Home: Design and Architecture from Prehistory to Today [Hardcover]

Chris Abel (Author), Alexander Cuthbert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 25, 2006

*More than 120 of today's architecturally significant homes, selected by a panel of international consultants

*A written and visual journey through the homes of different times and cultures-from Mayan thatched huts to the grand palaces of Europe and Asia

*Includes an "Architects A-Z" feature--an easy-reference historical guide to the architects who have shaped architectural trends and design

From inner-city living and outer-city sprawl to spectacular country retreats and glimpses to the future, the architectural solutions used by today's architects can be found in Home. The book offers an insider's perspective, drawing on examples from history through to current trends. Home features easy to read floor plans and section views, stunning photography and perspectives from the architects themselves.

Home is a beautifully rich and inspiring visual reference book for anyone interested in designing, creating, and expanding their knowledge of architecture and home design.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Chris Abel is an architectural writer and lecturer of international renown. He has taught at major universities in many parts of the world and is the author of more than 100 publications of theory and criticism. Michael Webb lives and works in Los Angeles, and is the author of more than twenty books on architecture and design.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: How (October 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1581809972
• ISBN-13: 978-1581809978
• Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 10.2 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,612,092 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Home to 120 lucky folk, July 15, 2007

By 

Robin Benson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Home: Design and Architecture from Prehistory to Today (Hardcover)

A quick flip through this book and you could easily think that you're looking at contemporary Case Study Houses. Surely one of the criteria of those wonderful homes designed five decades ago was the skilful use of interior space. The 120 buildings in this book continue that theory.

This is a huge thick book (at about nine pounds) beautifully printed and designed with excellent architectural color photos throughout. The homes, all built, more or less, in the last ten years, come from twenty countries with the US (especially California) Australia and Europe predominant.

The first few pages dealing the concept of 'home' over the centuries I thought rather superfluous in a book about modern homes. The rest of the pages are divided into sections: In the city, Outer city, Future city, In the country, By the water and finally In your dreams. Dreams includes, for instance the Foster designed Chesa Futura, Wallace Cunningham's Crescent House and the S.A.O.T Architects Saint Leon House in Cape Town. Dream commissions by any standards. The back pages include comprehensive biographies of the architects.

All the homes in the book have several photos and some general text and captions but it is the large photos that I liked, with several stretching over a spread. The floor plans that go with the buildings are not quite so successful as they tend to look as if there have been fitted into whatever space was left on the page. They also vary in graphic style and are frequently minus text to explain what rooms are what.

Overall I thought this was a wonderful book on probably the best of contemporary homes around the world and is just the sort of title that will appear on a table in a future photo of a modern living room in an architectural magazine. Incidentally the book has been produced by an Australian book packager and as far as I can tell it does not seem to be available everywhere (least in the mainstream American book market) but don't let that put you off searching it out. I bought my copy new and at a very reduced rate from the cover price, a bargain!


***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

5.0 out of 5 stars modern design book is a good gift, January 18, 2008

By 

Samuel Francis - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Home: Design and Architecture from Prehistory to Today (Hardcover)

I purchased this book online for my bro in law for Christmas. It was a big hit with the whole family. Everyone passed it around. The book arrived on time and in good sealed conditio.