Living Homes

The house of your Dreams does not have to be expensive. The key is all in the planning. How much a house costs, how it looks, how comfortable it is, how energy-efficient it is--all these things occur on paper before you pick up even one tool. A little extra time in the planning process can save you tens of thousands of dollars in construction and maintenance. That is time well spent! Living Homes takes you through the planning process to design an energy and resource efficient home that won't break the bank. Then, from the footings on up to the roof, author Thomas J. Elpel guides you through the nuts and bolts of construction for slipform stone masonry, tilt-up stone walls, log home construction, building with strawbales, making your own terra tile floors, windows and doors, solar water systems, masonry heaters, framing, plumbing, greywater, septic systems, swamp filters, concrete-fly ash countertops, painting and more. Living Homes was completely re-organized and revised for the new sixth edition, based on five additional years of building experience with low-cost, high efficiency construction methods. Get the latest ideas on how to build a high-performance house that will stand the test of time! The sixth edition includes fifteen pages of new material covering the latest stone masonry tips, plus revised and expanded tips and techniques throughout the book.

The house of your dreams does not have to be expensive. Living Homes takes you through the planning process to design an energy- and resource-efficient home that won't break the bank. Then, from the footings on up to the roof, author Thomas J. Elpel guides you through the nuts and bolts of slipform stone masonary, tilt-up stone walls, log home construction, building with straw bales, terra tile floors, concrete countertops, windows and doors, solar water systems, masonry heaters, framing, plumbing, greywater, septic systems, swamp filters, painting, and much more.

Catalogue of an exhibition held at the Faculty of Architecture Gallery, Architecture II Building (main floor), the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, September 10-28, 1998.

Unassisted Living documents the shift away from the senior housing that promoted disengagement toward architecture and design that promote active aging. The book is organized in six sections, corresponding to the concerns and special interests of Boomers—those who intend to remain in an urban setting, those concerned with sustainability, those with complex families and non-traditional households, and those who seek a community based on spirituality or shared interests. Boomers are perhaps the largest generational cohort the United States has ever seen. Numbering some 78 million people born between 1946 and 1964, Boomers are not accepting traditional retirement or “senior housing” and are instead determined to remain active and engaged professionally and socially.

Twenty restored or renovated Early American country homes feature the myriad of different styles from around the country. The homes exude a simplicity that is somewhat rustic and somewhat country in an understated way. Tim Tanner also features some small cabins that have been made livable for today as well as decorating ideas and outbuildings. Early American Country Homes is an inspiration and resource for those who are interested in building, re-creating, restoring, or just enjoying a return to simpler styling in home design.

Shows a country-style approach to interior design, looks at rural homes, antique furniture, and country crafts, and offers suggestions on planning a garden

Lavishly illustrated with 400 color photographs, this book profiles 36 spectacular houses and gardens--whose owners come from many different creative worlds--as they appeared in the pages of "Vogue" over the last two decades.

The definitive book on Taxas interior design and architecture--from log cabins to urban lofts to sprawling Hill Country ranches--by the expert on Taxas style.

Staying home, aging in place, is most people's preference, but most American housing and communities are not adapted to the needs of older people. And with the fastest population growth among people over sixty-five, finding solutions for successful aging is important not only for individual families, but for our whole society. In Independent for Life, Henry Cisneros and a team of experts on aging, architecture, construction, health, finance, and politics assess the current state of housing and present new possibilities that realistically address the interrelated issues of housing, communities, services, and financial concerns.--[book cover].

GREEN HOMES presents the latest innovations in sustainable architecture in design. After an introductory interview with an international specialist in green building, the book features 35 projects, including houses, apartments, offices, sports facilities, and factories. It explores various aspects of green design, from its ecological and economical benefits, to factors considered when choosing materials: how much energy went into manufacturing the product, whether it is long lasting, and whether it can be recycled or safely disposed of as it breaks down over time. Specific topics covered include climate regulation, drainage systems, and regional planning. Each project contains photographs, floor plans and detailed drawings that illustrate certain sustainable features, revealing reveal how much the parameters of ecological design have expanded in just a few short years.