Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an EXCELLENT resource. As the Town Architect for a number of new traditional neighborhoods that have decided to continue building in the traditional styles of their region, I review the work of architects, designers and contractors alike for consistency with that tradition. This book never leaves my side.

Some may view its contents as elemental and they would be right. The problem is that too few architects receive this elemental training before receiving their license--as is clearly evident by what gets built around us.

One reviewer expressed disappointment that the book did not contain actual construction details (glad to see the determination to build it right!). Mr. Mouzon's earlier book, 1001 Construction Details, is great--with the accompanying CD, anyone that wants to get these details right should be all set.

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.

Modernism has been the dominant language of architectural schools since the late 1930's. Modernism has never caught on with most of the people who commission architects to design buildigns. They want more traditional buildings that are grounded in America's architectural history. Unfortunately, most architects were not taught to design traditional buildings. As a consequence, America's suburbs are brimming with grotesque Tudors, misshaped bungalows and ackward colonial revival homes.

In this volume, Stephen Mouzon assembles a thousand photographs of architectural details. By concentrating on specific building details, he gives examples of designs that are done correctly and others that are completely fouled up. At times, it is humorous and even a bit tragic to see just how illiterate an architect can be.

I am not an architect. My hobby is to look at architecture. When I come across real train wrecks, it is easy for me to understand why they do not work. However, I often come across buildings that don't work and I have problems putting my finger on what is wrong. This volume is a field guide to all that can go wrong.

Stephen Mouzon's target audience is architects. I would hope that any architect contemplating designing a traditional building will purchase this book. A little bit of study can help spare this country further examples of embarassing architecture. I only wish this book had been written sixty years ago.

Stephen Mouzon's book is a milestone work that summarizes the "do's and don'ts" of traditional architecture in a clear and precise manner. In an era when traditional architecture is enjoying a resurgence, this book is long overdue.

Although, at first, it may look like a primer the book seems to be written for both architect and contractor, professional and amateur alike...anyone who really wants to get the details right. I could see giving this book both to my architectural colleagues and my favorite contractor's alike. The work reminds me of the 19th century pattern books written by Asher Benjamin, who wrote his works just for the same purpose, to educate the master builders of his time.

Even as a practicing architect with years of traditional residential experience, I found many examples of details that I have been doing incorrectly. But now I know! Studying the work made me want to go back and tear out the embarrassments, and do it all over again. That's why I'd really recommend this book to the beginner just so they could avoid the same mistakes.

Though the book is easily read and the drawings well illustrated, I did find some of the photos difficult to clearly read, a minor complaint for such a seminal work.

Having spent a number of years in the production building market, it is safe to say every professional I've worked with in the past, whether junior designer or Snr VP, lacked a sufficient understanding of traditional architecture to recognize the countless errors found throughout entire librabries of product.
Steve's book would be an excellent choice for the production building industry's implementation of "Required Reading and Reference Material 101", if such a program were to exist.
The implementation of correct details in conjunction with the elimination of improper details, windows, etc. could very well provide national builders with cost-effective product in keeping with traditional architecture. Imagine that!
Excellent book... a fantastic choice for the everyday designer/architect searching for answers as to why most homes "just don't look/feel like home".

I'm sure there are lots of architects who don't need to be told the right and wrong way to do something, but if you drive through any town and look at the new houses being built in a traditional style, you can see many examples where the designer really didn't understand the fine differences between exceptional and also-rans. Of course, nobody wants to admit they are an obtuse designer, but lord knows there really are plenty of them out there who could benefit from this book.

I only wish I had known about this book six months earlier! We're attempting to build a period-inspired colonial house. I was so dissatisfied with the house plans I saw that I decided to just design the house myself using library books and determination. I wanted to build something beautiful and the "anti-McMansion". If only I had had this book earlier we would've done so many things differently: my second floor windows would've been shorter to accommodate all the stuff that's supposed to be under the eaves but now won't fit. I would've put the little stoop in a different spot. My dormers would have different proportions. The only problem with reading this book is that now when I look at our house I see all the things I did wrong.

You will keep this book close by! The wealth of photos and illustrations provide a visual reference which is both quick and comprehensive. With well over 200 terms clearly illustrated and defined (many including pronunciations) you'll find yourself reaching for this book time and time again. The consise history of Classical Order simply explains the developement of an architectural element we have all but taken for granted.

The Lexicon section came in handy the very next day when I used it to show an employee the difference between a "muntin" and a "mullion". He understood immediately because it was clear to see in the text.

No longer will you wonder what some detail "should" like like, it's right there in the book. The Do's and Don'ts sections clarify immediately the differences between details which are well done and those which are "Git-R-Done".

I'm thinking of getting an extra copy to keep in the truck.

I am not an architect, but I am a city planner and frequently work with architects and draft zoning codes which govern architecture. To me, this book is worth the money simply for the "lexicon" at the beginning which describes and illustrates the key elements of traditional building construction. No other book I have used provides these descriptions in such a readily understandable way.

Most of the book consists of a listing of "do's" and "don'ts," illustrated with photos and small drawings, that explain how each of the details should be used and work together to form a composition. I agree with one of the earlier reviewers that some of the photos are hard to read, but for the most part, it works. You may or may not share the author's strong opinions--a lot of people seem to prefer McMansions to the simpler forms of traditional architecture--but regardless of your aesthetic judgements, this book will teach you like no other how the design details come together to determine the overall look and feel of the building.

I am using this book to assist in the detailing of my house, which we are renovating right now. I lent it to my architect and he says it is a great resource and time saver. He will be buying himself a copy. This book provides many examples of what to do and what not to do and will allow you to focus in on those details that make homes look "just not right" and correct them before costly mistakes are made.