Essential reading for the student of twentieth century fortification. Beautifully produced, well written, well illustrated and above all, the ideal reference book for its subject. Fortress Study Group This combined history and guide to the Maginot Line is essential reading and reference for anyone interested in fortifications, especially those of the 20th century and Second World War. Military Times This is a useful piece of work, combining a detailed history and a guide to the line. My own mental image for the line turned out to owe rather more to French wartime propaganda than to reality. This was a valuable read. historyofwar.org The Maginot Line, the complex system of strongpoints constructed between the world wars by the French to protect against attack from Germany, is one of the most famous, extensive and controversial defensive schemes in all military history. It stretched from Belgium to Switzerland, and from Switzerland to the Mediterranean, and it represented the most advanced and ambitious system of static defences of its time.Much of this historic line with its fortresses, artillery positions, tank traps, blockhouses, concrete bunkers has survived and can be visited today. This invaluable handbook, which has been written and compiled by the experts in the field, is a guide to the history of the line and its major sites.

Whether in town or country, James Gorst's buildings are defined by a combination of modern thinking and an ingrained respect for craftsmanship and bespoke detailing, with equal weight given to architectural form and engaging, vibrant interiors, full of texture and life. This is the first monograph on his work. In many respects, the timeless character of Gorst's work is rooted in the architect's own journey. Starting out as a neo-classicist, Gorst ultimately became frustrated by the restrictions and historicism of the classical approach and reinvented himself as a dedicated modernist, yet continued to place particular emphasis on a love of proportion, scale, symmetry and detailing. Ranging from rural projects which reflect the vernacular traditions of the surrounding countryside, including large contemporary country houses like RIBA award-winning Ironstone House, to others which creatively reinvent and add to period properties, along with new and innovative urban homes, all are defined by a particular ambition to be innovative, fresh and one of a kind. Each of Gorst's houses represents a particular journey, informed by the client and their needs, the context of the site and a response to landscape and setting, which is often reflected in his choice of natural textures and materials.

Whether ruined or opulent, castles have the power to fire the imagination. For almost a millennium, they have studded the Irish countryside. The concept of using building methods to protect territory was introduced from overseas in the twelfth century, when the Irish term caislean began to appear in manuscripts. By the sixteenth century, Ireland had become the most castellated country in Europe. In this latest book, Tarquin Blake takes us on a breathtaking tour of Anglo-Norman fortresses, medieval towers, fortified houses and the neo-Gothic piles of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The castles - including lesser-known gems like Fiddaun Castle in County Galway as well as luxury hotels such as Ashford Castle in County Mayo - are captured in atmospheric photos and brought to life through the true stories of the families whose adventures, struggles and ambitions are reflected in the fortified residences they constructed. By pairing the castles' romantic appearances with in-depth tales of siege, intrigue, conflict and capture, Blake reveals our rich past and startling architectural legacy. Exploring Ireland's Castles is sure to delight any history buff or armchair traveller.

In the architecture of Richard Neutra (1892-1970), inside and outside find their perfect modernist harmony. As the Californian sun glints off sleek building surfaces, vast glass panel walls allow panoramic views over mountains, gardens, palm trees, and pools. Neutra moved to the United States from his native Vienna in 1923 and settled in Los Angeles. He displayed his affinity with architectural settings early on with the Lovell House, set on a landscaped hill with views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Monica Mountains. Later projects such as the Kaufmann House and Nesbitt House would continue this blend of art, landscape, and living comfort, with Neutra's clients often receiving detailed questionnaires to define their precise needs. This richly illustrated architect introduction presents the defining projects of Neutra's career. As crisp structures nestle amid natural wonders, we celebrate a particularly holistic brand of modernism which incorporated the ragged lines and changing colors of nature as much as the pared down geometries of the International Style. About the series Born back in 1985, the Basic Art Series has evolved into the best-selling art book collection ever published. Each book in TASCHEN's Basic Architecture series features: an introduction to the life and work of the architect the major works in chronological order information about the clients, architectural preconditions as well as construction problems and resolutions a list of all the selected works and a map indicating the locations of the best and most famous buildings approximately 120 illustrations (photographs, sketches, drafts, and plans)

