For every great country house of the Georgian period, there was usually also a town house. Chatsworth, for example, the home of the Devonshires, has officially been recognised as one of the country's favourite national treasures - but most of its visitors know little of Devonshire House, which the family once owned in the capital. In part, this is because town houses were often leased, rather than being passed down through generations as country estates were. But, most crucially, many London town houses, including Devonshire House, no longer exist, having been demolished in the early twentieth century. This book seeks to place centre-stage the hugely important yet hitherto overlooked town houses of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, exploring the prime position they once occupied in the lives of families and the nation as a whole. It explores the owners, how they furnished and used these properties, and how their houses were judged by the various types of visitor who gained access.

Fresh perspectives on how good design can create stylish yet ecologically sound living spaces in small-scale homes. Anyone who has faced the challenges of limited living space will find inspiration in this survey of the latest trends in environmentally sensitive, small-scale residential designs. More than fifty residential spaces are profiled-from woodsy houses and repurposed barns to cool apartments and urban lofts-both inside and out. Most of the projects were designed by up-and-coming architects, and each design proves that small-scale efficiency as well as beautiful, thoughtful design can overcome the apparent constraints of a small setting. Environmental impact is a growing concern, so each project was chosen because of its ecological sensitivity. Each case history describes the challenges confronting the designer and the solutions. Creating color schemes to enhance the feeling of openness, taking advantage of high ceilings to make multiple levels, and using collapsible furniture and sliding doors to maximize space are some of the design solutions that can be applied in any situation. Filled with beautiful color photographs and helpful floorplans, this book is a remarkable showcase of how good design can transform any small space into a comfortable, modern-and environmentally sensitive-home.

The Mount, Edith Wharton's country place in the Berkshires, is truly an autobiographical house. There Wharton wrote some of her best-known and successful novels, including "Ethan Frome "and "House of Mirth." The house itself, completed in 1902, embodies principles set forth in Wharton's famous book "The Decoration of Houses," and the surrounding landscape displays her deep knowledge of Italian gardens. Wandering the grounds of this historic home, one can see the influence of Wharton's inimitable spirit in its architecture and design, just as one can sense the Mount's impact on the extraordinary life of Edith Wharton herself.
The Mount sits in the rolling landscape of the Berkshire Hills, with views overlooking Laurel Lake and all the way out to the mountains. At the turn of the century, Lenox and Stockbridge were thriving summer resort communities, home to Vanderbilts, Sloanes, and other prominent families of the Gilded Age. At once a leader and a recorder of this glamorous society, Edith Wharton stands at the pinnacle of turn of the twentieth-century American literature and social history. The Mount was crucial to her success, and the story of her life there is filled with gatherings of literary figures and artists. "Edith Wharton at Home" presents Wharton's life at The Mount in vivid detail with authoritative text by Richard Guy Wilson and archival images, as well as new color photography of the restoration of The Mount and its spectacular gardens.
"The Mount was to give me country cares and joys, long happy rides and drives through the wooded lanes of that loveliest region, the companionship of dear friends, and the freedom from trivial obligations, which was necessary if I was to go on with my writing. The Mount was my first real home . . . its blessed influence still lives in me." --Edith Wharton, 1934

Recent societal changes have brought about renewed interest from architects, town planners, housing officials and the public in terraces and townhouses. The small footprint that this style of house occupies allows a sustainable high density approach to habitation, slowing sprawl and creating energy-efficient affordable living. Townhouses have been used for hundreds of years, and their evolution is covered from their inception right up to the present day. With the changing demographics of buyers in mind, Avi Friedman details how the design of these houses can be adapted to keep-up with contemporary needs. Friedman uses a systematic approach to cover the many facets of townhouses from interior design and construction methods, to urban planning issues like adjusting to the site's natural conditions, street configurations and open spaces. This approach creates a book which will be a valuable resource for those involved in the planning, design and creation of terraced and town houses. Over 150 detailed diagrams and plans, and eighty photos, illustrate the essential elements of this style of housing. In the final chapter, lessons learnt throughout the book are draw together in ten broad ranging case study projects, showing how the various aspects can be put into practice.

