Wood: New Directions in Design and Architecture [Paperback]

Naomi Stungo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2001

Wood is one of the most popular and desirable building materials on the contemporary scene, its special qualities serving as a reminder of our connection to the physical world in an era where virtual reality has crept into almost every facet of day-to-day life. Featured here are over thirty examples of the most expressive and inventive uses of wood in design and architecture from all over the world. An inviting fireplace perch set beneath shelves of natural maple that stretch to the ceiling; a striking geometric studio sits nestled, half-hidden amidst the swampy creeks and overgrown scrub oaks that grow along Florida's eastern seaboard. In over 360 spectacular photos, from Tadao Ando's Museum of Wood to Edward Cullinan's Westminster Lodge, each building is remarkably fresh and distinctly original. A gorgeous addition to the bookshelf of any architect, builder, or lover of beautiful design, Wood serves not only as a document of present ingenuity in the craft, but as a signpost pointing toward an entirely new direction in architecture.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Naomi Stungo Naomi Stungo is an architecture writer based in London. She has written for numerous magazines and newspapers, including Blueprint and The Observer. She now writes for World Architecture magazine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081183235X
• ISBN-13: 978-0811832359
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 9.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,676,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for architects and architecture students!!, March 11, 2003

By 

Karl Fandrich (Waterville, VT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wood: New Directions in Design and Architecture (Paperback)

This book is a must-read for architects and architecture students who are designing with wood. These well-chosen projects from around the world highlight the varying qualities which can be achieved through the use of wood. The designs reveal a close attention to the inherent properties of the material, and showcase many of the ways in which they can be exploited by a designer. The photographs nearly allow the reader to touch the material and feel the texture. This book is a great one to keep on the shelf and leaf through to ignite the imagination before beginning a new design. The book was previously published under the title "The New Wood Architecture."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars you can do better than this, December 27, 2006

By 

Justin Burnham (Ames, IA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wood: New Directions in Design and Architecture (Paperback)

I am in agreement with the Amazon reviews I read from John and Scott on this one...

1) Not featuring Greene and Greene quality of wood detailing.
2) Nor a good guide for what it claims to cover.

I think the cover sells this book to people. This seems to be a book I see a lot on the selves at Borders and Barnes and Noble; it must be marketed well with people pushing it pretty hard. It might sell too, but don't be fooled.

If you're seeking books about wood and it's applications look for books with more substance such as the "In Detail" line, or "Wood Houses: Spaces for contemporary living," or seek specific architects (the ones in the Northwest such as James Cutler or Miller/Hull Partnership seem to come to mind, or an even better idea may be Shigeru Ban.) If you are a novice concerning architecture books who's just seeking a coffee-table book, start by picking up masters such as Mies or Corbu and work your way up into materials books.

When buying books, it is not always true with books that you "pay for what you get," but in this case I paid relatively cheap, and that's exactly what I got.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Termite Food., January 23, 2003

By 

Scott Knudsen (Air Ronge, Saskatchewan Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wood: New Directions in Design and Architecture (Paperback)

If your expecting beautiful wooden architecture like Greene & Greene's or Val Agnoli's, look elsewhere. Most of the buildings in this book look cold and lifeless. I don't even think a Termite could stomach this book!