Tree houses have come a long way since our collective childhoods. The very definition of a tree house has broadened to now include anything from a boutique hotel room where star gazing is a must to exceptional viewing platforms and, of course, not forgetting a treehouse for kids such as exists only in their dreams. This carefully compiled list provides an overview of striking tree houses across the globe, with designs that are truly unique, inspiring, and beautiful. Leafing through this inspiring collection, the reader will wonder in amazement at the exquisite and whimsical yet sophisticated constructions dreamed up by modern architects and designers. This beautiful edition is lavishly illustrated with evocative full-colour images of ingenious arboreal architecture, with a focus on the forested surroundings, verdant treetop canopies, and rural experiences. This book will not only appeal to your inner child, but provide a welcome respite from the stresses of modern living by offering a pleasurable visit to the green world of tree houses.

This book explores how houses are created, maintained and conceptualized in southern Oman. Based on long-term research in the Dhofar region, it draws on anthropology, sociology, urban studies and architectural history. The chapters consider physical and functional aspects, including regulations governing land use, factors in siting houses, architectural styles and norms for interior and exterior decorating. The volume also reflects on cultural expectations regarding how and when rooms are used and issues such as safety, privacy, social connectedness and ease of movement. Houses and residential areas are situated within the fabric of towns, comparison is made with housing in other countries in the Arabian peninsula, and consideration is given to notions of the 'Islamic city' and the 'Islamic house'. The book is valuable reading for scholars interested in the Middle East and the built environment.

Housing is a major contributor to CO2 emissions in Europe and America today and the construction of new homes offers an opportunity to address this issue. Providing homes that achieve "zero carbon", "carbon neutral", "zero-net energy" or "energy-plus" standard is becoming the goal of more innovative house-builders globally, whilst energy providers seek to decarbonise the energy supply to new and existing development. Various new technical systems for achieving these goals are beginning to emerge. For example the passive house whose energy requirement for space heating and cooling is almost zero; the smart grid that has revolutionized the management of energy, whilst enabling the connection of small-scale, renewable energy producers and electric vehicles to the grid; or the European super-grid which will enable zero carbon energy to be generated in the Sahara desert and stored in Norway. This book explores the diverse approaches that are being adopted around the world to deliver zero carbon homes and the different societal systems and geographic circumstances in which they have developed. It postulates a roadmap for delivering zero carbon homes, together with a toolbox approach for policy and practice to suit particular national and local circumstances. A series of case studies are presented that offer lessons for delivering zero carbon homes. These examples are also used to demonstrate how prototype systems can move into the mainstream. The book highlights some of the instruments and mechanisms that could be used to support this transformation and addresses the wider implications of introducing these innovative systems in terms of industry, lifestyle and urban form.

From the history-steeped ‘home of cricket’ at Lord’s, to the mecca of Indian cricket at Eden Gardens, this encompassing guide ranges across five continents to bring you the best cricket venues the world has to offer. Accompanied by corresponding articles from The Times of notable matches at each venue, discover the history behind these remarkable grounds. With its beautiful, full-colour photography, scorecards, and locator map, this is an essential book for all fans of cricket. Grounds include: Adelaide Oval, Australia Bangabandhu National Stadium, Bangladesh Centurion Park, South Africa Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates Eden Gardens, India Eden Park, New Zealand Edgbaston, England Galle International Stadium, Sri Lanka Harare Sports Ground, Zimbabwe Iqbal Stadium, Pakistan Kensington Oval, Barbados Lord’s, England Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia Newlands, South Africa The Oval, England St John’s, Antigua

Tower and Slab looks at the contradictory history of the modernist mass housing block - home to millions of city dwellers around the world. Few urban forms have roused as much controversy. While in the United States decades-long criticism caused the demolition of most mass housing projects for the poor, in the booming metropolises of Shanghai and Mumbai remarkably similar developments are being built for the wealthy middle class. While on the surface the modernist apartment block appears universal, it is in fact diverse in its significance and connotations as its many different cultural contexts.

Florian Urban studies the history of mass housing in seven narratives: Chicago, Paris, Berlin, Brasilia, Mumbai, Moscow, and Shanghai. Investigating the complex interactions between city planning and social history, Tower and Slab shows how the modernist vision to house the masses in serial blocks succeeded in certain contexts and failed in others. Success and failure, in this respect, refers not only to the original goals to solve the housing crisis and provide modern standards for the entire society but equally to changing significance of the housing blocks within the respective societies and their perception by architects, politicians, and inhabitants.

These differences show that design is not to blame for mass housing 's mixed record of success. The comparison of the apparently similar projects suggests that triumph or disaster does not depend on a single variable but rather on a complex formula that includes not only form, but also social composition, location within the city, effective maintenance, and a variety of cultural, social, and political factors.

This insightful volume shares design ideas to help builders, planners and architects create mass-produced affordable housing that pushes suburban development in more sustainable, liveable directions. The author argues that improving the quality of design in our new homes and communities for greater resiliency, sustainability, and equality, we can build neighborhoods and communities where residents feel more connected t their homes and to one another. Through text, photographs and illustrations, the book reviews prototypical American housing design, then suggest ways to both learn from the past as well as adapt for new environmental imperatives, demographic changes and lifestyle needs. Written by a practicing architect with 25+ years of experience optimizing residential design, this pioneering approach to suburban building will inspire readers to view mass produced housing through a new, modern lens.

A stunning showcase of the unique lifestyle opportunities afforded by contemporary courtyard design in the Asia-Pacific region. Courtyards have long played an important function in residential design, regulating light, shade and the use of space. With thousands of years of tradition as inspiration, contemporary architects are realizing courtyard living afresh. This lavish survey of 25 residences across the Asia-Pacific region features homes from Australia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, India, Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Structured by courtyard function, the book consists of five chapters - on privacy; multigenerational living; sightlines; light and ventilation; and living with nature - that are richly illustrated with photography as well as architectural illustrations showing courtyard positions within floor plans. Showcasing the unique lifestyle opportunities afforded by contemporary courtyard design, this is an inspirational resource for anyone interested in indoor-outdoor living.

How to Read Houses is an insider's guide to recognising and appreciating the diversity of domestic architecture that reflects the location, the fashion, and the technological savoir-faire of the age - from Tudor timber-frames to the truly unconventional. Compact enough to travel with you yet comprehensive enough to provide real answers, with real examples, this handy reference guide: - Provides an understanding of the architectural vocabulary along with the visual clues that identify any house style and its historical context. - Enhances the appreciation of visits to landmark houses and lays the foundations for an architectural exploration of your own home or area. - Explores the main architectural styles, as well as the materials and components of a house, through beautifully rendered illustrations, photographs of classic examples and the words of a friendly expert.

Building Community is an in-depth, wide-ranging survey of contemporary apartment buildings, not as raw canvases for interior decoration but as a building type of growing significance. An introduction presents the history of multiple-occupancy housing through its most innovative 20th-century exemplars, from the urbane blocks of Auguste Perret and Henri Sauvage in Paris, to the landscaped housing estates of Weimar Germany and the visionary schemes of Le Corbusier. The heart of the book features 39 recent or ongoing projects, designed by leading international studios and rising talents. Buildings range from social housing and micro apartments to urban villages, megastructures and innovative high-rises. Each project is considered for the way in which it enriches the lives of residents and the city, and is shown through drawings and photographs, taken from the street and within. The book also includes interviews with such contemporary masters of apartment design as Michael Maltzan, Lorcan O'Herlihy, Edouard Francois and Bjarke Ingels. As our cities grow more crowded, it is critical that we produce creative buildings that enhance the lives of their inhabitants, their surroundings and the urban environment as a whole. Building Community offers dozens of proven successes to designers and apartment-dwellers. With 348 illustrations in colour

The book when it first appeared was also well received by "House and Garden Architecture Forum" and "Landscape Architecture." "The handsome book will be a joy to possess for those who love beauty in architecture and cultivated nature," so wrote Pearl S. Buck. In 1940 Henry Inn of Honolulu, art collector, designer, and photographer, produced a collection of Chinese architectural pictures that is extraordinary.

Although probably the only record of its kind, many of the photographs were taken as recently as 1936. Of those locations very few remain if any. A veteran traveller to his ancestral homeland, Henry In had an extraordinarily wide set of acquaintances which gave him an entrance into some of the choicest homes and gardens throughout China. This combination of artistic shell and unusual opportunity are unique.

Renaissance master Andrea Palladio's architectural DNA can be seen on modern-day icons from Buckingham Palace to the White House, from numerous English stately homes to Virginian plantation houses. In THE PERFECT HOUSE Witold Rybczynski travels along the Brenta River in north-eastern Italy to experience the surviving original Palladian villas for himself. He sets out to discover how a rustic sixteenth-century stonemason, born Andrea di Pietro, first had to become 'cultured' before he could be one of the most respected architects of all time, and how Palladio managed to bring the elegance of Ancient Rome to the Venetian countryside. Out of the chaos of hired cars and cheap flights, towns packed with 'Ristoranti Palladio' and herds of tourists, Rybczynski savours moments of epiphany as he contemplates Palladio's perfect houses. Part travelogue, part historical biography, part architectural guide, THE PERFECT HOUSE is a delightful and enlightening exploration of the birth of domestic architecture and the man who spawned it.

This incredible collection of stunning images will inspire anyone who dreams of creating their very own timber-frame home. Thirty-eight custom-built homes are featured, inside and out, complete with floor plans. Packed with 275 gorgeous color pictures, this book provides furnishing and decorating ideas, including inspirations for decorating the great room, master bedrooms, cozy sitting rooms, elegant dining rooms, and outdoor living spaces. Gorgeous kitchen photos will help you whip up your own culinary creation center. And there are lots of ideas for creating quiet escape nooks, home offices, luxurious baths, and lofty hideaways. This is a must-have for anyone who owns a timber-frame house or remodeled barn, and all who want one.

Renovation continues to be an important and fundamental part of modern architecture, whether it be through a desire to preserve history, or resurrect an old family home. This book provides a useful overview of nearly 30 case studies from across the globe, providing inspiring examples of how to refresh an old structure through sensitive modifications without changing the original architectural type. An inspiring guide to the daunting task of renovation, this book covers the whole process of renovating an old house, and provides fitting examples of work from around the world. Covering the entire process of renovation, the book includes "before" and "after" photos to clearly illustrate the skillful work involved in adapting an older residence. The decision to renovate rather than rebuild brings its own set of complications, but this book reminds us that this is not a hopeless endeavour but rather one that refreshes the architecture and provides a revamped home, perfect for the modern world.

"If you can't wait to open up your cottage, taking a peek inside Northern Hideaways: Canadian Cottages and Cabins (The Images Publishing Group, 2022) will make you want to load the car up pronto."-House & Home It's long been a Canadian tradition to "head to the cottage" for holidays. Across the wide expanse of Canada, there are numerous opportunities to do just that. Whether it be a chalet in the ski fields, a boathouse on a fabulous lake, or even just a remote getaway in a secluded forest, Canada fields a wide range of options for places to unwind and spend time with family and friends, and to make the most of all seasons. With a carefully curated selection of beautiful contemporary cottage and cabin designs, this compelling book provides an insight into the Canadian love affair with holiday homes. This beautifully illustrated book celebrates the idea of the Canadian cottage and cabin, and includes a selection of stunning contemporary retreats, guaranteed to make you want to "head to the cottage" for a vacation. The projects and locations featured in this volume include: May House | Indian Point, Nova Scotia Smith House | Upper Kingsburg, Nova Scotia Cap St-Martin Residence | Potton, Quebec Cottage on the Point | Lanaudiere, Quebec Grand-Pic Chalet | Austin, Quebec Lake Brome Residence | Foster, Quebec Lakeside Cabin | Lac-Brome, Quebec Laurentian Ski Chalet | Saint-Donat, Quebec Maison Perchee | East Bolton, Quebec Prefabricated Country Home | Ivry-sur-le-Lac, Quebec Residence St-Ignace | Saint-Ignace-de-Loyola, Quebec The Slender House | Lake Memphremagog,, Quebec Ell House | Wellington, Ontario Go Home Bay Cabin | Georgian Bay, Ontario Kawagama Lake Boathouse | Dorset, Ontario Lake Joseph Cottage | Muskoka, Ontario Lake Manitouwabing Residence | McKellar, Ontario Lake Mississauga Cottage | Kawartha Highlands, Ontario Sky House | Stoney Lake, Ontario The Farm | Clarington, Ontario Woodhouse | Singhampton, Ontario Bowen Island House | Bowen Island, British Columbia House on the Bench | Naramata, British Columbia

From a grand sandstone mansion rescued from dilapidation in the scrubby Free State veld, to a romantic Arts & Crafts style double-storey that presides over a halfacre of prime real estate in the high Berea suburb of Durban, Remarkable Heritage Houses of South Africa provides a privileged glimpse inside 20 of the country’s most distinguished, remarkable and treasured private residences.

Predominantly constructed no later than the mid 1950s and chosen for the singular legacy each keeps alive, these are homes that blend architectural integrity with an uncanny sense of place. Some more ‘historic’ than others, they have been sensitively rescued or meticulously preserved, or simply kept current with custodianship that has at all times respected their unique pedigree. Strikingly captured by distinguished photographer, Craig Fraser, they cover the full gamut of locations, architectural genres and interior decorating styles, yet have all been skilfully adapted to meet the demands of modern living.

A remarkable classic work on traditional Japanese architecture, and how the style and features can serve as a model for contemporary residential buildings. With incredible detail (as well as numerous architectural plans and drawings), author and architect Heino Engel describes everything from room functions and the flexibility of partitions to the influence of human anatomy on Japanese units of measure. Rather than exploring why the traditional Japanese house is built the way it is, Engel delves into the practical information: what the Japanese house is and how it is built. This book is not simply a description of the features of the Japanese house, but "an invitation to probe the possibilities of utilizing this architectural achievement of the Japanese...in modern living and building," according to the author, who further believes that the unique details of the Japanese house are better suited as a pattern for contemporary housing than any other form of residential structure. With a new foreword by architect and professor Mira Locher, Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, this updated hardcover edition brings this popular work to modern readers--in hopes that they may find ideas to adopt into their own home.

"... Photos of jaw-dropping houses will tide keen cottagers over until spring." - Canadian House & Home We are all drawn to water, whether for relaxation or recreation. So it is little surprise that many homes are designed especially for a gorgeous waterfront location. Beautiful Houses by the Water beautifully illustrates examples from around the globe that make the most of their stunning location by the water, creating a relaxed abode with a strong connection to nature. Take an inspiring journey with this gorgeous edition, crammed full of evocative images, through some of the world's best contemporary and stylish residences that truly showcase their idyllic watery settings, whether it is a river, pond, lake, ocean, or a bay. Enjoy the beauty of a home that is perfectly designed for its location by the water.

The Lone Star State continues its love affair with innovative and contemporary architecture and design. Showcasing a stunning range of modern homes, this book will inspire best-design practice and spur on lifestyle dreams. Set out with beautiful full-colour photography, New Texas Modern delves into the finer details of trending architectural styles. The exquisite kitchens, glorious living spaces, sumptuous bedrooms, luxurious bathrooms, spectacular outdoor entertaining areas, and other delightful spaces, are all part and parcel of the Texas residential dream. Abundant available space, a sense of Texas architectural historical vernacular, and a need to cater to the harsh Texas climate all combine together to produce gorgeous livable contemporary residences to delight the eye and the senses.

Rural regions and their local architecture receive far too little attention. This book aims to change that. The variety of realized projects shows the hidden potential of these areas and how architecture can contribute to a good life in the countryside. The projects presented here include homes, workshops, agricultural buildings, village stores, wineries, hotels, museums, chapels, sports facilities or public buildings. The geographical focus is on Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with individual projects from Europe also included. By highlighting selected regions and places, the book illustrates the overall changes in different area - whether through shrinkage or growth. This attractive volume is enhanced by essays on the realization process of projects, on important building types, on infrastructure, and on what can be learned from building in the countryside. The catalog portrays 65 projects by numerous renowned architecture offices, including Bernardo Bader Architekten, Gion A. Caminada, Peter Haimerl, Jan Roesler Architekten and Andy Senn Architekt.

Gandhi and Architecture: A Time for Low-Cost Housing chronicles the emergence of a low-cost, low-rise housing architecture that conforms to M.K. Gandhi’s religious need to establish finite boundaries for everyday actions; finitude in turn defines Gandhi’s conservative and exclusionary conception of religion. Drawing from rich archival and field materials, the book begins with an exploration of Gandhi’s religiosity of relinquishment and the British Spiritualist, Madeline Slade’s creation of his low-cost hut, Adi Niwas, in the village of Segaon in the 1930s. Adi Niwas inaugurates a low-cost housing architecture of finitude founded on the near-simultaneous but heterogeneous, conservative Gandhian ideals of pursuing self-sacrifice and rendering the pursuit of self-sacrifice legible as the practice of an exclusionary varnashramadharma. At a considerable remove from Gandhi’s religious conservatism, successive generations in post-colonial India have reimagined a secular necessity for this Gandhian low-cost housing architecture of finitude. In the early 1950s era of mass housing for post-partition refugees from Pakistan, the making of a low-cost housing architecture was premised on the necessity of responding to economic concerns and to an emerging demographic mandate. In the 1970s, during the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries crisis, it was premised on the rise of urban and climatological necessities. More recently, in the late 1990s and early 2000s, its reception has been premised on the emergence of language-based identitarianism in Wardha, Maharashtra. Each of these moments of necessity reveals the enduring present of a Gandhian low-cost housing architecture of finitude and also the need to emancipate Gandhian finitude from Gandhi’s own exclusions. This volume is a critical intervention in the philosophy of architectural history. Drawing eclectically from science and technology studies, political science, housing studies, urban studies, religious studies, and anthropology, this richly illustrated volume will be of great interest to students and researchers of architecture and design, housing, history, sociology, economics, Gandhian studies, urban studies and development studies.