Bestselling Van Life author Foster Huntington shares his experiences - as well as others - living by his own rules in this aspirational book filled with awe-inspiring photographs of unique homes in unexpected places. After spending three years on the road living in a camper van, Foster Huntington continued his unconventional lifestyle by building a two-story treehouse. Foster, like many others, are finding freedom, tranquility, and adventure in living off the grid in unconventional homes. Perfect for fans of Van Life and Cabin Porn and those who yearn for a simpler existence, Off Grid Life showcases unique dwellings from all around the world. Organized into sections like tree houses, tiny houses, shipping containers, yurts, boathouses, barns, vans, and more, the 250 aspirational photographs feature enviable settings like stunning beaches, dramatic mountains and picturesque forests. Also included are images of fully designed interiors with kitchens and sleeping quarters as well as interviews with solo dwellers, couples, and families who are living lives off the beaten path.

The start of a brand new series from bestselling author Fay Keenan.Life in London has lost its sparkle for Stella Simpson. So when she gets the opportunity to escape to the country for a year, it seems too good a chance to miss. In the beautiful Somerset countryside, the majestic Roseford Hall has been painstakingly restored and is now ready for its grand opening. And as the writer in residence, Stella gets to see it all - from the rowdy resident peacocks, the hidden secrets of the Hall, to befriending the Lord of the Manor himself. At the other end of Roseford, single father, Chris Charlton is facing his own refurbishment woes. Rocked by a tragedy two years previously, his plans for crumbling Victorian wreck Halstead House are as stuck as he is. As Roseford Hall prepares to welcome a new era, and Halstead House's future is under threat, Chris and Stella find themselves drawn to one another. Can they finally leave their pasts behind, and will Chris and Stella be able to embrace their new beginnings together - or apart... Escape to the beautiful, idyllic English countryside with Fay Keenan. Romantic, feel-good and utterly charming, this is perfect for all fans of Julie Houston, Cathy Bramley and Holly Martin. What authors and readers say about Fay Keenan's novels: 'This novel has such a gorgeous setting. A lovely light read and the perfect book to pack in your suitcase and take on holiday. Recommended.' Della Galton 'A gorgeous rural romance full of warmth and charm.' Victoria Connelly 'Guaranteed to put a spring in your step. Feel-good, frisky and great fun with a hearty dash of romance and intrigue.' Julie Houston 'Moving, funny, thoughtful and romantic. Bring on the next one!' Jenny Kane 'This is a lovely and heart-warming story, that has a serious side hidden within the romance.' Amazon reviewer 'It was a wonderful book, guaranteed to put a smile on your face.' Amazon reviewer 'I was so engrossed in the storyline, which is thoroughly heart-warming, that I read the entire book without stopping. I always enjoy Keenan's books and am looking forward to the next one!' Amazon reviewer

The start of a brand new series from bestselling author Fay Keenan.Life in London has lost its sparkle for Stella Simpson. So when she gets the opportunity to escape to the country for a year, it seems too good a chance to miss. In the beautiful Somerset countryside, the majestic Roseford Hall has been painstakingly restored and is now ready for its grand opening. And as the writer in residence, Stella gets to see it all - from the rowdy resident peacocks, the hidden secrets of the Hall, to befriending the Lord of the Manor himself. At the other end of Roseford, single father, Chris Charlton is facing his own refurbishment woes. Rocked by a tragedy two years previously, his plans for crumbling Victorian wreck Halstead House are as stuck as he is. As Roseford Hall prepares to welcome a new era, and Halstead House's future is under threat, Chris and Stella find themselves drawn to one another. Can they finally leave their pasts behind, and will Chris and Stella be able to embrace their new beginnings together - or apart... Escape to the beautiful, idyllic English countryside with Fay Keenan. Romantic, feel-good and utterly charming, this is perfect for all fans of Julie Houston, Cathy Bramley and Holly Martin. What authors and readers say about Fay Keenan's novels: 'This novel has such a gorgeous setting. A lovely light read and the perfect book to pack in your suitcase and take on holiday. Recommended.' Della Galton 'A gorgeous rural romance full of warmth and charm.' Victoria Connelly 'Guaranteed to put a spring in your step. Feel-good, frisky and great fun with a hearty dash of romance and intrigue.' Julie Houston 'Moving, funny, thoughtful and romantic. Bring on the next one!' Jenny Kane 'This is a lovely and heart-warming story, that has a serious side hidden within the romance.' Amazon reviewer 'It was a wonderful book, guaranteed to put a smile on your face.' Amazon reviewer 'I was so engrossed in the storyline, which is thoroughly heart-warming, that I read the entire book without stopping. I always enjoy Keenan's books and am looking forward to the next one!' Amazon reviewer

