Customer Reviews

A Field Guide to American Houses

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A very useful reference, even for those (like me) just starting to understand different styles of homes. My only gripes: more photos, color photos, and more specific information on the photos would be more useful.

Are the differences of the Ionic, Doric, or Corinthian Columns a little fuzy to you? And are these columns found on Early Classical Revival, Greek Revival, or Italiante? (it's a little tricky, they can all three be found on all three but rarely together). McAlestor & McAlestor have transformed a world of bleak descriptions and bland designs and turned them into an understand system of brillant diagrams and excellent pictures. This book was assigned in my historic architecture/preservation class and serves as the DEFINITIVE SOURCE for architectural identification. Buy it and throw it in the car. The world has made some great houses and McAlestor does the BEST JOB of explaining it to all of us!!!

I stand in awe of the amount of work that must have gone into this book. Photographs of existing examples of every style of architecture (from #1, a Winnebago bark wigwam, to a sampling of NeoVictorians) in every region of the United States dominate its pages (their size is the only reason I don't rate it at five stars: you'll definitely want a magnifier). A lengthy (61pp) preface explains the roots of American house styles and all their basic elements, from plans and shapes to methods of construction to decorative details. Each chapter concentrates on a basic style, from "Pre-Railroad" (log cabins and plains soddies, including a splendid series of sketches showing the former's possible permutations) through "NeoEclectic" and "Contemporary Folk;" all include a map showing the locations in which that type was common and the period of its outward spread, and most have ink sketches of details such as doors, windows, roofs, and general shape. Whether you're a dedicated "house-walker" or just curious about the kinds of houses people have lived in over our nation's history, this comfortably sized and clearly illustrated volume should be on your shelf. I refer to it regularly in writing about past house styles.

Great Book. Highly useful in the field and as a reference. Good illustrations and high-style photographic examples. Would recommend to students and professionals without hesitation

Possibly too much. A lot of research went into this book, and the result is more of a reference than something you'd want to read straight through. The early chapter on massing comes to mind--which probably should be an appendix anyway. All the lesser styles are included for completeness, but including them makes the big picture harder to see. On the good side, there's lots and lots of B/W pictures, which really tell the story anyway. If you're willing to sacrifice comprehensive coverage, House Styles in America by James C. Massey tells the same story in a more enjoyable and understandable way.

If you are an old-house fan, this book is the equivalent of a college education. Here are some reasons this book is both entertaining and useful:

It starts with chapters on basic structure: shapes of houses, style of construction, ornamentation, etc. There are simple, remarkably clear drawings accompanying all this that will serve to give you a kind of 'vocabulary' to interpret houses when you run across something new (for example, a dozen different types of dormers - what are they all called?). (These involve almost entirely external elements, for detailed interiors you will need another book.)

Lots of delicious historical background about how history and technological advances changed housing. For example, the authors divide folk housing into "pre" and "post-railroad" because not until railroads made building materials nationally accessible did a national set of housing styles develop.

Following this, there are a series of chapters describing different styles (i.e., Victorian, Tudor, etc.), starting with the characteristic details, when and where the style is found, etc. The McAlisters do a particularly good job on regional variations; there are some remarkable maps showing the prevelance of different styles in different states.

The graphics are fantastic and plentiful. The simple stylzed drawings of building elements (rooflines, doorways, windows, etc.) clearly distinguish one detail from another, while the photographs make you want to pop into the car and drive all over to see the real houses themselves.

One note: there is a table, starting around p. 55, that will make the book much easier to use as a 'field guide' (i.e., driving around looking at houses the way birders look at birds). This chart helps you use key identifying features to determine the most likely style of the house. For example, my house has a steeply pitched roof and multliple gables, so it's probably a Tudor. From there you can go to the proper chapter. Without this chart you'll have to search the whole book.

One of my pet peeves is looking at the real estate section of our paper and seeing all the two storey homes listed as either a "Colonial" or a "Victorian." These people are in the business of describing houses yet they are ignorant as to what architectural style they are. A copy of this book in their office would make all the difference. Great book. I have kept a copy in my car for times when I come onto an interesting house and want to learn more about it.

Still the most thorough compilation of residential styles. Should be in your library - is it?

I first read this book as a graduate student in an urban planning course almost 20 years ago. I thought it was fantastic then but held off on purchasing it until last year when I moved into a historic district. It is a classic and probably still the best and most comprehensive guide to American architecture around. I cannot recommend it more highly.

I bought this book for the sole purpose of figuring out whether the 1923 home we bought was craftsman, mission, or prairie. Then, I starting reading it. This is not coffee-table, glosssy material, just the real mccoy. It opens up a whole new world to look at everytime you drive through a new neigborhood. A really nice book to have as a reference. Incidentally, our house is craftsman.