[(How to Read Houses )] [Author: Will Jones] [Jul-2013]

by Will Jones

Small enough to fit in a pocket yet serious enough to provide real answers, this charmingly illustrated book is the ultimate field guide to domestic architecture. This sixth entry in the hugely popular How to Read series is a one-stop guide to understanding house styles. The book explains the aesthetics of house forms ranging from elaborately decorated Arts & Crafts architecture to the purity of modernist homes. How to Read Houses is the perfect companion for anyone interested in the buildings we live in and who desires a detailed field guide to the houses around us. How to Read Houses first equips the reader with the visual vocabulary to recognize house types, materials, and parts, then it demonstrates these features in a range of architectural styles. Illustrated throughout with detailed line drawings and full-color photographs, this handy guide will illuminate the reader's experience when visiting new cities, touring landmark houses such as Jefferson's Monticello or Edith Wharton's The Mount, and lay the foundations for a revealing architectural exploration of local neighborhoods.

Genres: Nonfiction, Architecture, Art, Reference, Art Design

Unknown Binding

First published July 25, 2013

Reviews

[Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love looking at architecture, but I’m a decidedly ignorant looker. My perspective is entirely about beautiful or inspiring, strange or confusing.

So "Crash Course" shouted at me from the title of this book as I walked through a small gift shop after touring a breathtaking Frank Lloyd Wright house in Illinois. Lucky me (given the markup on books in tiny gift shops), my friend already owned it and trusts me with his books.

There's plenty to learn here, and not just architectural styles. My vocabulary is now decked out with words such as mortise and mullion. And the book is loaded with pictures and drawings for people (like me) who need them

I guess my beef (although that’s too strong a word) is more with architecture than the book itself. I like things in boxes and categories, clearly labeled and organized. Every time I learned a new style, I flipped the page to see an "archetype" of it – only to find that this "prime example" also "nods" or "echoes" or "embraces" or “reflects” another style (or three). How’s a person supposed to learn the hallmarks of a style, or assign any building to a particular style, when they’re constantly mixed?

The OCD in me was thoroughly frustrated. I wanted to walk away from this book with the ability to confidently identify the periods and styles of buildings. I wanted to be able to sort them into neat columns, with labels, and no outliers. I wanted to know. Instead, I have a slight grasp on the key features of styles and a broad overview of how completely they’re mixed in buildings all around me.

But the more I think about it, the more I have to admit that the blending and borrowing is often what makes things special – and beautiful. So I’m done being mad at architecture, even if I will never get an A on its test.

Warning: This book will make you long for travel.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lives up to the promise of being a "crash course in domestic architecture." If you would like to learn how to identify different styles of houses, know basic materials used, and what different movements were trying to communicate, Jones has you covered. I'd love to take this book on a walk through a certain neighborhood I know that has many different styles of domestic architecture, so I can identify with more confidence which is Tudor revival, which is modernist, and so forth. Jones pays a bit of attention to landscapes influencing design (such as prairie houses being very large yet ground-hugging), which makes for more interesting interpretations when visiting neighborhoods in different climates.

A glossary, list of open-to-the-public houses, and index are included. The focus is on Western architecture, with a few nods to other global styles when they influence houses in the West.

[Chocolategoddess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute little book I picked up alongside "How to Read Castles". It's well-presented, and each page contains one or more excellent photographs, and usually some sketches. The text is enlightening, but often repetitive. It must have told me that Renaissance chimneys are big and obvious because it was a status symbol at least half a dozen times.

Ultimately I think this is designed as a tiny coffee table book rather than an educational text. Enjoy the pictures and dip into the text alongside it, but don't expect anything too deep.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

The PERFECT crash course to architectural styles of residential homes common to north america. I live in Evanston, IL right now, and reading this book has opened my eyes to just how rich the architectural heritage of the North Shore is. On one block I've found neo-Tudor next to Spanish colonial next to neo-gothic, next to Georgian, next to Dutch revival, next to Prairie modern..... It has made my runs through the neighborhood a lot more interesting.

The book itself is structured by common styles after an introduction to the vocabulary of residential architecture, with sections on basic types of residential homes (layout-wise not stylistically), materials, and components. Then you get a 10-page treatment each for 10 different styles (some seem to be distinct schools/styles like Georgian or Prairie, other seem like umbrella categories like Colonial, or Modernist, and Kit houses). There is JUST the right amount of details and illustrations and pictures to hold the attention of the layman. Has me looking for longer architectural books for a deeper dive...

[MF · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you ever wondered what your dream home might look like (as I do frequently) this is the book for you. It works both as a reference book you can dip in and out of, in a lounge room coffee table sort of way or as a beginning and end short course in the fundamentals of architecture and it's history. I can honestly say I learned so much that I now feel confident I can identify what period of architecture a house was. I now know that I love Georgian and Neoclassical, but hate Victorian. I love Art Nouveau but hate Modernist, particularly of the concrete-loving kind. I love elements of the modernist, particularly of the large windows kind. I love the wood detailing of a Tutor or Arts and Crafts style. This is a great book to have, especially if you fancy having a wish list on a future house project. I highly recommend it!

[SusanwithaGoodBook · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this cute little book at a cute little bookstore several years ago. I love architecture and thought it might help me be able to identify different types of architecture when we travel.

It's true that this book helps with that, but it's also a little overloaded with stuff I didn't really care much about. I wasn't terribly interested in the different types of foundations or wood or stone used in construction. It wasn't until about page 70 that it got into chapters on Tudor, Victorian, Arts & Crafts, etc. Sadly there wasn't really anything on Creole Cottages, my personal favorite style.

I'll give this book an "okay" for content but a "fab" for presentation. It's adorable, but just not really as informative as it could be.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book at a little book store near me on impulse. It looked cute. I love learning about architecture but frequently when looking at architecture I tend to get all forms messed up so I thought this book might help me. The material here is rather broad but homes are broken up into firm category. The details of the home is a bit back and forth and confusing. The book has some photos but lots of terms were illustrated with drawings. I used my computer and/or phone to look up what was being discussed so I had a better grasp. Overall, I found the book to be helpful and will likely refer to it again.

[Shalom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Does its job. Worth carrying in your pocket for walks around a neighborhood. But really just surface features, what does the facade look like, providing names for the pieces you see. Meanwhile, there's so much more to architecture and houses and history and neighborhoods, even if you're just passing by on the street. It's "How to Read Houses" only in the sense of "vocabulary building" how-to-read books from 3rd grade.

[Allison]

For the United States, the classic and definitive text is A Field Guide to American Houses by Virginia and Lee McAlester. How to Read Houses is a much smaller, more accessible guidebook that hits the stylistic highlights, while widening the scope to encompass European and Australian variants. Each house style is similarly reviewed with a few classic examples and short overview of materials & construction, doors & windows, ornamentation, and interior design too.

[Jessica Easto · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an OK introduction to different types of architecture.

[Cihan Yurtseven · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good performer on its aim.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful little guide to architectural styles through time.

[Hannah Gorin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in order to gather a brief glimpse into the stunning world of architecture. But from this book i got wit, details and information beyond belief. This book has really spurred me on in my quest to be an architect. It is so beautiful and i think this book just outlines the variety and stunning beauty that architecture contains. Read this book!