'Such a joy of a book' Faith Hogan, author of The Ladies' Midnight Swimming Club 'Family stalemates are unravelled in this moving novel about three strong women told with Samantha's warmth, humour and empathy' Zoe Folbigg, author of The Note 'Heartwarming tale of family rifts and reunions across three generations with a generous helping of wonderful 80s nostalgia. A lovely read!' Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things One forgotten discovery will change three women's lives for ever... Robin hasn't been home for decades. After running away to London, she never expected to see her cantankerous mother, Faye, again. But when Faye has a fall, the two women are thrown together once more. The years apart have not made their hearts grow fonder and the ground between them is unsteady. Then Robin finds an unopened scroll - the last of the treasure hunts her much-missed father used to take them on every Sunday. A hunt he believed might change everything. Yet, not even this gift from her beloved father can smooth the way until Robin's daughter, Amber, arrives to meet her grandmother for the first time. Amber is determined that the decades-old mystery be solved. Can a 30-year-old treasure hunt really 'change everything'? What readers are saying about Under One Roof: 'Hang on to your leg warmers, because underneath this nostalgic step back in time is an achingly perceptive, beautifully written exploration of the complicated bonds between mothers and daughters. I adored it' Shari Low 'A gorgeous tale of a divided family facing the past via a treasure hunt, beautifully written and full of fabulous 80s nostalgia.' Jessica Redland 'Omg I've needed this book. I think all multi-generational homes do too' NetGalley Reviewer 'An uplifting, yet emotional story about what it means to be family. You'll laugh and you'll cry' Sian O'Gorman 'I fell right into the tale and was fully invested in these authentic characters' NetGalley Reviewer 'I found this book tender, moving and intensely honest' Celia Anderson 'I highly recommend this book and feel that it is a beautiful story' NetGalley Reviewer 'Warm, wise and wonderfully nostalgic' Alex Brown 'Uplifting and serious at the same time, I absolutely loved it' NetGalley Reviewer 'A heartfelt and thought-provoking read' Sarah Bennett 'I didn't like this book, I loved it' NetGalley Reviewer 'A fabulous read that I totally devoured' Katie Ginger 'A wonderful mix of contemporary fiction and family life' NetGalley Reviewer 'Highly, highly recommended reading!' Jaimie Adams 'I've read a few of Samantha's books now, but I think this one is my favourite' NetGalley Reviewer 'Heartfelt, candid, witty and emotional' SD Robertson 'Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down' NetGalley Reviewer 'A warm and wise book of healing, forgiveness and wonderful 80s nostalgia. A twinkling 5 stars!' Fiona Collins 'A real warts and all story about relationships between mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, and teenage friends growing up. . . A really uplifting read' NetGalley Reviewer

