Art and Design - Architecture

Crisp renderings of over 40 extant structures from Taos Pueblo to striking contemporaries. Spanish Colonial, Georgian, Stick, Gothic, many other styles. Rich and informative captions date, identify, and describe each dwelling. 43 black-and-white illustrations.

Living in Australia and New Zealand is now more than ever about adapting to its unique environment. As broad interest in sustainability grows and building energy ratings become more stringent, architects must design with the environment in mind to make living spaces better and more efficient. From the sunny beaches of tropical Queensland to the terrace houses of the innercity to rural retreats on the South Island of New Zealand, "A Place in the Sun" takes you on a journey through over 40 homes of stylistic distinction and functiona... read more

A follow-up to Abrams' successful "Treehouse Living", "Exceptional Treehouses" includes 25 new creations by author and treehouse builder Alain Laurens. In "Exceptional Treehouses", author and treehouse builder Alain Laurens reveals thirty gorgeous treehouse structures, twenty-five of which are entirely new creations. Illustrated by Daniel Dufour's beautiful watercolours and with photographs by Jacques Delacroix, Laurens demonstrates in this book his commi... read more

With over 1000 photographs, Shelter is a classic celebrating the imagination, resourcefulness, and exuberance of human habitat. First published in 1973, it is not only a record of the countercultural builders of the '60s, but also of buildings all over the world. There is a history of shelter and the evolution of building types. Tents, yurts, timber buildings, barns, small homes, domes, etc. There is a section on building materials, including heavy timber construction and stud framing, as well as stone, straw bale construction, ado... read more

"Architecture" offers a thorough introduction to the entire field of architecture, outlining the steps that are normally taken in becoming a qualified architect, from initial education right through to professional practice, as well as how to apply this architectural training in other fields. Complete with feature spreads on individual projects, "Architecture's" broad, up-to-date approach unites history, theory and practice. Subjects covered include how to develop a brief with a client; taking an idea from brief to project; types o... read more

In one way or another the leaky homes catastrophe affects everyone in New Zealand, most especially the unfortunate home owners. This book is a guide for people from woe to go. It will provide the reader with information on the following: "Tell-tale" signs and other not-so-obvious signs, who to go to, what steps to take, how the Weathertight Homes Tribunal works, whether to go to court or use the state system, what to expect in terms of time and cost, what to claim for and whether to stay in the home or go during repair.

The forms of Ted McCoy's houses recall the early stone and mud brick buildings of the colonial era in Otago. After fifty years of architecture in the south, closing with the fine renovation of the Otago Museum's entrance and atrium in 1999, he has produced this book. First published November 2007.

Warm House Cool House simplifies the science behind low-energy housing design...and suggests inspiring and achievable ways to apply energy-efficient methods to new and existing homes. - Jamie Durie We all want to minimise our environmental impact, but we dont always know how. In this new edition of the bestselling Warm House Cool House, respected Australian architect Nick Hollo provides valuable advice, illustrated by more than 100 inspiring contemporary examples of low-energy housing design, to help keep our homes cool in summer a... read more

Mixing aesthetics, architecture, arrondissements and elegance in a very Parisian way, this richly illustrated new volume on the world's most bewitching city shows Paris in all its light, shade, glamour and grandeur. From magnificent squares to exquisite side streets, tucked-away gardens to quiet neighbourhood bistros, 'Paris Secrets: Architecture, Interiors, Quartiers, Corners' shows the sophistication and grace that underline this, the City of Light. Wind your way through Paris via pages shimmering with seductive stairwells, irres... read more

This book offers the first comprehensive overview of alternative approaches to architectural practice. At a time when many commentators are noting that alternative and richer approaches to architectural practice are required if the profession is to flourish, this book provides multiple examples from across the globe of how this has been achieved and how it might be achieved in the future. Particularly pertinent in the current economic climate, this book offers the reader new approaches to architectural practice in a changing world.... read more

This is that rare book – combining the best of New Zealand’s residential architecture together with photographs of some of our most spectacular and unique landscapes. The inspiration for the designs that are featured in the book have been largely informed by the nature of the environment, whether it’s our rugged West Coast, the stark tussock country of Central Otago, our southern lakes and mountains or outlying islands. Twenty-two of our top architects, many of ... read more

Villages are the very embodiment of Englishness. The village inn and the local farm, great houses, humble cottages and beautiful country gardens speak of a way of life that has developed peacefully since Anglo-Saxon times. A few days spent in England's idyllic villages offers urban dwellers and foreign visitors a revitalizing glimpse of a more tranquil existence, full of history, legend, literature and artistic heritage. The beauty and diversity of the English village are recorded in this book in absorbing commentary and magnificen... read more

Following Phaidon

First published may 2005.

The follow-up volume to the successful "Off the Grid: Modern Homes + Alternative Energy", Lori Ryker's newest book looks at six contemporary architectural projects that integrate alternative technologies for generating and conserving energy. Being off the grid can refer to many different aspects of energy and resource independence, from rainwater collection, to photovoltaic (PV) systems, to gray-water systems and more. Diagrams and clear explanations of technologies and their appropriate applications are provided alongside the case... read more

Following the success of 100 of the World's Best Houses, we searched the globe for another collection of amazing houses. The result of this search is Another 100 of the World's Best Houses. Each house in this new volume has been selected for its unique and extraordinary qualities. The overwhelming theme is the way in which architects use their remarkable skills to relate these masterpieces to their various contexts and landscapes. Locations are as diverse as the houses themselves and include the coast of P... read more

This two-volume compilation brings together highlights from Taschen's groundbreaking title Building a New Millennium and the first four volumes of our renowned Architecture Now! books for a comprehensive study of architecture around the world at the beginning of the 21st century. Up-and-coming architects - tomorrow's superstars - are featured alongside the field's most respected practitioners, such as Santiago Calatrava, Herzog & de Meuron, Koolhaas/OMA, Daniel Libeskind, Richard Meier, Oscar Niemeyer, and Jean Nouvel.