Reviews (5)

Architecture that Interacts with People
This book is an uplifting invitation to explore architecture's 4th dimension. The rituals described here are those associated with the sun, and the seasons that result from earth's rotation around it. From migrating Paiute Indians within the Owens Valley to the seasonal changes in the nave of cathedrals [and diurnal changes in the transept] this book illustrates how users of buildings celebrate change over time. With so many detailed examples, the designer is invited to create settings where nature can inspire people to use their buildings and outdoor spaces in ways that enrich daily life. The invitation is made even more appealing by the many sketches that capture the essence of each topic.
An eclectic and innovative introduction and study of urban planning and architectural design
Ritual House: Drawing On Nature's Rhythms For Architecture And Urban Design is an eclectic and innovative introduction and study of urban planning and architectural design drawing upon the years of experience and expertise of academician, researcher, architectural policy and design consultant Ralph Knowles. Ritual House is presented to the reader in a easy and engaging manner, with Professor Knowles depicting several particular housing developments and major historical projects, including their architectural significance and architectural design. Ritual House is very strongly recommended to students of Architectural Studies and Urban Development interested in the process of architectural design, students of architecture, as well as the non-specialist general reader wanting a better understanding of the esthetic and mechanical particulars of architecture.
Required reading
This book should be required reading for anyone interested in architecture and the urban environment.This thought-provoking work is the result of more than 40 years of careful university research by one of the most important figures in solar access design. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture and solar radiation    3. Environmental aspects    4. Human factors    5. Landscape    6. Planning    7. Architecture / Planning   

Reviews (2)

Abook to cherish
This book is worth twice what the publisher is charging!A sensitive and carefully chosen compilation of observations on everything to do with gardening from design to detailed horticulture over the last two thousand years that anyone with the faintest interest in the outdoors will treasure.The essays are just as good as the illustrations and that's saying alot!

A Consistent 2,000 years
This is a delightful book is a combination of beautiful photographs combined with writings that go back to about the time of Christ. There are all types of gardens from the formal English country manor house and the gardens surrounding a Frech Chateau that were designed in 1656. There are gardens that are almost jungles and desert landscapes with lots of rocks. There are beautiful gardens with ponds, streams and pools, and an article that says, 'Don't Build a Water Garden' (unless you have lots of money).
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design    3. Essays    4. Garden Design    5. Gardening    6. Gardening / Horticulture    7. Gardening/Plants    8. Gardens    9. Horticulture (General)    10. Landscape    11. Gardening / Essays   

Reviews (1)

Golf Course Design Textbook
A must for students of golf course architecture. A remarkable book.Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design and construction    3. Golf    4. Golf - General    5. Golf courses    6. Landscape    7. Landscape Architecture And Design    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Architecture / Landscape    10. Landscape art & architecture   

Reviews (1)

First Rate!
As a horticulturist who works in both urban and suburban settings, I was thrilled to find this book. In every job site-not just the "urban" ones-I encounter environments that are inhospitable (if not hostile!) to tree growth. Trees in the Urban Landscape walks me through site analysis and site modification, plant selection, planting, and after care, addressing such various issues as how much soil volume is really enough for a given species to how to create "breakout trenches" for existing trees. Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Architecture    3. Landscape    4. Landscape Architecture And Design    5. Planning    6. Trees in cities    7. Urban Architecture    8. Urban landscape architecture    9. Architecture / Landscape    10. Forestry & silviculture: practice & techniques    11. Landscape art & architecture    12. Shrubs & trees   

Reviews (7)

Southern garden classic!
Although the black/white interface may seem antiquated, the plant list is extensive enough to make this a REAL resource for even the nonprofessional gardener. Great and reliable reviews of nearly everything Southern in a garden.

A Must Have
An excellent reference for the serious Southern Gardener.

Absolutely the best reference for Southern gardeners!
This is absolutely the best reference book for Southern gardeners.If "it" is not mentioned here, "it" is not meant to be planted in the South.Information is easy to understand for beginninggardeners.I am on my second edition. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business / Economics / Finance    2. Gardening/Plants    3. General    4. Landscape   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture / Landscape    3. Architecture / Planning    4. Business & Economics / Industries / Park & Recreation Management    5. Design and construction    6. Landscape    7. Landscape architecture    8. Parks    9. Planning    10. Recreation areas    11. Business & Economics    12. Industries - Park & Recreation Management    13. Urban & Land Use Planning   

Reviews (1)

