Reviews (2)

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Cohousing
If you're involved with cohousing, you need this book. It gives you all the knowledge and tools you need to be successful in building a cohousing community. The Cohousing Handbook provides guidance on everything from forming a group to land acquisition and construction to marketing and legal issues. It also provides clear steps to follow for each segment of the process along with forms, resources and sample documents. Why re-invent the wheel when it's all here for you to adapt for your own community?
Cohousing in a box!
Chris Hanson has laid out for the reader a step by step guide to starting your own cohousing community.A must have for any cohouser, but definately not the first book you want to read to learn about the cohousing way oflife. Durant and McCammant's excellent book fills that roll, just as thisbook fills it's intended role.If you are contemplating starting orjoining an existing group, buy this book.It will guide you through theprocess step by step.We're not trying to reinvent the wheel, so we may aswell learn from those who have paved that road for us! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Design - General    3. Domestic    4. House Plans    5. Housing, Cooperative    6. Project Management    7. Architecture / General    8. Housing    9. USA   

Reviews (1)

Fascinating as study of both architechture and history.
Wright starts at the beginning and explains how the American experience has effected American architechture, and vice versa. Weaving religious, social and economic conditions into her story of how Americans came to live in the structures that they call home, Wright's book is one of the few "page-turners" that I've encountered among architechture books. It's indespensible to the student of American history.--David Macia ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture, Domestic    3. General    4. History    5. History - General    6. Housing    7. Social aspects    8. United States    9. Architecture / History    10. History of specific subjects    11. Houses, apartments, flats, etc    12. USA   

Subjects:  1. Cities and towns    2. City planning    3. General    4. History    5. Housing & Urban Development    6. Law    7. Planning    8. Social conditions    9. Sociology    10. Sociology - Urban    11. United States    12. 20th century    13. Nature / Natural Resources    14. Social history    15. USA    16. Urban & municipal planning    17. c 1800 to c 1900    18. c 1900 - c 1914   

Reviews (1)

It's a great book, very informative
This book is wonderful! It is very informative and interesting. Buy it! In bulk! Certainly worth my reading time. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Development - General    5. Handbooks, manuals, etc    6. Housing development    7. Housing management    8. Housing rehabilitation    9. Nonprofit Organizations & Charities    10. United States    11. Business & Economics / Nonprofit Organizations & Charities    12. Housing   

Reviews (1)

Most complete book on the subject.
Professor Schwartz has written simply the most complete book on public housing available today. It's easy to follow, and covers every aspect of the public policy and finance behind the shaping of our urban landscape. This is not only an excellent classroom text, but useful for anyone interested in learning more about the growth -- and possible decay -- of our great American cities. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Finance    2. Housing    3. Housing policy    4. Planning    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Sociology - Urban    8. United States    9. Social Science / Sociology / Urban    10. USA   

Reviews (2)

Actually full of useful information!
It seems that a great number of architecture books of this type exist solely to promote the author's personal design philosophy.This book, however, is full of design guidelines based on feedback from residents of both public and private high-density housing.Many (if not most) of the guidelines could be applied to almost any housing type (from low-income public housing to high-end private developments.)At the very least, the book gets designers thinking about how people use and perceive the buildings in which they live.

A very useful book
This book is both a call for better designed medium density housing and a source book on how to achieve that end. The great thing about this book is that it provides simple design and layout advice for housing projects based on detailed research and post occupancy evaluations. This book sets out what works in housing design. I think every planner or designer should have this book close at hand. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture and society    3. Domestic    4. Homesites    5. Human factors    6. Planning    7. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    8. Architecture / General    9. Housing   

Reviews (3)

Racism + Capitalism = Public Housing in Chicago
Excellent review of how the Chicago Housing Authority, despite good intentions, ended up not only itself segregated, but reinforced existing housing segregation in the private market. the deception of public housing
After reading The Hidden War,(which made extensive reference to Hirsch's book)I wanted a more detailed history about the creation of public housing as we know it to be in Chicago. This book gives detail of how the political,educational, civic organizations wanted to contain the burgeoning African American community which was growing during post world war II and the great migrationyears. The powerful in Chicago used government policies to maintain housing segregation...the powerless resorted to violence to keep African Americans out ofneighborhoods...the results were the massive and bleak housing structures which are called public housing.This book not only talks about the historical wheelings and dealings of the white power structure, but it also gives insight into how the same tactics are being used today, to maintain certain class and racial segregation. This is a good companion must read along with The Hidden WARS.

