"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 also raises an investigation of the profound changes that are now taking place in the institution of the family, in its makeup, in the rhythms of its daily life and in the forms of its leisure and work."

[posted by katie]

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 and straightforward as the modern houses it celebrates. Quality photographs of each house in its setting, as an interior, and as a tribute to a philosophy join with an informed and useful text that supports but never upstages the designs."

[posted by katie]

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 of success being the biggest house on the block? I sure think so.

A few quotes I liked:
"The luxury of a small house is that it leaves savings for quality, and the time to enjoy it."
'"Why, just because people have a lot of money, do they need to spend it?"' -Jirka Risavy

'LITTLE HOUSE ON A SMALL PLANET (Lyons Press, September 2006) is your guidebook and invitation to the small house movement. The author and the photographer spent over eight years collecting floor plans, photographs, advice, essays and anecdotes about North American small dwellings and the people who live in them. The result of their research is a unique, "cross-genred" self-help/home-improvement/social history book that asks and answers, “What fills a home when the excess is cut away?” and “How do we get there from here?” Discover how to build, remodel, redecorate, or profoundly rethink your needs.'

[posted by katie]

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, and play and to shape the wider landscape that surrounds us."

[posted by katie]

This book covers quite a few architects, and has some excellent photos for inspiration.

"Who are the world's most exciting up-and-coming architects? 10 x 10_2 has 100 definitive answers, provided by 10 influential curators, educators and architects—including Zaha Hadid, Toshiko Mori, and Kurt Foster. Each featured architect is allotted four generously sized, photo-rich pages, with concise yet informative texts. The projects are distinguished by a rare combination of inventiveness, thoughtful use of materials and sheer beauty."

[posted by katie]

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 area."

[posted by katie]

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]

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]

"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]

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]