Enter the world of fairy-tale towers, whimsical stairways, crow's nests, zip lines, and suspended rope bridges. Take pleasure in the details of hand-split oak shingles, thatched roofs, and cedar tongue-and-groove interiors. Made of sustainably sourced materials, Blue Forest's magical sanctuaries fit snugly between trees and branches-often incorporating them into the building itself-and sit lightly on the land. From a child's tree house inside a secret garden to party venues for teenagers and adults, this book details 28 imaginative tree houses, some of them accompanied by site plans and drawings. Whether the dwellings on each page are simple or designed to house a spa or home theatre, this beautiful book will inspire readers to reconsider their own garden's possibilities for relaxation and play.

The philosophy of CLB Architects, Inspired by Place, permeates all the firms design work, from public projects to bespoke homes. Their portfolio projects - timeless, thoughtful, distinct and beautiful - are examples of how to tread softly on the land in some of the world's most iconic landscapes. They introduce a new approach to form and materiality in a region where the design world is often limited by a nostalgic view of the past. Inspired By Place showcases ten homes by CLB Architects, many of which feature interiors by CLB's design team; these are always sophisticated yet comfortable and conceived as an extension of the architecture. From a streamlined modern masterpiece on the banks of the Snake River to architecture as connected barnlike structures to a private glass pavilion retreat perfectly oriented for wildlife viewing, CLB's work references local forms and vernaculars while speaking in a new architectural language for the Rocky Mountain West.

In his second book, Jürgen Geiselhart presents private residences in several newly constructed villas that are oriented stylistically toward extremely diverse models in the history of architecture and art. His individual architectures and interior architectures from the years 2017 to 2022 are based firstly on the wishes of the clients and search for a contemporary implementation with respect to the execution of details and materials on this basis. In a very personal conversation, Jürgen Geiselhart describes the creation history and design ideas of the private residences, which are presented over 280 pages of expressive digital photography. Text in English and German.

Once the center of village and city life, diminishing congregation numbers have left church buildings increasingly empty or forced to close. So, how can they be revitalized? Since 2016, under the patronage of the Evangelical Church in Middle Germany and the International Building Exhibition IBA Thueringen, citizens have unified through solidarity-forming projects to reactivate their churches as sites of community. This second volume of the series StadtLand:Kirche presents these ambitious projects, detailing a narrative of progress through failures and successes. Case studies such as the Her(r)bergskirche in Rennsteig and the Bienen-Garten-Kirche in Roldisleben, demonstrate that realistic secular uses can complement the original offerings of the church. A new type of church is emerging as a hybrid place at the center of the village.

Colonial, Neoclassical, Queen Anne, Craftsman-what distinguishes one architectural style from another? This unique book will allow readers to recognize the architectural features and style of virtually any house they encounter. Here, architect John Milnes Baker explains the historical, cultural, and technical influences that shaped each of these styles and many more. Organized in periods, from Early Colonial (1600-1715) to the Modern Movement (1920-60) and beyond, this tour of America's varied residential architecture is rendered in elevation drawings that precisely illustrate the key characteristics of each style. Nearly 25 years since the original publication of American House Styles, this updated edition includes a new preface and house styles from the mid-1990s to the present-from the rise and fall of the McMansion to energy-efficient, regionally influenced homes. The illustrations, now in color, are more delightful than ever in a new, larger format. This a must-have volume for anyone interested in architecture or adding a bit of style to their home.

