Zeals, an English Country Manor House in Wiltshire, was filled with life, dogs, books, flowers and a grand piano in the Great Hall. It was a house for landed gentry, but is now on Historic England's 'At Risk' register. This fascinating house has a rich history. Charles II took refuge at Zeals on his flight to the coast and a family member was beheaded by Oliver Cromwell for daring to confront his parliamentary troops. The house has medieval origins, but there were later additions - predominately those from the nineteenth century by Victorian architect George Devey, as well as earlier changes in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The Chafyn-Grove family, later Troyte-Bullock inheriting in a sideways move, lived at Zeals for 500 years until the mid-twentieth century, when the fate of the estate mirrored that of many others in England. Jennie Elias charts the joys and tragedies of generations of Zeals residents, with characters ranging from haughty to charming; eccentric to prejudiced. There were failures through political levelling down and cultural change, but also of their own making. This definitive history also explores and celebrates the architecture of Zeals.

Fueled by an increasingly interconnected world, the desire for engaging experiences plays a more important role in interiors than ever before. There is a tendency in the design of products, furniture, and environments toward enhanced interaction that employs psychosocial principles. This publication presents both high and low-tech applications ranging from a light fixture to art installations and fully realized buildings. The book illustrates human-centered design strategies through a series of six chapters, each including examples that introduce one of following approaches: communicating, stimulating, synomorphic, transactional, transformative, and challenging.

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.

The setting might be a sparkling lakefront, a cool clearing in the woods, a breathtaking mountaintop, or an expansive beach, but the dream of a modest retreat from everyday life often includes a simple little cabin. In cabin getaways of the imagination, the cares of the world recede, time slows down, and the day s pace is set by leisure and quiet activities.
"Compact Cabins" presents 62 design interpretations of the getaway dream, with something to please every taste. Best of all, these small footprint designs are affordable and energy efficient without skimping on comfort and style. The cabins range in size from a cozy 100 square feet to a more spacious but still economical 1,000 square feet, and all include sleeping accommodations, kitchen and bath facilities, and a heat source. Complete chapters on low-maintenance building materials, utilities and appliances, and alternative energy sources supply readers with the options for living efficiently in small spaces.
For every design, readers will find floor plans with detailed suggestions for designing the space for optimal use. These plans are flexible; many feature modular elements that can be mixed and matched to accommodate a particular owner s needs or hobbies. Features such as an outdoor fireplace, covered porch, or external storage locker might work nicely in several cabin designs. It s all about enhancing and maximizing small spaces to suit individual needs and preferences.
Build small. In this time of uncertain energy costs, global warming, and tighter budgets, building small is a theme that resonates with second-home owners. Gerald Rowan shows readers how to achieve their cabin dreams on a small footprint."

The then private residences showcased in this monograph have been designed in by Garegin Yeghoyan (Professor of the International Academy of Architecture) and are testimony to the International Style set within the context of ancient Armenian architecture. These buildings can be seen as analogous to islands of contemporary architecture amidst an ocean of bland structure. They may be viewed against a backdrop of the natural environment and the 'structured chaos' of the vernacular fabric. Garegin Yeghoyan thus draws on the long tradition of Armenian architecture, which bears the hallmark of the simplicity and homogeneity offered by the rock-type known as tuff, with all its nuances of colour. This surface of natural stone constituting the ultimate Armenian building material offers an antithesis to modernist forms in concrete and metal and thus embodies the unique feature of this architecture.

Discover the latest innovations in tiny space design in this lush compendium in the 150 Best series, showcasing 150 full-color profiles. As the price of large residences have become increasingly out of reach for many people, aspiring home owners have begun to think smaller. 150 Best Tiny Space Ideas is an exciting overview of the smallest living space designs- architectural and decorating trends that combine to make dwellings under 450 square feet feel welcoming and expansive. All the projects featured in this handsome reference were created by internationally renowned architects and designers who have achieved practical, innovative, and stunning solutions adapted to the specific needs and tastes of their clients. Encompassing current trends in small space design, this latest volume in the highly successful 150 Best offers the work of international visionaries who have created and transformed a range of accommodations, from a micro-apartment in Taipei City to a silo in Phoenix to an island shack in British Columbia. Filled with black-and-white and four-color photos throughout, 150 Best Tiny Space Ideas is an inspirational resource for designers, interior decorators, and architects, as well homeowners interested in creating warm and truly livable homes regardless of space limitations.