Good resource book
The first thing noticable about this book is the steep price. At almost a hundred dollars, you're going to think twice before you venture into buying another book about golf. This however is not just another book about golf, if you're looking for a pictorial about nice looking golf courses this is not what you need. If you're looking for information (and pictures) on how can a designer, planner or developer go wrong while planning, building or operating a golf course then you're going to find a lot of useful information and illustrations. I think this book is more about how not to do it. This really makes it different from other books available in the market. The audience for this will be golf course designers and managers and ennvironmentalists, and the theme is managing golf course developments with minimum environmental impacts. The book is written in an easy to read language, and is not made complicated, which is good, keeping in mind that its audience will probably come from different backgrounds. If I am teaching a course on environmental issues as they relate to golf courses this would be my pick. For this price however, I would have expected the illustrations and pictures inside to be in color! This is a new book so it reads and looks fresh, I will take one star off for the 100 dollar tag and keep 4 stars for the content. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Golf - General    2. Golf courses    3. Landscape    4. Management    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Turf management    8. Architecture / Landscape    9. Golf    10. Management of real estate, property & plant   

Reviews (1)

Ultimate Landscape Design
A concise pictorial essay of the state of Contemporary Landscape Architecture globaly.Fantastic images for each project.A short paragraph per project is provided, giving the reader a brief introduction to each project.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design & Drafting    3. Garden Design    4. Gardening    5. Gardening/Plants    6. Landscape    7. Landscape architecture    8. Landscape design    9. Subjects & Themes - Landscapes    10. Landscape art & architecture   

Reviews (1)

A Very Thorough Presentation
Invisible Gardens is a well-written, lively introduction to the confluence of landscape architecture and modernism during the middle decades of the twentieth century. Although somewhat like a textbook in its style of presentation, the writing throughout is clear, incisive and often quite absorbing. And there are plenty of black and white photos and architectural renderings which accompany the text to enhance its ability to inform. But only twelve colour plates were included in Invisible Gardens. I felt a bit let-down personally by this aspect of the project. I thought the book could have used additional high quality colour plates of the often spectacular commissions under review to balance the density of the text. And to convey visually what often needs to be seen to be properly appreciated. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Landscape    3. Architecture / Landscape    4. Garden design & planning    5. History Of Art / Art & Design Styles    6. Inter-war period, 1918-1939    7. Landscape art & architecture    8. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    9. Second World War, 1939-1945    10. USA   

Reviews (1)

Reveals creative uses of shade in gardens to grow carpets of wild woodland flowers and other shade-loving plants
Award-winning gardening expert Keith Wiley presents Shade: Planting Solutions For Shady Gardens, a gorgeous "how-to" book that reveals creative uses of shade in gardens to grow carpets of wild woodland flowers and other shade-loving plants. Chapters cover practical issues affecting the preparation of and planting for a shade garden, hard landscaping, incorporating vertical elements, and a catalog of plant life suited to shady gardens. Stunning full-color photography illustrates the uses to which shade can be put, and the beauty of the flowers that thrive in shade. In addition to being a solid instructional, Shade: Planting Solutions For Shady Gardens is truly captivating simply to page through.
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Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Home Gardening    5. Landscape    6. Shade    7. Gardening / Shade   

Reviews (3)

disappointing
This book was recommended as a guide to developing sculpture gardens and outdoor living spaces.It is not.The photographs appear to be very dated as are the subject courtyards.It is a dull, unispired book.

A rare look at the function, definition and purpose of a courtyard
Douglas Keister's Courtyards: Intimate Outdoor Spaces takes a rare look at the function, definition and purpose of a courtyard surveying courtyards around the world which grace both home and public establishment. Courtyards can be adapted to both large and small spaces, vary in greenery, stonework, and lighting, and are perfect additions for homeowners seeking to remodel with style. Turn a backyard into a courtyard setting or consider many options through the phone color exhibition of photographer Keister, paired with text which considers design options and successful examples.

What a Beautiful Book
The author has definitely done his homework.We are in the process of creating a courtyard in our back yard after having added a sunroom this past season.Our theme has been "New Orleans" for the sunroom ... even though we live in a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, we have visited New Orleans many times and consider it our "home away from home".There are courtyards from New Orleans featured in this book - but many from other places as well.Whatever you are looking for in courtyard ideas, you will find it here. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Courtyards    3. Garden Design    4. Home Improvement / Construction    5. Landscape    6. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    7. Greenhouses, conservatories, patios    8. House & Home / Outdoor & Recreational Areas   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design    3. Gardens    4. Gustafson, Kathryn,    5. Landscape    6. Landscape architecture    7. Landscape design    8. Planning    9. Architecture / Landscape    10. Gustafson, Kathryn    11. Landscape art & architecture   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (5)

One of my favorites
This was my first gardening book, and I feel so very lucky, because the author's sensibility matches my own, and her emphasis on planting for wildlife makes her a kindred spirit.Here I first learned the definition of a meadow garden, a woodland garden, and even the names of birds and butterflies.I first became aware of Joe Pye Weed and Spicebush, Bee Balm, Milkweed and New England Aster.
too muddled to be useful or recommended
I speak on the subject of natural landscaping frequently - I've been doing this for years. Good ideas
This book offers some basic ideas in landscpaing your property in order to maintain a natural look.It offers beautiful uses for wet areas instead of trying to correct it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Garden Design    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. Landscape    5. Landscape Horticulture    6. Landscape gardening    7. Natural landscaping    8. Gardening / Organic    9. Natural & wild gardening   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (3)

Fabulous
Well worth the money.If you ever get a chance to see her in person, do it.Very Knowledgeable, very practical.

