Customer Reviews

New Small Homes

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you're a fan of minimalist spaces or Euro-Industrial-Tech type houses you're probably love this book (or if you're an architectural student, you'll probably love this book). If you're primarily interest in small homes of a more traditional design however, this is definitely not the book for you. I don't think the description listed with the book does a good job of stating that (nor the photo on the cover). My only real comments about the book itself is that it seems oddly dated, even though the book was published in 2001 ('high-design' houses have a short life-span of being avant-garde I'm guessing), and that it is a well-designed and interesting book for the right audience.

As a dyed-in-the-wool modernist, I really liked the majority of these spaces. Several architects who are little known in the USA (Claesson Koivisto Rune from Stockholm, Sweden for example) are well represented. Many of the homes presented had usable ideas that I will consider in my personal renovation plans. In addition, there are several attractive attic conversions for those of you looking to remodel an attic space. All in all, a very usable book of modest sized contemporary spaces.

Beautiful jewel-box like architectural projects by young emerging architects around the world. Their youthful enthusiasm is reflected in the clever spatial manipulation, as well as in the detail refinement-all within tight budgetary constraints. Generous photographs & informative drawings, combined with 'design solution' commentary, make this book a valuable source of inspiration.

From the first page this wonderful book had my full undivided attention. Its a great book for those who think outside the box and see the wonder of making something so spectacular out of either a small space or a space off the beaten tract and track. Loved the openness and downright austere homes shown.

The fact they are in places like Prague make them even more interesting, since I personally have tired of all the books I have been buying as reference for an upcoming new abode I am going to build, that are all in American cities which are both overpriced and not within the means of those who most need and want simple clean modern styles.

In my opinion, so many of the ideas shown can be used well in any part of California or the middle east, Mexico, etc. Utterly wonderful book.

"New Small Homes" by Aurora Cuito really should have been titled "Minimalist Houses That Showcase Architects Who Go For Show Over Substance". Once you get that everything that can go should go on rollers, tabletops should be glass if at all possible, skylights should be added wherever possitble, complicated and/or expensive ways of doing things are the way to go, AND OTHER THAN THE CLOTHES ON YOUR BACK, DON'T MOVE IN WITH ANYTHING, you've got the book. And don't go for maximum use of space, either.

For example, the first design, a dwelling converted from a former water tower, features funiture that "slides in a small metal volume when not in use", "retains the sloping wall on its lower part", and a small refrigerator that hangs from the ceiling. Well, if one has such a small space, and has the right to the footprint of "a small metal volume", why not extend that volume to the height of the main unit? In any case, there is considerable WASTED space above the bed as designed. Why not at least make the bed a loft bed and convert the considerable space that's wasted above the bed into something useful below it? And who the heck wants to reach above their heads to get, sight unseen, food stored in the refrigerator? And why leave the sloping wall on the lower part of the unit? Are there stairs there? And do you REAlLY want to shower above a plate in the floor in the living room -- in front of a glass wall?

In another design, the kitchen and bathroom are put on either end of a modular design. That means there have to be two sources of water, and two means of eliminating waste. How efficient is that?

Lastly, the photographs are curiously uninformative. One in particular demonstrates how light bounces off surfaces. How about showcasing the design of the house? In some cases, the photographs of a particular home seem redundant, while in others, it's not clear what is going on. I'm glad I borrowed this book from the library.