Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)While it opens with a rather airy perspective on the field of architecture, this book is primarily focused on providing patterns for house builders in the mid-1800s. The houses range from "a cheap cottage", to a "suburban villa", to a "feudal or castellated style" faux castle. While the styles vary, Holly is clearly influenced most heavily by Italianate. In addition to an external drawing and floor plans for each house - all quite small - Holly provides recommendations on siting, materials, optional changes, and costs in 1863 dollars. As the title suggests, these houses are all intended to be built far from the city, where they will command the area for acres around and suffer no competition (or shading) from any neighbours, and landscaping can be done with a free hand.
The house selection is remarkably similar to those found in A.J. Downing's "The Architecture of Country Houses", published 13 years earlier. But Downing's book is far superior, as he provides not just the "what", but quite often, the "why" of his design choices. If you already have Downing's book, and want to see how Holly moved a bit further along in his ideas, than by all means get this volume. But if you're only going to have one of the two books, by all means buy Downing's.
Note: The "Product Description" above suggests this would be an "invaluable document for architectural historians, Victorian homeowners and restorers". Historians might indeed find this book to be highly useful. But there are no interior drawings, no good plans, no interior or exterior details, and no paint schemes, so homeowners and restorers should look to some of Dover's other reprints for ideas and inspiration.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Holly's Picturesque Country Seats: A Complete Reprint of the 1863 Classic
Handsome reprint of rare stylebook contains 34 designs for cottages, villas, mansions and other residences, as well as churches, city buildings and railway stations. Extensive commentary on architectural styles, construction materials, features of each building, cost estimates and more. 36 detailed plates present exterior views, floor plans and before-and-after views. An invaluable document for architectural historians, Victorian homeowners and restorers, antiquarians and lovers of 19th-century architecture.
0 comments:
Post a Comment