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Traditional Construction Patterns: Design and Detail Rules-of-Thumb

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* Graphical approach allows users to quickly visualize design solutions

* Lists the rules-of-thumb for each detail, and correct and incorrect examples of how to design or construct each detail (20050301)


PRODUCT DESCRIPTIONS:

Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 721
EAN: 9780071416320
ISBN: 0071416323
Label: McGraw-Hill Professional
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Professional
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 320
Publication Date: 2004-01-26
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Professional
Studio: McGraw-Hill Professional


SIMILAR ITEMS:

• Get Your House Right: Architectural Elements to Use & Avoid
• Theory of Mouldings (Classical America Series in Art and Architecture)
• The American Builder's Companion
• Creating a New Old House: Yesterday's Character for Today's Home (American Institute Architects)
• A Field Guide to American Houses


CUSTOMER REVIEWS:

Poor book but still necessary -
The stuff explained in this book are so elemetary that nobody should need to be told about them. And yet, there are plenty of examples of lousy design out there that proves that this sort of book is painfully needed for at least some people. For example, the book tells you, don't use plastic window shutters and don't tack them in place with unsightly studs that dent them. Don't put a pillar in the middle of a window. Don't place bricks above a window in a manner that defies gravity. Is anyone so blind as to actually do the "don'ts"? Obviously some people are because this book provides photographs to prove that such ugly examples exist.

The problem is that although this book will help some people avoid the most hideous and outrageous mistakes, it will not help you build a beautiful house.

I might have given this book three stars because it is necessary reading for some people. I give it two because the title is misleading.

better information available elsewhere -
This book lacks a coherence and analysis that leaves the reader with the sense of an incoherent selection of arbitrary rules that are applied across all styles of buildings. The illustrations are of poor quality. The selection of illustrated abuses are often so appalling that it is often hard to see how correcting the cited rule violation would significantly improve the example.

The authors have chosen to focus exclusively on appearance, and do not (often) address the structural or durability aspects of exterior design. It is the mix of practical structural/weather-tightness/utility and pleasing appearance that makes architecture such a satisfying study.

The people that need to read this book most likely will not. After all they're still building McMansions aren't they?

Should be required reading for general contractors! -
This book is a vast resource of information that provides the reader with methods and rules of correct architectural proportions. Any one who is directly involved with the selection and design of traditional architecture (architects, builders, designers) should have this book in their library for reference.

Hardcore Honest! -
My husband and I love this book and the author's writing style. It gives really clear pictures and easy to understand definitions of traditional architectural details. We have learned so much!

stinks, pretty much on all accounts -
I've stopped writing reviews on Amazon due to their idiotic review policy, but once in a while an item comes across my desk that pushes it just too far.

In this case, it seems like someone needs to put a different spin on this publication.

I've given it ONE star because there is some decent (but limited) information however, both authors and publisher should be ashamed of themselves for even trying to charge a penny for it. After a first section of some drawings of traditional architectural elements, the rest or some 75% of it is DONT's and DO's supported by horrible black and white pictures that might do in the 30's, but should be considered trash for ANY publication, including a daily paper.

Then the DONT's cover some of the ugliest examples in existence and most certainly not worth devoting that much space to it. They are indeed so ugly, that I can't think of any one in the market for a publication of this kind, who would need to see it.

Then you have a chapter 4 on Classical Orders. Makes me wonder what school these authors went to and apparently never heard of a "golden ratio". Not a mention anywhere I can see. At least please, stop calling it a "Classical Orders" chapter, if you don't know the most important find in the name of "classical proportions".

Then they have a go at asphalt shingles and clay tile. Here they display a complete ignorance on the subject, stating for example the ONLY asphalt tile of acceptable shape would be of a diamond shape, and in clay tile they apparently been only to Miami. Gee, people take a trip somewhere, you don't know what you've been missing.

There is of course NO index. Why bother. In fact an index would feel out of place in here.

The bottom line is this: this book has an MSRP of $42, it's soft cover, it's printed on a newspaper level base, it's supported by some of the lowest quality photographs I've seen in ANY book, including those published a century ago. It also falls short in addressing the ACTUAL traditional patterns by devoting an idiotic number of pages to some of the ugliest examples of building structures in existence. If you need this kind of help, you need to change your profession.

This book is everything on how NOT to approach a subject, how NOT to design a book, how NOT to publish it, how NOT to whatever. What a waste.

And remember, the "Look Inside" feature will not show anything you need to (or should) see to make an educated decision.

Those interested in a quality publication on the subject should check out the "Get your house right" by Marianne Cusato. A hard covered book on similar subject but in a superior execution. Better yet, for a LOT less money.
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UPDATE of my thoughts: I see that 5 star opinions continue to fly in. I feel so strongly about this one-of-the-worst publications I've seen since the great depression, I have only one thing to add: check it out at a library or a bookstore prior to making the purchase. High reviews in here are as out of place as the attempt to charge for it. As another reviewer stated, there ARE much better choices out there on this subject.

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