This book is a compilation of the winning entries from the 28th Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards 2020, featuring 61 projects across 12 space types, judged by top designers such as Ho Chung Hin and Jurgen Bey. The entries showcased the latest design trends in the Asia Pacific region, and interpreted and led the spirit of Asia Pacific design, in line with 28 years of consistent quality. The impact of the 2020 epidemic has also had a profound impact on the field of design, and the direction of this year's selection captures this change keenly, looking for outstanding designs that address and interpret people's changing physical and spiritual needs in the light of the new changes. For example, new scenarios that reconfigure the way people live together in the blurring of boundaries between public and private spaces. Pushing new professional boundaries has always been the creative mission of the Asia Pacific Interior Design Awards, and this time, its professionalism is reflected in its commitment and care for people's lives and well-being.

This fully revised and up-to-date guide to the architecture of Hertfordshire is an eye-opening introduction to the wealth of fine buildings that can be found right on London's doorstep. Hertfordshire is one of the smallest English counties, largely rural in character. Its buildings range from remains of the Roman city of Verulamium to the medieval abbey at St. Albans and the 17th-century Hatfield House. Numerous timber-framed buildings and Georgian houses are found in the small towns whose preservation was aided by the early 20th-century creation of the Garden Cities at Letchworth and Welwyn, as well as Stevenage New Town, built after the Second World War. Pretty villages set in the county's rolling farmland feature churches that have towers crowned with spires known as Hertfordshire spikes, while commuter suburbs are rich in housing from homely Arts and Crafts to radical Modernism. With expanded entries and new color photography, this is an essential work of reference for visitors and residents alike.

Ever since the firm's establishment in 1989, Frankfurt-based Stefan Forster Architekten (SFA) had a special focus on housing. A starting point for this was the urgent necessity of refurbishment and modernisation of the vast housing developments constructed of prefabricated concrete slabs as part of the urban rebuilding programmes in the newly founded federal states of eastern Germany following the country's re-unification in 1990. From the initial 'Haus 07' in Leinefelde, Thuringia, SFA have moved on, creating a remarkable body of work in metropolitan housing. Their designs comprise large-scale public multi-unit blocs and single-family town houses on small plots, as well as the transformation of former office and public administration structures. This first monograph on SFA highlights how the firm has constantly worked on raising the standards in residential architecture, years before the current shortage of housing in urban areas has made such improvements so urgent. The book features 30 designs that exemplify SFA's approach and philosophy. Text in English and German.

This book, part of the Design Art of Villa series, collects high quality luxury villas and presents almost forty stunning interiors. All of the projects included in this book are the latest works of the world's best architects and designers. Using hundreds of sublime photographs, and engaging texts, Villa Design Ideas illustrates how a luxury villa is designed and completed, and will provide inspiration to a great number of design enthusiasts. There is also a wealth of floor plans, diagrams, sketches and first-hand text materials from design agencies.

With all the style, quality, and elegance you've come to expect from VERANDA, this entry in the magazine's bestselling series of home decorating books invites you into the world's most stunning houses. Lushly romantic or quietly minimalist, boasting verdant farmland or a beckoning pool, every one of these stunning homes is a unique, super-luxurious getaway, designed to please the eye and recharge the body, spirit, and mind. Veranda Retreats features the magazine's signature lavish photography, which allows readers to contemplate with pleasure even the smallest details of every breathtaking house and landscape. Enjoy the beauty and serenity of a North Carolina cabin, villas in Malibu and Ojai, a compound in Kennebunkport, a West Hollywood bungalow and Los Angeles house, as well as apartments in New York, Palm Beach, and Georgetown, and gorgeous properties in Dallas, Aspen, and more! Or journey to spectacular locations in the Bahamas, St. Tropez, and the Dordogne. Includes a foreword by Clinton Smith.

This book looks at a particular type of indigenous architecture that has developed in the Tibetan capital Lhasa. The focus is not on the relatively well documented monastic architecture, but rather on the vernacular residential architecture in the form of the historic Lhasa Town House, as it was built and lived in from the mid-17th to mid-20th century. The book defines the Lhasa House as a distinct variety of traditional Tibetan architecture by providing a technical analysis and discussing the cultural framework and the development of this endangered typology.

