Every architect dreams of a perfect client, and every client dreams of a perfect architect. Alas, these relationships don't always work out to everyone's expectations. But when they do--"when there are shared ideas and the communication flows--"the results can be spectacular. "The New Modern House" features forty new buildings where the synergy between the right designer and the right client resulted in works that surpass everyone's expectations. The book is divided into five thematic chapters--"conditions, materials, environment, budget, and aesthetics--"and each contain eight case studies. These include Rafael ViC1oly's Piano House in New York; Sean Godsell's Peninsula House in Australia; and Ahadu Abaineh's Tree House in Ethiopia, among others. Beautifully produced, "The New Modern House captures these noteworthy designs with a wealth of color photography, plans, and drawings, and makes an ideal book for anybody dreaming of the perfect house.

"Compiling photographs from 40 of the world's most innovative houses, this coffee-table book attempts to 'open people's minds... to the potential of residential architecture.' Divided into five rather vague categories-Conditions, Materials, Environment, Budget and Aesthetics-this volume presents homes that boldly challenge traditional conceptions of design. For example, the bizarre Natural Ellipse building in Tokyo, described as 'two apartments 'vacuum packed' in a gleaming white skin,' resembles an enormous egg, and one house in southeast England is economically made of rubber. These creations are nicely captured in numerous color photographs, but the introductions that accompany them are less successful. ('Ever since his decision to move out of the cave and get on the property ladder, man has sought out materials to build with,' reads the characteristically banal intro to the 'Materials' section). The book's design also detracts from the architectural wonder of these homes: the photographs are rarely given the full page that they deserve and are instead crowded by descriptions and blueprint sketches. The projects themselves, though, are creative and often over-the-top, like the glass house in Kent that's designed seamlessly within a plant nursery and the wonderfully innovative 'Elemental Housing' project, a colorful solution to low-cost housing in the slums of Chile. This volume will no doubt interest architecture aficionados, but it falls short of being a fascinating introduction to the wonders of new modern design. 300 color illustrations." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Including some apartment buildings as well as many individual family homes, this volume profiles innovative and unusual house designs worldwide, with examples in Peru, Ethiopia, the Netherlands, the UK, the US, and Japan, among other locales. Mostly confined to two pages each, the profiles contain a brief text describing the architect's and owner's vision for the space, choice and use of materials, and structural considerations in realizing the design. Each profile includes a section, plan, model, or other architectural rendering, and color photos.
Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Will Jones began life as a carpenter and is now a freelance writer specializing in design. His articles have appeared in RIBA Journal, The Financial Times, Blueprint, and Dwell. He lives in London.