'Such a joy of a book' Faith Hogan, author of The Ladies' Midnight Swimming Club 'Family stalemates are unravelled in this moving novel about three strong women told with Samantha's warmth, humour and empathy' Zoe Folbigg, author of The Note 'Heartwarming tale of family rifts and reunions across three generations with a generous helping of wonderful 80s nostalgia. A lovely read!' Ruth Hogan, author of The Keeper of Lost Things One forgotten discovery will change three women's lives for ever... Robin hasn't been home for decades. After running away to London, she never expected to see her cantankerous mother, Faye, again. But when Faye has a fall, the two women are thrown together once more. The years apart have not made their hearts grow fonder and the ground between them is unsteady. Then Robin finds an unopened scroll - the last of the treasure hunts her much-missed father used to take them on every Sunday. A hunt he believed might change everything. Yet, not even this gift from her beloved father can smooth the way until Robin's daughter, Amber, arrives to meet her grandmother for the first time. Amber is determined that the decades-old mystery be solved. Can a 30-year-old treasure hunt really 'change everything'? What readers are saying about Under One Roof: 'Hang on to your leg warmers, because underneath this nostalgic step back in time is an achingly perceptive, beautifully written exploration of the complicated bonds between mothers and daughters. I adored it' Shari Low 'A gorgeous tale of a divided family facing the past via a treasure hunt, beautifully written and full of fabulous 80s nostalgia.' Jessica Redland 'Omg I've needed this book. I think all multi-generational homes do too' NetGalley Reviewer 'An uplifting, yet emotional story about what it means to be family. You'll laugh and you'll cry' Sian O'Gorman 'I fell right into the tale and was fully invested in these authentic characters' NetGalley Reviewer 'I found this book tender, moving and intensely honest' Celia Anderson 'I highly recommend this book and feel that it is a beautiful story' NetGalley Reviewer 'Warm, wise and wonderfully nostalgic' Alex Brown 'Uplifting and serious at the same time, I absolutely loved it' NetGalley Reviewer 'A heartfelt and thought-provoking read' Sarah Bennett 'I didn't like this book, I loved it' NetGalley Reviewer 'A fabulous read that I totally devoured' Katie Ginger 'A wonderful mix of contemporary fiction and family life' NetGalley Reviewer 'Highly, highly recommended reading!' Jaimie Adams 'I've read a few of Samantha's books now, but I think this one is my favourite' NetGalley Reviewer 'Heartfelt, candid, witty and emotional' SD Robertson 'Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down' NetGalley Reviewer 'A warm and wise book of healing, forgiveness and wonderful 80s nostalgia. A twinkling 5 stars!' Fiona Collins 'A real warts and all story about relationships between mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, and teenage friends growing up. . . A really uplifting read' NetGalley Reviewer

What are the challenges architects face when designing dwelling spaces of a limited size? And what can these projects tell us about architecture - and architectural principles - in general? In BIG little house, award-winning architect Donna Kacmar introduces twenty real-life examples of small houses. Each project is under 1,000 square feet (100 square meters) in size and, brought together, the designs reveal an attitude towards materiality, light, enclosure and accommodation which is unique to minimal dwellings. While part of a trend to address growing concerns about minimising consumption and lack of affordable housing, the book demonstrates that small dwellings are not always simply the result of budget constraints but constitute a deliberate design strategy in their own right. Highly illustrated and in full-colour throughout, each example is based on interviews with the original architect and accompanied by detailed floor plans. This ground-breaking, beautifully designed text offers practical guidance to any professional architect or homeowner interested in small scale projects.

Escape to hills high above the French Riviera with international bestseller Jennifer Bohnet.After tragically losing her husband, Nicola Jacques and her teenage son Oliver relocate to his father's family's olive farm in the hills above the French Riviera. Due to a family feud, Oliver has never known his father's side of the family but Grandpapa Henri is intent that Oliver will take over the reins of the ancestral farm and his rightful inheritance. Determined to keep her independence from a rather controlling Grandpapa, Nicola buys a run-down cottage on the edge of the family's Olive Farm and sets to work renovating their new home and providing an income by cultivating the small holding that came with the Cottage. As the summer months roll by, Nicola and Oliver begin to settle happily into their new way of life with the help of Aunts Josephine and Odette, Henri's twin sisters and local property developer Gilles Bongars. But the arrival of some unexpected news and guests at the farm, force Nicole and Aunt Josephine to assess what and where their futures lie. This book was previously published as The French Legacy.

"Does your home tell the story of who you are?"
In "The Things That Matter, " Nate Berkus shares intimate stories from his life, introduces us to people who influenced him and helped him forge his sense of style, and opens up about the remarkable experiences that have left him forever changed, all of which find expression in how he lives today. From his most cherished flea market finds, to his beloved books and photos, to the many extraordinary mementos he's collected in his travels, every piece defines who he's become and what endures in his world.
Berkus invites readers into his own home as well as into twelve others, including a sleek steel-and-glass high-rise that soars above Chicago, a rustic cottage in the Hudson Valley, an ultra-chic atelier that maximizes every inch of space, a Greenwich Village townhouse that holds multiple art collections, and a study in meaningful minimalism in Marfa, Texas. The distinctive interiors beautifully displayed in this book offer revealing portraits of their owners' lives and the inspiring choices that have made them who they are today.
" "
"The Things That Matter" convincingly lays out Nate Berkus's philosophy that things "do" matter. Our homes tell our stories, they reflect the places we've been and the people we've loved along the way--and there can be no more beautiful design for living than that.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY "THE SEATTLE TIMES"

