Architecture Books
-
Latin American House...
Judging by the cover, this looks to have some interesting homes... "Focusing on one-family houses that have been built over the past decade, this lively new title explores the elegance and innovation with which today's Latin American architects evolve their modernist heritage. In some cases, as with Chilean Smiljan Radic Clarke's Pite House - a dramatic concrete bunker that cantilevers over a rough Pacific shoreline - the lineage is clear, as are the materials and strategies used to contend with often inhospitable locations. Others, like Mexican architect Michel Rojkind's bright red "ribbon" PR 34 House, reveal forms better known in…
-
20 Houses by Twenty ...
"The book presents twenty houses designed by the most celebrated architects of the moment, in a wide range of countries. Technical data, plans and a biographical profile of the architect are presented for each of the twenty homes, along with the project report. Located in very diverse geographical settings and designed by figures with an established international reputation - including Glenn Murcutt, Steven Holl, Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, Richard Meier and Rem Kollhaas - as well as by emerging young arhcitects, the twenty houses represent a significant moment of crystallization in contemporary architectural research. The discussion of the architecture…
-
Modernism Reborn: Mi...
I'm a mid-century modern home junkie, and despite my very recently built home, I'll always be addicted to reading about the restoration of truly innovative architecture of that particular time period. "This book gathers mid-century designs that are austere and simple, use natural materials, and address space as a positive and layers of furniture and trimmings as a negative. Modern houses are comfortable in their juncture of light and open floor plans; they yield timeless designs that remain "modern" 50 to 60 years after the fact when other designs are headed toward being "antique." This well-designed volume is as comfortable…
-
Little House on a Sm...
Our house isn't huge by today's standards, yet after reading this book I wanted to move into a home half the size. Not many people can say that, and sure, it sounds strange considering the past trend of 'bigger is better' when it comes to homes, cars, etc. Yet there's something refreshing about minimizing one's possessions and taking stock of what we truly need in order to live comfortably. Owning your home after a few years compared to paying mortgage payments for 15 or 30 years certainly sounds good, but is it possible to let go of the old mentality…
-
Concrete Architectur...
Who doesn't love concrete as a building material? "No longer the material of choice for just factories and industrial buildings, concrete is now fashionable and chic, adorning shops, restaurants, homes, and landscapes with its desirable, tactile surfaces. This reversal of fortune can be attributed to its use in luxurious homes and the discovery that concrete can provide stimulating or soothing environments for a range of leisure activities. Organized around the themes of Home, Work, Play, and Landscape, all the examples chosen celebrate the intrinsic qualities of concrete and how they work to make the places in which we live, work,…
-
Modern House 2 by Cl...
Even though this was published seven years ago, it's still got enough oomph as far as pictures of modern homes are concerned. It's one of the books I purchased inside unseen, just to see more about the house on the cover. "This is an illustrated study of the world's most interesting and innovative contemporary houses. Organized into thematic sections, it features detailed appraisals of 30 contemporary houses by the world's leading architects, ...The book examines issues such as ecological concerns, changing patterns of living, building with sensitivity in ever-increasingly populated cities, and respecting the environment when building in isolated rural…
-
Tom Kundig: Houses
This book has some amazing pictures, and actually covers each home in depth by dedicating more than three pages to each one. I absolutely love the huge windows. [posted by katie]
-
Art Invention House ...
This will definitely give you some ideas (or dreams) on future homes for you and your family. "The houses shown here are understated or audacious, but never conventional. Each of these cutting-edge projects, whether built in town or country, represents a world apart from its surroundings. Some have only trees for neighbors; others are shoehorned into tight urban sites, perch on precipitous slopes, or cling like limpets to the coastline. But every house is one of a kind, the product of dialogue between demanding clients and creative designers around the globe."[posted by katie]
-
The Nature of Dwelli...
"Hovey has made a name for himself as the torchbearer for modern residential design, a designation he shares with a growing number of architects who've returned to pure modernism. His houses merge into the landscapes in which they're situated, and with names like Cloud Chaser and Rain Maker, their ties to the land and climate are made clear. Hovey picks up where Frank Lloyd Wright left off, forging ahead with explorations of simple materials, rectilinear geometries, and structural innovation all in the service of free-flowing floor plans that merge indoor and outdoor into a cohesive whole."[posted by katie]
-
The Green House: New...
This is such a beautiful book. There's over thirty-five homes in fifteen different countries featured as well as six different climactic zones- so if you're even a tiny bit interested in sustainable design, it's worth a look. by Alanna Stang and Christopher Hawthorne. [posted by katie]
-
Compact Houses: Arch...
"In an age of "McMansions," this international survey of the latest in residential architecture proves that small is beautiful-and responsible. The houses profiled are designed to make maximum use of the smallest possible footprint in order to protect the environment. The houses profiled here prove that efficiency as well as beautiful, thoughtful design can be had in a tiny setting. Each project includes a case history describing its design challenges and how the architect overcame them, a detailed blueprint for each house, full-color photos of the interior and the exterior, and plans of the layout. This book will be an…
-
Prefab by Allison Ar...
If you are thinking about building a modern home, please please please consider prefab. "Prefab presents a series of innovative homes and concepts that boldly demonstrate that this is not your grandmother's prefab, offers a glimpse into the history of prefabricated housing over the last century, and reveals a wealth of practical and attractive alternatives to the status quo...From the fantastical digitized aluminum prototypes of Gregg Lynn to the stylish functionality of Ikea's prefabricated apartments in Sweden, Prefab presents a series of innovative homes and space-saving concepts that show how far this building technique has come-and how far it can…
-
Small Houses: Contem...
This book proves that bigger isn't always better. Now all we need to do is distribute it to anyone thinking about building or buying a home."Small houses are no longer synonymous with cheap houses and lack of privilege. Instead, they symbolize a range of culturally coded values: compactness, efficiency, discrimination, discreteness, minimalism. Opening with a detailed exploration of the social and historical background behind compact housing in the twentieth century, this book goes on to feature thirty-seven illustrated case studies that represent some of the best examples of small houses built worldwide within the past decade." [posted by katie]
-
'Modern House' book ...
This book has lots of pictures (215 colour illustrations, 93 b&w illustrations, and 148 line drawings to be precise)... "A collection of 30 recent innovative houses from around the world by notable contemporary architects such as Glenn Murcutt, Richard Meier, OMA, Tadao Ando and Frank Gehry...Houses range from organic structures in desert landscapes to villas in Mallorca and Malibu, and urban houses in Paris, London and Tokyo."
-
The Phaidon Atlas of...
My friends have a eight year old son who by all definitions, is an architectural prodigy. He builds very precise models from the recycling bin and asked for Dwell magazine for his birthday. Also in his design arsenal is the Phaidon Atlas of Contemporary World Architecture. If you only buy one architecture book in your whole life (even if you're only eight), this book must be it. It features modern buildings from all over the world that were completed after January 1st, 1998.