No stone unturned!
This book takes you through every step you will need to landscape your yard and garden.The format is somewhat like a workbook but with a ton of useful information presented in a way that makes it easy for even a "brown-thumb" like me to understand. I especially like how the author left room for notes and grids for designing the garden.Pair this with "The Encyclopedia for Organic Gardening" and you will need no other gardening literature.

The One With the Answers
Since moving into a new house, I've been devouring every landscape book on the market, in hopes of acquiring information that will enable me to transform the weed patch and ugly bush that are the only features of my front yard into something beautiful.This is absolutely the best of the "how-to" landscape books!A real laboratory manual of landscape design, this book avoids the two major failures of many others on the market.First, unlike those that offer page after page of photos of beautifully manicured lawns from which I am expected to magically intuit the rudiments of landscape design, this book assumes rightly that I know absolutely nothing about landscaping.Then, the author uses clear diagrams and graphs to gently but methodically guide me through all stages of a design and implementation process that will enable a previously clueless me to transform my ugly view into a photo-worthy scene.Second, this book avoids the weaknesses of landscape books that so overwhelm me with the theoretical intricacies of landscape design that I am tempted to throw in the trowel and hire the work out (perhaps the authors of those books wanted me to do that all along?).By contrast, this book sequences in clear and concrete language the questions requiring decision that I will confront, lays out a range of possible actions, and then offers specific suggestions (with diagrams and graphs) for implementation.This book is sturdy and it needs to be.Rather than grace your coffee table, it will be with you as you get down and dirty in your yard with tape measure, string, and clipboard to work through the pages of this book on your way to something beautiful. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Design    2. Do-It-Yourself - General    3. Garden Design    4. Gardening    5. Gardening / Horticulture    6. Gardening/Plants    7. Gardens    8. Landscape    9. ARCHITECTURE / Landscape    10. Garden design & planning    11. Gardening / Garden Design    12. Landscape gardening   

Reviews (3)

A READER
Please don't buy this book unless you are comfortable reading vague plans and are an experienced carpenter. For all the other "Weekenders" like me who appreciate step-by-step instruction with diagrams/pictures, detailed information on techniques for their projects, discussion regarding suitable materials and tips on finishing the project (i.e. painting, etc.) PLEASE choose a book more suited to your skill level. ... I sense impending doom if I attempt to build his cover playhouse which, by the way, seems rather small at only 6'x6'. I think I will join the ranks and order Norm Abrams plans and video as well. DONT BUY THIS BOOK
Wonderful For Kids And Their Parents
Most kids, if not all, dream of building a treehouse. It is a very powerful dream that many times does not happen because the task and resources needed to build a treehouse are formidable. This book can make the dream a wonderful reality. The treehouse, of course, must be built by the kids and this book is step-by-step making that quite possible. Parents can help out with the kids permission. A parent that gives this book to a kid dreaming of a treehouse will be a hero in the kid's eyes.

Membership has its privileges
Growing up, I was fortunate enough to be an official member of my best friend's exclusive club -- "The Scorpion's Tail".After establishing the core members of the club, we decided that we needed to build a treehouse to use as our base, but we knew we wouldn't be able to do it alone.Read more

Subjects:  1. Construction - General    2. Gardening    3. Gardening/Plants    4. General    5. Home Improvement / Construction    6. Landscape    7. Trees    8. Architecture / Landscape   

Reviews (1)

What I have been waiting for!
People in my industry (golf) finally have a "Bible" to refer to when it comes to professional irrigation systems.Laid out in a basic, yet thorough format this book has it all, from good photos to useful charts and glossary.Anyone even considering installing a new system should have this book at their side.I wish I had it when our system was designed and "thrown in the ground" by a purported expert. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design and construction    3. General    4. Golf    5. Golf - General    6. Golf courses    7. Irrigation    8. Landscape    9. Landscape Architecture And Design    10. Architecture / Landscape    11. Land reclamation & drainage    12. Sport & leisure industries   

Reviews (3)

Great
This is a book for those interested in the practical philosophy of landscape architecture. It is not only the discussion by the author, but alsothe author's illustrations which reinforce her extremely valuable insights into form and complexity. I use the book as an exercise for sketching. She is right, sketching is perception. I highly recommend this book