The twentieth century offered up countless visions of domestic life, from the aspirational to the radical. Whether it was the dream of the fully mechanised home or the notion that technology might free us from home altogether, the domestic realm was a site of endless invention and speculation. But what happened to those visions? Are the smart homes of today the future that architects and designers once predicted, or has 'home' proved resistant to radical change? Home Futures: Living in Yesterday's Tomorrow -accompanying a major Design Museum exhibition of the same title-explores a number of different attitudes toward domestic life, tracing the social and technological developments that have driven change in the home. It proposes that we are already living in yesterday's tomorrow, just not in the way anyone predicted. This book begins with a lavishly illustrated catalogue portraying the 'home futures' of the twentieth century and beyond, from the work of Ettore Sottsass and Joe Colombo to Google's recent forays into the smart home. The catalogue is followed by a reader consisting of newly commissioned essays by writers such as Dan Hill and Justin McGuirk, which explore the changes in the domestic realm in relation to space, technology, society, economy and psychology.

Brand NEW from the bestselling author of The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts.After escaping her parents' unhappy marriage to sleepy Cranbridge a long time ago, Belle Clarke dreams of staying at The Black Swan Inn forever. But with the rundown Inn threatened with closure, Belle may be forced to leave, unless a buyer can be found ... quickly. So, when her oldest friend Pete Kennedy returns from working abroad with a plan to save the Inn, Belle should be overjoyed. The trouble is, Pete has some rather radical ideas for the renovation which Belle disagrees with. But when a snow storm hits, Belle and Pete are forced to put aside their differences and work together to help the village. Can Belle realise her dreams to stay in Cranbridge and can Pete ever stop running from his past? As they try to save The Black Swan Inn, secrets are revealed and just maybe they'll finally find out how they really feel about each other. Praise for Alison Sherlock: 'Glorious escapism. Uplifting, heartwarming and joyful, Alison Sherlock writes with a warmth and lightness of touch' Kerry Fisher 'A lovely story of finding yourself and discovering what home means. I couldn't stop turning the pages. Loved it.' Jessica Redland

The first monograph of the California firm whose regional sensibility and early attention to sustainable design anticipated the prevalent trends in residential architecture today. A generous look at the San Francisco Bay Area architects' pioneering approach to sustainable houses, ranging from the vineyard regions of California to Telluride, Colorado; the rugged ranch lands of Montana and the picturesque hamlets of the Hudson Valley and Martha's Vineyard. Since its formation in 1981, Fernau + Hartman has become renowned for its imaginative expansion of the possibilities of site- and region-specific architecture. Leaders in these concepts, as well as in sustainable design long before its currency today, Fernau + Hartman's houses maximize the connection between the natural and built environments, intensify the experience of place, and invite an open, playful, and inventive approach to life. A Newport Beach weekend house has flexible sleeping quarters and almost everything else (spaces for cooking, eating, showering, and bathing) is outdoors; a house made of alternating indoor and outdoor rooms climbs up a Sonoma County hillside; and an island house inspired by the fishing village of Menemsha is composed as three independent gabled "sheds" docked at a central screened porch featuring a fireplace and dining table. With essays by Beth Dunlop, Laura Hartman, Thomas Fisher, and Daniel P. Gregory, Improvisations on the Land creates a multifaceted portrait of the firm's history, philosophy, and practice - revealing as much about their process as the finished houses themselves. Models, axonometric drawings, floor and site plans, elevations, and photographs of vernacular structures - from a collapsed barn in Montana, to Colorado mining compounds and a louvered colonnade in the Sacramento River Delta - contribute to a full appreciation of Fernau + Hartman's work, how its sense of spontaneity and joy provides the antidote to so much of the self-conscious architecture that surrounds us, and results in houses that push the possibilities of residential design today.

