Sketch Houses How Architects Conceive Residential Buildings

This is a singular and excellent book. It contains 27 case studies of houses, but in addition to the well-executed plans each project features a striking mix of architects' drawings and sketches, often with computer models in addition. This approach allows the reader to perceive the architect's vision of the design of houses and the different phases involved, from first drafts through to final presentations, as well as the way in which the architectural project is graphically represented. Featured houses include 24H Architecture's gnarled, seasonally adjustable Holiday House, the stainless steel-encased Innauer House by Oskar Leo Kaufmann, Nurmela-Raimoranta-Tasa's deliciously cetacean Moby DickHouse and Waro Kishi's "none more black" House in Higashi-Otsu. The diversity and invention of the houses on show is a match for the deft and informative presentation, making for a novel and refreshing variation on the theme.