Well-written historical account
I had to read this book for a college history class I took 2 years ago and I felt that it was extremely detailed and informative. I was quite surprised by my reaction because I felt it was a great read whether or not you enjoy historical books. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. African Americans    2. Chicago    3. Discrimination & Racism    4. Discrimination in housing    5. History    6. Housing    7. Housing (Sociological Aspects)    8. Housing policy    9. Illinois    10. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    11. Race And Ethnic Relations    12. Social Science    13. Sociology    14. Sociology - Urban    15. United States - State & Local - General    16. American history: from c 1900 -    17. Multicultural studies    18. Postwar period, 1945 to c 2000    19. Second World War, 1939-1945    20. Social Science / Sociology / Urban    21. Social issues    22. USA    23. Urban communities   

Editorial Review

Lloyd Kahn has managed to pull together a stunning catalog of the phenomenon of human shelter through history, across cultures and climates from around the world. Yurts and huts and tree houses and cathedrals of stone. This is an eye-opener for anyone considering building their own home, or anyone just interested in human inventiveness and creativity. With over 1000 photos and drawings of cave houses, communal huts, wooden shacks, tents, domes, towers and holes in the ground, you'll be amazed at all the different ways people have tried to keep the rain off their heads and the wolves outside! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

HANDBUILTHOUSES, BY FREE THINKING PEOPLE. WAY COOLYES.
I studied architecture in Australia and dragged my feet through the course. That is until a mate suggested I check out this book.
I can't make up my mind
Now I don't know if I want to live in a tree, a yurt, or on a converted vehicle.This makes my 'normal' house seem quite ordinary.Drat!

!Very inspiring, a must-have reference.I never get tired of pursuing this book.
Shelters is a must-own classic.I treasure my copy, and I am actually came to the amazon site today to buy 3 copies of this book,one to donate to my Church library, one for a Christmas gift for a carpenter friend, and one to complement my first edition of this book.This book was first released in 1973 by Shelter Press.If this book is of interest, check out the other books from them.
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Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Architecture And The Environment    3. Architecture, Domestic    4. Design & Construction    5. Design & Drafting    6. Domestic    7. Dwellings    8. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    9. General    10. Residential Buildings Architecture    11. Vernacular architecture    12. Housing    13. Residential buildings, domestic buildings   

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Developing countries    5. Finance    6. Housing    7. Management - General    8. Microfinance    9. Real Estate - Mortgages    10. United States    11. Central government policies    12. Microeconomics   

Subjects:  1. Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice    2. Finance    3. Government (Specific Aspects)    4. Government - General    5. Housing    6. Housing & Urban Development    7. Housing Policy    8. Law    9. Law and legislation    10. Legal Reference / Law Profession    11. Public housing    12. United States    13. Law / General   

Subjects:  1. Developing countries    2. Government policy    3. Handbooks, manuals, etc    4. Housing    5. Housing policy    6. Low-income housing    7. Social Science    8. Sociology    9. Sociology - Urban    10. Third World Development    11. Urban poor    12. Social Science / Sociology / Urban    13. Urban & municipal planning   

Reviews (1)

Placing Black Women at the Center of Urban History
In this landmark case study, historian Rhonda Y. Williams redefines postwar urban history by placing black women's struggles at the center of an engaging and richly detailed narrative. Specifically, Williams focuses on the housing activism of poor black women in Baltimore to craft a story that expands the contours of the black freedom movement. By detailing the activism of low incomewomen around everyday issues of "housing, food, clothing, and daily life in community spaces"--what the author describes as "activism at the point of consumption--The Politics of Public Housing unveils a hiddenhistory of political struggle. Ultimately, this book chronicles the lives and heroic activism of tenants, community organizers, and single mothers who demanded dignity instead of demonization and held onto their self-respect in the face of horrible living conditions, insensitive bureacrats, and stigmas against pubic housing residents that relegated them to the political margins. Rhonda Y. Williams has successfully rescued these women's stories from history's dustbin and in the process produced a groundbreaking work of history.Readers interested in African-American, women's, urban, and working class history will enjoy this book.
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Subjects:  1. Ethnic Studies - African American Studies - General    2. Political Science    3. Politics/International Relations    4. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    5. Sociology    6. United States - 20th Century    7. Women's Studies - General    8. History, American | African American    9. Housing    10. Social Science / African-American Studies    11. USA    12. Women's studies   

