Book Review: Robert M. Gurney Architect: The Master Architect Series

I think that books on architecture are just as interesting as books devoted to interior design, especially when the architecture is award-winning. Robert M. Gurney Architect: The Master Architect Series, published by Images Publishing, provides exactly that in a monograph devoted to the work of Washington, D.C. based architect Robert M. Gurney, FAIA. 

Gurney designs contemporary style homes, staying ecologically aware by using natural materials and varied construction methods. Each of the houses have a symbiotic relationship with their picturesque surroundings, feeling warm and welcoming while at the same time, clean and modern. Brilliant photos of Gurney's work fill over 250-pages, featuring 23 projects across the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

Gurney is dedicated to designing modern, thoughtfully ordered, and meticulously detailed residential and commercial spaces, and as I said, each project is uniquely sensitive to site and budget. Let's take a look inside shall we?

Honestly, I would jump at the chance to live in one of these glass wall houses, surrounded by nature, and completely open to the varied shades of light. I would decorate many of them very differently than you'll find in the book, but that's the beauty in having volumns like this one. You open yourself up to new styles and opinions, and then get to imagine your own aesthetic in each one. 

If you enjoy taking these "what-if" decorating daydreams as much as I do, take a further look at this book via the Amazon link below: 

Book Review: Seaside Living: 50 Remarkable Houses

Seaside Living: 50 Remarkable Houses Introduction by Russell Abraham

Published by images Publishing

 

If I have said it once, I've said it a hundred times: "I would love to live on the water." So naturally, when books like Seaside Living: 50 Remarkable Houses hit the shelf, I have to indulge.

 

Whether a summer playground, winter hideaway or permanent abode, Seaside Living: 50 Remarkable Houses features a breathtaking, hand-picked collection of innovative designs in contemporary residential beachside architecture. Each of these fifty beautiful homes cohesively blends into the landscape, and the water becomes the focus.  Let's take a look between the pages, shall we?

Photo Credit: Russell Abraham; Architecture Design: Robert Swatt

GARAY HOUSE, Marin County Hillside, California - Seaside Living: 50 Remarkable Houses

 

Photo Credit: Russell Abraham; Architecture Design: Robert Swatt

GARAY HOUSE, Marin County Hillside, California - Seaside Living: 50 Remarkable Houses

Photo Credit: Nils Petter Dale; Architecture Design: Jarmund Arkitekter MNAL

SUMMER HOUSE, Vestfold, Norway - Seaside Living: 50 Remarkable Houses

 

Photo Credit: Nils Petter Dale; Architecture Design: Jarmund Arkitekter MNAL

SUMMER HOUSE, Vestfold, Norway - Seaside Living: 50 Remarkable Houses

 

Photo Credit: Patrick Reynolds; Renovation Design: Julian Guthrie

TAKAPUNA HOUSE, Takapuna, New Zealand - Seaside Living: 50 Remarkable Houses

 

And that's only three! Three of Fifty! Seaside Living: 50 Remarkable Houses celebrates our connection to the seaside, and proves with gorgeous, full color images of each of these awesome homes, that there is nothing quite as relaxing as living by the water. So, if you're in the mood for a relaxing getaway to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the coastal United States - look no further. Inspiration abounds on every page, whether you're designing your own home, or just want a voyeur's view into the life on the water. Take a closer look, and pick up your copy via the amazon link below:

Book Review: Rooftop Garden Design

Rooftop Garden Design Edited by David Fletcher

Published by Images Publishing

 

I think that we are all trying to "go green" now, and likely you have been for the last several years. Small changes, like changing out incandescent bulbs for CFL's, recycling, buying certified repurposed or biodegradable goods are just small steps to helping conserve our earth's resources. In design, you surely have seen a push to natural fibers (linen, cotton, wool) in the fabrics for new furniture, with some companies now selling certified "green" furniture for the home.

 

Even builders of new buildings are thinking "green", with installation of water-free plumbing, solar panel electricity, and in many situations "green" roofs. Green roofs are the ultimate in sustainable building practices, and they continue to generate enormous interest and enthusiasm among architects, landscape designers, and urban planners.