Great visual tool
This book is a great visual and morphological resource of elements within the landscape. It is a great tool for both the design student and practitioner. The layout of the book alongside the graphic content gives a great visual reference to the terms discussed in the book. This layout helps the designer to make a connection and create a visual and spatial narrative of the elements that creates the landscape. The book is divided into seven chapters: 1-Landscape Fabric 2-Spaces 3-Paths 4-Edges 5-Foci 6-Thresholds 7-Detail. Each of the chapters starts with a detail definition of the headingand explainsall the related terms that are in association with the chapter heading. With the great visual layout and description of the terms this book not only can be used as a source to be used into understanding the different elements within the landscape it also could be used as a source to build the necessary vocabulary for the design student. I recommend this book since it serves as a great visual and spatial source of information for the design student especially students in landscape architecture field. The organization of the chapters is in a way that helps the student build the spatial and visual elements of the landscape and enables them to build and integrate these elements into their work.

Great visual tool
This book is a great visual and morphological resource of elements within the landscape. It is a great tool for both the design student and practitioner. The layout of the book alongside the graphic content gives a great visual reference to the terms discussed in the book. This layout helps the designer to make a connection and create a visual and spatial narrative of the elements that creates the landscape. The book is divided into seven chapters: 1-Landscape Fabric 2-Spaces 3-Paths 4-Edges 5-Foci 6-Thresholds 7-Detail. Each of the chapters starts with a detail definition of the headingand explainsall the related terms that are in association with the chapter heading. With the great visual layout and description of the terms this book not only can be used as a source to be used into understanding the different elements within the landscape it also could be used as a source to build the necessary vocabulary for the design student. I recommend this book since it serves as a great visual and spatial source of information for the design student especially students in landscape architecture field. The organization of the chapters is in a way that helps the student build the spatial and visual elements of the landscape and enables them to build and integrate these elements into their work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Landscape    3. Landscape architecture    4. Landscape design    5. Architecture / General    6. Landscape art & architecture   

Reviews (1)

Makes a great housewarming gift!
I actually ordered this book through a book club when we bought our house. It has been so useful to me that I have been buying it for others as a gift when they buy their first homes. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Gardening    2. Gardening / Horticulture    3. Gardening/Plants    4. General    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Horticulture (General)    7. Landscape Horticulture    8. Landscape gardening    9. Lawns    10. Outdoor & Recreational Areas - General    11. Reference    12. Gardening / General    13. Gardens (descriptions, history etc)    14. Home & House Maintenance   

Reviews (1)

Good book but a bit dated
Ive only had has this book a short time but I like it.There are lots of color images and text book like explanations.
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Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Architecture    3. Computer Engineering    4. Computer Simulation    5. Landscape    6. Landscape Architecture And Design    7. Architecture / Landscape    8. Computer aided design (CAD)    9. Computer modelling & simulation    10. Garden design & planning    11. Landscape gardening   

Reviews (4)

Informative, an easy & fascinating read
This book's fort� is 2 things:Its' explanation of the negative impact of millions of monoculture, traditional lawns - not on just the environment, but on the lifestyles and wallets of those who tend them.And then it offers sound advice (which does -NOT- start with "get rid of your existing grass") which can be easily followed by the average homeowner.The solutions proposed in this book are not radical, unattractive schemes, and most of the suggestions offered will result in a BETTER LOOKING YARD and savings of time and money.I read it from cover to cover twice.I hope to soon have my yard working for me, instead of me working for my yard. Inspirational and informative!
This is a wonderful resource about a very important environmental problem - the American lawn. The diagrams are especially clear and complete. It provides the history of the lawn, scientific background about the problems associated with the lawn, and also gives very practical advice about how to create a Freedom Lawn. I initially got this book (first edition) from the library, but decided this was one I wanted to have for my personal reference - especially since the second edition includes updated information.

scholarly - good for critical discussions
Most Americans do not realize how much their tastes in gardening have been affected by marketing on the part of lawn care companies. Nor do they seem to realize what environmental havoc they wreak through the lawn care practices preached on TV, and promulgated every time they watch the Masters Golf tournament on TV and think they should try to emulate those greens and fairways at home. They have been seduced into an unrealistic world that wastes their time (why mow?), money (why put fertilizer down 4 times a year?) and the environment (Do they really even have the weeds or bugs in their lawn that the 'weed and feed', and 'grub killers' are prescribed for? If not, why are they paying extra for the privilege of putting down toxins they don't even need?)Read more

Subjects:  1. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. General    6. Landscape Horticulture    7. Lawn ecology    8. Lawns    9. Techniques    10. United States    11. Applied ecology    12. Gardening: plants    13. Pollution & threats to the environment    14. Science / General    15. USA