look at the many styles of architecture and decorating that can be found in LA. Especially interesting are the historical properties. I recently (and reluctantly) moved away from the City of Angels, and I miss the region immensely. I'm looking for a copy of this out-of-print book as a keepsake and an inspiration.