 

Rooftop Garden Design provides a comprehensive guide to contemporary trends in rooftop garden design, and provides definitive theory and design industry knowledge. Let's take a peek inside!

 

 Photo/Design Credit: Aralia UK;

Knightsbridge Roof Terrace, London, UK - Rooftop Garden Design

 

Photo credit: Mariko Reed; Architect Design: brick, llp; Landscape Design: Bionic

899 West Evelyn, California, United States - Rooftop Garden Design

 

 Photo Credit: Ben Wetherall; Design Credit: Aralia UK;

Concept Show Garden, Chelsea, UK - Rooftop Garden Design

 

Photo Credit: Patrick Bingham-Hall; Architecture Design: Guz Architects Pte Ltd; Landscape Design: Nyee Phoe Landscapes; Private Home, Sentosa, Singapore - Rooftop Garden Design

 

Photo Credit: Jay Jallorina; Landscape Design: ArquitectonicaGEO

SM City North EDSA Sky Gardens, Quezon City, Philippines - Rooftop Garden Design

 

These are just a few of the amazing projects from around the world captured in the richly illustrated pages of Rooftop Garden Design.  Projects from commercial to residential are showcased from Australia, Chile, China, Europe, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Scandinavia, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam. So, if you have an interest in green practices, sustainable gardening, and rooftop garden design, look no further than this book! An essential resource for anyone working on environmental landscape, the book is more than a reference guide, it's a gorgeous, well illustrated, and inspirational book perfect for perusing when you need a little break from the ordinary. Look at little further, and grab your copy via the amazon link below:

  

Book Review: Thai Hotels

Thai Hotels by Visut Lohacharoon and Clint Nagata

Published by images Publishing

Since I live in a region of the Northeast that is often slammed with record levels of snow, there is no end to the train of thoughts that I have that conclude with finding my blissful peace somewhere a bit more tropical! Of course, if you're going to dream, dream big, right? So, naturally, when I knew the cold weather was just around the corner, and my mind would want to vacation to locales more sunny and warm than my own, I was excited to get a copy of Thai Hotels to help with beautiful pictures of this mental adventure.

As with many places, Thailand's tropical climate and Buddhist philosophies greatly influence their architecture, as do the architectural styles of countries such as China, India, and other Southeast Asian nations. Thai Hotels features projects that combine the beauty of the countries ubiquitous tropical forests with extraordinary national symbols that are becoming increasingly popular, gaining valuable recognition by architects and designers worldwide. Page by richly photographed page, you not only are absorbed by the beauty of Thailand and these premier resorts, but you're absorbing traditional Thai architecture, and a healthy understanding of the architectural mechanics of that style with wonderful drawings and floorplans to help illustrate the unique and beautiful point of view of each of these magical spaces.

Grab your sunglasses, and let's take a look inside.

Photo Credit: Martyn Goodacre/Ricardo Tossani; Architecture Design: Ricard Tossani Architecture

Akatsuki Resort - LipaNoi Beach, KohSamui, Thailand, Thai Hotels

 

 Photo Credit: Martyn Goodacre/Ricardo Tossani; Architecture Design: Ricard Tossani Architecture

Akatsuki Resort - LipaNoi Beach, KohSamui, Thailand, Thai Hotels

Photo Credit: Martyn Goodacre/Ricardo Tossani; Architecture Design: Ricard Tossani Architecture

Akatsuki Resort - LipaNoi Beach, KohSamui, Thailand, Thai Hotels

 

Photo Credit: Wison Tungthunya; Architecture Design: Onion

Sala Rattanakosin - Bangkok, Thailand, Thai Hotels

 

Photo Credit: Wison Tungthunya; Architecture Design: Onion

Sala Rattanakosin - Bangkok, Thailand, Thai Hotels

 

Photo Credit: Sven Ell Sworth, Warawut Awutchanakarnkul; Architecture: RDM Design Group

Avista Hideaway Resort and Spa - Patong, Phuket, Thailand, Thai Hotels

 

Photo/Architectural Design Credit: Habita Co., Ltd.