Soak in a little New Orleans history while enjoying a visual tour of her homes. Known for beauty and style, New Orleans delivers as much in its architecture, even the simple shotgun houses in working neighborhoods. Houses of the Garden District and plantations beyond are simply stunning. A foreword by John Michael Vlach, Professor of American Studies and Anthropolgy at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., traces the roots of New Orleans signature homes to their origins in Africa and Haiti. Author Alex Caemmerer takes care to point out the rich detailing that was lavished on even the most simple structures, and how tastes changed and homes evolved over the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

The suburban, detached single-family home is a major legacy of the Fordist decades of the twentieth century. In 2011, two-thirds of German households occupied such single-family houses. These buildings have embodied the political support for a way of life and type of living arrangement since the 1950s, and continue to symbolise dreams of home, prosperity, and social status. West German suburbs today consist mainly of single-family homes built between the fifties and eighties. However, municipal administrations and politics at the local level are now faced with the emptying of single-family housing areas at the edges of villages and small towns. At the same time, young families in particular are calling for building plots in the countryside. Whilst remaining aware of critiques of the single-family home in urban planning and architecture, this interdisciplinary volume offers fresh insights into these dwellings - from their place in everyday life and popular culture, to changing welfare regimes and demographic change, and to the implementation of ecological frameworks in the construction industry.

The Late Assyrian Empire (c. 900 - 612 BCE) was the first state to rule over the major centres of the Middle East, and the Late Assyrian court inhabited some of the most monumental palaces of its time. The Architecture of Late Assyrian Royal Palaces is the first volume to provide an in-depth analysis of Late Assyrian palatial architecture, offering a general introduction to all key royal palaces in the major centres of the empire: Assur, Kalhu, Dur-Sharruken, and Nineveh. Where previous research has often focused on the duality between public and private realms, this volume redefines the cultural principles governing these palaces and proposes a new historical framework, analysing the spatial organization of the palace community which placed the king front and centre. It brings together the architecture of such palaces as currently understood within the broader framework of textual and art-historical sources, and argues that architectural changes were guided by a need to accommodate ever larger groups as the empire grew in size.

'The unrelenting tension of this well-crafted debut kept me whizzing through the book . . . I loved the tension, the secrets and the satisfying, unexpected conclusion' KL Slater In a converted Georgian townhouse in south west London, three families live under one roof. The large flat that takes up the top two floors is home to the Harlow family: happily married Paul and Steph, and their bubbly teenage daughter Freya. The smaller first floor flat is rented by Emma, who spends most of her time alone, listening to people coming in and out of the building. And the basement flat belongs to Chris, a local driving instructor, who prefers to keep his personal life private from the neighbours. But their lives are all upended when Freya vanishes. As the police become involved and a frantic Paul and Steph desperately search for answers, they begin to realise that the truth behind their daughter's disappearance may lie closer to home than they were expecting. When everyone has something to hide, can you ever really know those closest to you? Or will some secrets be taken to the grave?

Explore 400 of the world's most innovative and influential architect-designed houses created since the early 20th century

Throughout history, houses have presented architects the world over with infinite opportunities to experiment with new methods and materials for domestic living.

Houses: Extraordinary Living celebrates the incredible diversity and beauty of the house as never before, from Modernist icons to feats of technological, material, and spatial innovation in the 21st century.

The 400 houses in this collection are organized in curated pairings, with each entry featuring an evocative image and an engaging description. Styles presented include Modernism, Postmodernism, Brutalism, Regionalism, Deconstructivism, and International Style. Houses are from countries and locations worldwide that are famed for their houses, such as Australia and Japan, the Case Study Houses in Los Angeles, New Canaan in Connecticut, and Fire Island in New York.

Explore the creative imaginations of hundreds of internationally renowned architects past and present, as well as dozens of awe-inspiring houses by lesser-known and emerging talents. Iconic architects of the twentieth century, including Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, and Marcel Breuer, as well as the very best of contemporary architects working around the world today, such as Tadao Ando, Grafton, and Steven Holl are included.

Houses: Extraordinary Living is the perfect gift for designers and architects, and anyone interested in where - and how - people live