'I was born on 25th May, 1938, in the front bedroom of a house in Orton Road, a house on the outer edges of Raffles, a council estate. I was a lucky girl.' So begins Margaret Forster's journey through the houses she's lived in, from that sparkling new council house, to her beloved London home of today. This is not a book about bricks and mortar though. This is a book about what houses are to us, the effect they have on the way we live our lives and the changing nature of our homes: from blacking grates and outside privies; to cities dominated by bedsits and lodgings; to the houses of today converted back into single dwellings. Finally, it is a gently insistent, personal inquiry into the meaning of home.

The Georgian and Regency house conjures up a distinct and much admired image. Elegance, refinement and beautiful proportions have made this period an inspiration for later architects and a popular choice for today's house buyer. Using his own drawings, diagrams and photographs, author Trevor Yorke explains all aspects of the Georgian and Regency house and provides a comprehensive guide to the houses of this notable peiod. The book is divided into three sections, outling the history of the period; stepping inside the different rooms and their fittings, what they were used for and how they would have appeared; and the final section contains a quick reference guide with notes on dating houses, suggestions for further reading, a glossary of unfamiliar terms and details of places to visit.

In den dichtbesiedelten Ballungszentren Japans entstehen - auf scheinbar unbebaubaren engen Flachen - kleine Hauser mit ungewoehnlichen Raumkonzepten und uberraschenden Grundrissloesungen. Aber nicht nur dieses Gespur fur Raum, auch der sinnliche Umgang mit Materialien, das Gefuhl fur AEsthetik und die gekonnte Verbindung mit traditionellen Elementen fasziniert Architekten ausserhalb Japans. Dass die meisten konstruktiven Loesungen dabei nicht den mitteleuropaischen Standards entsprechen, ist sekundar: Es sind die innovativen Ansatze, die als Inspirationsquelle dienen. Dieser Band stellt die aktuellsten Wohnprojekte aus den letzten Jahren vor: Neben grosszugigen Bildstrecken und Grundrissdarstellungen werden zudem ausgewahlte Detailloesungen vorgestellt, die fur unsere Normen adaptierbar sind.

In this sumptuous portrait of the house known as 'the English Versailles', the present Duke sets the scene with a history of his ancestors, the Montagus of Boughton, who acquired the manor in Northamptonshire in the reign of Henry VIII. Ralph, 1st Duke of Montagu (1638-1709), Charles II's envoy to Louis XIV, transformed Boughton into a palatial homage to French culture. His son John, the 2nd Duke, is remembered for the miles of avenues he planted, a love of heraldry, a fondness for practical jokes and the ancient lion he nursed in one of the courtyards. The book showcases Boughton's celebrated art collection, with its magnificent tapestries and Sevres porcelain. There are striking portraits of Elizabeth I, Charles II and his son the Duke of Monmouth, another Buccleuch ancestor. Van Dyck's friends and contemporaries cluster in the Drawing Room. Most eye-catching of all is the portrait of Shakespeare's muse, the Countess of Southampton. A grand tour takes in the French-inspired facade, the formal State Rooms and the Tudor Great Hall, with their painted ceilings, flamboyant French furniture and the oldest dated carpet in Europe - before moving to the park, with its avenues of soaring limes and network of lakes, and its dramatic, newly created sunken pool.

A new generation of homeowners and architects is finding original solutions and unusual locations for contemporary single-family homes in urban areas. Cities are bustling metropolises, melting pots, where the action is, and where history is written. Many

This publication, which features 220 large-format photographs, offers us a visual tour of the houses that belong to the Duchess of Alba in Madrid (The Liria Palace), Seville (The Palace of Las Duenas), Salamanca (The Palace of Monterrey), Ibiza and San Sebastian. The images were taken by the renowned interior photographer, Ricardo Labougle, whilst the architectural notes were written by the architect and university professor, Rafael Manzano. The whole project was coordinated by Naty Abascal. Born in 1926, the god-daughter of Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain, the Duchess of Alba holds the world record for the most aristocratic titles. Indeed, her full name is Maria del Rosario Cayetana Alfonsa Victoria Eugenia Francisca Fitz-James Stuart y de Silva and she is a duchess seven times over, a countess 19 times and a marquesa 23 times. The 86-year-old noble, who is internationally famous for holding more titles than anyone else in the world (and for having fabulously eccentric style) is head of the 530-year-old House of Alba, and as such is entitled to ride her horse into Seville Cathedral, and according to protocol does not have to kneel before the Pope. It is said she could walk from the northern tip of Spain to the southernmost point without leaving her native lands. In 1947, the Duchess married Don Pedro Luis Martinez de Irujo y Artacoz, son of the Duke of Sotomayor. The wedding was considered to be the last great feudal wedding in Spain and attracted the attention of the international media. The Duchess has been the subject of much media attention in her native Spain, and is admired for her eccentric and bohemian fashion sense. A famed beauty in her youth, she once famously declared that her style icon was 'myself'.