Yaiya Hua Hin - Petchburi, Thailand, Thai Hotels

 

Photo Credit: The Dhara Dhevi; Architecture Design: Nadadhorn Dhamabutra, Suriya Saomuen

The Dhara Dhevi - Chang Mai, Thailand, Thai Hotels

 

Photo Credit: The Dhara Dhevi; Architecture Design: Nadadhorn Dhamabutra, Suriya Saomuen

The Dhara Dhevi - Chang Mai, Thailand, Thai Hotels

 

Photo Credit: The Dhara Dhevi; Architecture Design: Nadadhorn Dhamabutra, Suriya Saomuen

The Dhara Dhevi - Chang Mai, Thailand, Thai Hotels

 

The beauty within this coffee table book is really not able to be described with words. 250+ pages of gorgeous photo after gorgeous photo will leave you breathless and clutching your passport, trying to plan your first sojourn to Thailand. To see more, and grab your own copy, visit the amazon link below. 



 



Book Review: An Ideal Collaboration: The Art of Classical Details II

An Ideal Collaboration: The Art of Classical Details II by Phillip James Dodd

Published by Images Publishing

 

We use the word collaboration quite a bit, don't we? It's almost a catch-phrase now. Everyone and everything seems to be in collaboration with someone or something else. But true collaboration, which requires an understanding and appreciation of both roles is rare, and not often realized. When it is though - magic happens. That magic is what Phillip James Dodd shows us in An Ideal Collaboration: The Art of Classical Details II, his follow-up to the critically acclaimed The Art of Classical Details.

 

The book features projects where top interior designers and architects have collaborated to build amazing finished products for their clients. Homes where living is beautiful and functional and inspiring all at once. British born architect, Phillip James Dodd has a thriving architecture firm, and has a reputation as one of the foremost experts on classical architecture and interiors. To have him walk you through the pages of this beautiful book, is like having a seasoned docent walk you through a well curated museum. Each room is more beautiful that the one before it, and the knowledge you take away from the detailed narrative of the space is empowering.

 

An Ideal Collaboration: The Art of Classical Details II, tours homes in the United States, and the UK both inside and out. Let's take a look at some of the gorgeous spaces and gardens within:

 

 Photo Credit: Nick Johnson; Designer Credit: Cullman & Kravis - Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse; An Ideal Collaboration: The Art of Clasical Details II

  Photo Credit: Sheppard Day; Designer Credit: Russell Sullivan; An Ideal Collaboration: The Art of Clasical Details II

  Photo Credit: Courtesy of Foster Reeve & Associates; An Ideal Collaboration: The Art of Clasical Details II

  Photo Credit: Eric Piasecki; Designer Credit: S. R. Gambrell with Liederbach & Graham Architects; An Ideal Collaboration: The Art of Clasical Details II

  Photo Credit: Neil Landino Jnr.; Designer Credit: Doyle Herman Design Associates; An Ideal Collaboration: The Art of Clasical Details II

  Photo Credit: Courtesy of Hamady Architects, LLC; Designer Credit: Hamady Architects with Doyle Herman Design Associates (HARMONY FARM); An Ideal Collaboration: The Art of Clasical Details II

 Photo Credit: Courtesy of Foster Reeve and Associates; Designer Credit: Same; An Ideal Collaboration: The Art of Clasical Details II

 

 Photo Credit: Richard Johnson; Designer Credit: Michael Franck (Franck & Lohsen Architects); An Ideal Collaboration: The Art of Clasical Details II

 

An absolutely gorgeous collection of rooms, with stunning photography, and in depth detail of space - understanding architecture and design. An Ideal Collaboration: The Art of Clasical Details II is sure to awaken the senses and inspire you in projects both big and small, inside and out. I highly recommend taking a closer look, and grabbing a copy for your interior design book library via the amazon link below: