From the bestselling author of The Long Weekend: a wild, sad and sometimes hilarious tour of the English country house after the Second World War, when Swinging London collided with aristocratic values. 'Preposterously entertaining' Observer 'Brilliant' Daily Telegraph 'Rollicking' Sunday Times As the sun set slowly on the British Empire in the years after the Second World War, the nation's stately homes were in crisis. Tottering under the weight of rising taxes and a growing sense that they had no place in twentieth-century Britain, hundreds of ancestral piles were dismantled and demolished. Yet - perhaps surprisingly - many of these great houses survived, as dukes and duchesses clung desperately to their ancestral seats and tenants' balls gave way to rock concerts, safari parks and day trippers. From the Rolling Stones rocking Longleat to Christine Keeler rocking Cliveden, Noble Ambitions takes us on a lively tour of these crumbling halls of power. * A Daily Telegraph Book of the Year * * Longlisted for the William MB Berger Prize for British Art History *

The Timber Reduced Energy Efficient Home is designed and built to use timber more efficiently, to eliminate the destruction of large old trees, and to utilize building materials in architecture that consume less energy overall and are less harmful to the environment.

City Works 6 is the sixth in a series of books which document the exciting work of students from The City College of New York Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture. The City College of New York has a long and important tradition of producing internationally recognized scholarship and research while maintaining its promise of an accessible public education for the city of New York. Through an emphasis on hand craft and digital fabrication, interdisciplinary research, and ecologically and culturally sustainable practices, SSA encourages a responsible engagement with the discipline of architecture, while cultivating rigorous exploration of new theories, materials and technologies. With three unique programs including Architecture, Urban Design and Landscape Architecture, the student work represented here reflects some of the most progressive ideas about how we inhabit both the natural and the built environment.

With the increasing densification of the cities, high-rise accommodation is gaining in importance. Climatic, constructional and social challenges have often led to highly innovative solutions for the residential tower, as a recent architectural type that is still constantly evolving. This selection of 80 architecturally exemplary tower blocks on five continents makes it possible to compare various different approaches. Buildings ranging in time from the 1930s to the present are each portrayed with plans, photographs and short texts, along with biographical notes on the architects. The introduction and three essays discuss various aspects of the development and significance of the residential tower in the international context.

Filled with beautiful full-color photographs and detailed illustrations, an irresistible collection profiling 150 of the latest trends in contemporary loft design. The ultimate resource for designing and decorating loft spaces, 150 Best of the Best Loft Ideas presents 150 stunning lofts constructed and designed by notable architects and designers from around the world. Made popular in the nineteen fifties and sixties in New York City, lofts-synonymous with a modern, avant-garde lifestyle-continue to maintain their wide appeal. While loft living once meant converting old industrial warehouses into a warm and inviting living environment, today the style has evolved into an airy, open approach for any modern living space. This compilation highlights the diversity of current trends in loft design and is a source of creative inspiration for architects, designers, and home owners interested in staying current with the latest in contemporary residential architecture.

In one volume clear and thorough instructions on remodeling adobe houses plus how to build an adobe fireplace. Illustrations and practical instructions make working from this book a pleasure. Designed for use by the most inexperienced person as well as the professional builder. Based on 48 years of the author's experience.

A guide, with floor plans ranging from a small casita to larger ones is given in this book, with several pluses. The smaller homes are so arranged that they allow for growth as the family, or purse, increases in size. Cabinet work throughout is in keeping and suggestions for furniture designed to complement the house are here. Plastering, the making of adobes, painting, plumbing, wiring--all the things that must be taken into account are dealt with in a practical manner that helps prevent costly errors.

Here is the account, in storybook form with illustrations by the author, of two artists and how they settled in northern New Mexico to try their skill at designing and building adobe houses.

Since its founding in 1976, the non-profit Habitat for Humanity International has built more than 255,000 houses for more than one million people and families in need world wide. First published in 2002, "Habitat for Humanity How to Build a House "has helped thousands more build simple, energy-efficient homes of their own by helping guide them from foundation to roof, through all interior finishes and fixtures. Written by long-time carpenter and Habitat volunteer, Larry Haun, this extensive revision features up-to-date information on residential codes, construction methods, and materials -- as well as an updated design inside and out. Haun also provides new sections on tools, siding, ventilation, and landscaping. With Clear information on everything from obtaining a site and permit to finishing touches like installing door locks and cabinets, this is the best single-volume resource for the beginning homebuilder.

This book answers the question "How did the 1933 World's Fair Century of Progress Exhibit Buildings get moved from Chicago to Beverly Shores, Indiana in the 1930's?" Amateur historians around the world will love unveiling the mystery surrounding this conundrum by Mr. Daniel Craig Grandfield, landscape architect.