Foreclosed: Rehousing the American Dream is an exploration of new architectural possibilities for American cities and suburbs in the aftermath of the recent foreclosure crisis in the United States. During the summer of 2011, five interdisciplinary teams of architects, urban planners, ecologists, engineers, and landscape designers were enlisted by The Museum of Modern Art, New York, and MoMA PS1 to envision new housing infrastructures that could catalyze urban transformation, particularly in the country's suburbs. Drawing on ideas proposed in The Buell Hypothesis, a research publication by Temple Hoyne Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture at Columbia University, each team focused on a specific `mega region', a metropolitan area between two major cities, to come up with inventive solutions for the future of housing and cities, to be exhibited at MoMA in Spring 2012. This publication presents each of these proposals in detail, through photographs, drawings, and renderings as well as interviews with the team leaders. With essays by Barry Bergdoll, MoMA's Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design, and Reinhold Martin, Director of the Temple Hoyne Buell Center, Foreclosed examines the relationship between land, infrastructures, and urban form in today's cities and suburbs, and presents a potentially different future for housing in the United States.

For twenty-five years, House + House Architects has created intimate, personal architecture. Cathi and Steven House are well known for their sensitivity to form, colour, light and movement. Their ideas draw from their extensive travel experiences translating sparkling sunlight and dramatic surprise into a tangible spirit within each of the homes that they design. House + House understands a dwelling as a dialogue between site, space, materials and client. Recognised for site-specific well-choreographed, harmonious environments, they strive to bring serenity and awe to those who experience their diverse body of work. This new publication documents the firm's recent residential work throughout California, Mexico and the Caribbean, and examines their design process through exploratory sketches and exquisite photography.

Dedicated mailing and e-mail campaign to targeted design and style related media. 'There's not a great deal of difference between living and working for those of us who one day decide to make a living by creating the world, for those of us who perceive architecture as something more than just work and the negative aspect associated with this word, but rather like a window through which to see the world. And a means of transforming this world'. This is the vision of Octavio Mestre and this is the book that celebrates that maxim. Over 240-pages and more than 180 full-colour photographs, plans and drawings, reveal the stunning contemporary work of this much-admired practitioner.

The American suburban dream house-a single-family, detached dwelling, frequently clustered in tight rows and cul-de-sacs-has been attacked for some time as homogeneous and barren, yet the suburbs are home to half of the American population. Architectural historian John Archer suggests the endurance of the ideal house is deeply rooted in the notions of privacy, property, and selfhood that were introduced in late seventeenth-century England and became the foundation of the American nation and identity.
Spanning four centuries, Architecture and Suburbia" explores phenomena ranging from household furnishings and routines to the proliferation of the dream house in parallel with Cold War politics. Beginning with John Locke, whose Enlightenment philosophy imagined individuals capable of self-fulfillment, Archer examines the eighteenth-century British bourgeois villa and the earliest London suburbs. He recounts how early American homeowners used houses to establish social status and how twentieth-century Americans continued to flock to single-family houses in the suburbs, encouraged by patriotism, fueled by consumerism, and resisting disdain by disaffected youths, designers, and intellectuals. Finally, he recognizes "hybridized" or increasingly diverse American suburbs as the dynamic basis for a strengthened social fabric.
From Enlightenment philosophy to rap lyrics, from the rise of a mercantile economy to discussions over neighborhoods, sprawl, and gated communities, Archer addresses the past, present, and future of the American dream house.
John Archer is professor of cultural studies and comparative literature at the University of Minnesota. His book TheLiterature of British Domestic Architecture, 1715-1842," is the standard reference on the subject, and he also contributed to the Encyclopedia of Urban America" and the Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century Architecture."