Great Houses on a Budget Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This book features some fine architect designed, contemporary homes. ...but the title is very deceiving. While some of these homes may employ the use of unconvention (suposedly cheaper) materials like corrated metal siding, most of these homes have complex forms, elaborqate steel detailing, and from a construcition standpoint appear very complex.
The book offers no real strategies for building on a budget. For example, in one of the lightweight commentaries that accompany each house, the author states that the budget strategy was to use convetional wood framing! How I would love to tell my clients that I could save them big bucks by using this new, innovative strategy. Most, if not all the homes in this book appear far more expensive to construct than a typical builder's home or even a more convetional custom home.
In reality this is another one of this authors books that needed some type of cause to be published. As with all of the authors books, the homes are elegent, yet the text is superficial.

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For the typical American homeowner, Great Houses on a Budget presents case studies from across the country that achieve high style at an affordable cost.

Most homeowners can only fantasize about owning and living in beautiful dream homes designed by top architects—houses that are well beyond the reach of average consumers. This splendidly illustrated volume promises to provide a reality check by presenting beautifully designed houses by the same architects, but with one exception. The houses in this book were designed and built for clients with high standards, as well as modest budgets.

Fifteen in-depth case studies display the work of some of today's finest architects in locations ranging from California and Connecticut, to Virginia and Oregon. Each project includes lavish photography accompanied by detailed discussion of the economical construction techniques implemented in each house. With an in-depth look at square footage costs, design techniques, and low-cost building materials, Great Houses on a Budget will provide readers with everything they need to plan a great home on even the smallest budget.

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