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. Domestic    3. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    4. Public, Commercial, or Industrial Buildings    5. Home & House Maintenance    6. Housing    7. Residential buildings, domestic buildings    8. USA   

Reviews (7)

Too much perpetual-victim theme; misleading statistics; lies
Sudhir Venkatesh's 'American Project' has certain strengths. For one thing, it gives an informative overview of the general conditions within the Robert Taylor Homes and how they declined between the 1960s and 1990s. For example, there are extensive quotations of Taylor's tenants, which illustrate first-hand experiences of getting along day by day and coping with deteriorating physical and social conditions. The author is able to use his field work in Chicago to bring his readers inside the housing project to a certain extent. Secondly, the book's chapter divisions are convenient for dividing the Taylor Homes' history by decade.
Misguided thesis
Venkatesh is pushing the thesis that the lives of the residents in the 'projects' have been too pessimistically portrayed by other authorities, and that for long periods of time they in fact managed to get along pretty well, through various informal and often criminal survival mechanisms they developed. A sociologist explores life in a public housing high-rise
Venkatesh has done a superb job of describing the interrelationships between tenants, and the relationship between tenants and management, as well as chronicalling the changes in these relationships since Robert Taylor was constructed in the early 60's.Anyone who wants to move beyond the headlines, and find out more about the strengths and weaknesses of life in a public housing development should read this book.Read more

Subjects:  1. Social Science    2. Sociology    3. Sociology - Urban    4. Housing    5. Social Science / Sociology / Urban    6. USA   

Subjects:  1. France    2. General    3. History    4. Housing (Social Welfare Aspects)    5. Paris    6. Public health    7. Public housing    8. Sociology   

Subjects:  1. Government - U.S. Government    2. History    3. Housing policy    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Public Policy - City Planning & Urban Dev.    8. Public Policy - Social Services & Welfare    9. Sociology - Urban    10. United States    11. Urban policy    12. 20th century    13. Central government policies    14. Housing    15. USA    16. Urban & municipal planning    17. Urban communities    18. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (1)

When an alliterated one-liner just won't do...
"Brilliant...Anthony Vidler is a conceptual conjurer of formidable skill." - J. Mordaunt Crook, New York Times Book ReviewRead more

Subjects:  1. Architecture    2. General    3. Planning    4. Architecture / General    5. Housing    6. Theory of architecture   

Reviews (1)

Ideology and Urban Housing
The main premise of Hays' work on federal housing programs is that ideology serves as a significant influence on the development of public policy.Like Sabatier's Advocacy Coalition Framework, Hays sees coalitions based on a core set of values as influencing the agenda setting aspects of the public policy system.Furthermore, Hays argues that the conflict which emerges between rival ideological coalitions for control of political institutions and policy subsystems shapes which policies reach the governmental agenda and additionally shapes the "ideological direction" of policies.
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Subjects:  1. History    2. Housing    3. Housing policy    4. United States   

Reviews (19)

Bullseye!
Outstanding book for anyone who happens to be passionate about government, American history and association management at the same time.I can't remember the last time I read a book in three days, and haven't had my intellect stimulated at this level since college.To say that McKenzie doesn't hide his bias, or to suggest that this book was written primarily to warn us of the dangers or CID's is to miss the point.Privatopia is an outstanding, scholarly work that should be required reading for students of urban planning, local government, or anyone who aspires to become a real estate developer. I could go on but I need to start my online search for the sequel.Evan?(and no I am not his son, or one his lucky students)Mike Walker, Seattle, WA

frighteningly interesting
The book was excellent.From history, intent, current situation, this book covered it all.It was also written in an interesting format, not dry data.I bought the book as a reference guide for a school papaer, and ended up reading it cover to cover.Scary stuff, but everyone needs to know about it.

ouch!
too dry to get through.we need good helpful advice - not a dry political science book. oh well, will have to look for something else. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Government - National    3. Politics/International Relations    4. Sociology    5. Central government    6. Home & House Maintenance    7. Housing    8. Local government    9. Ownership & organization of enterprises    10. Social Science / General    11. USA    12. Urban communities   

Reviews (1)

thorough, insightful look at the oft-maligned mobile home
Wallis here presents an incredibly thorough, and amazingly respectful look at the history of the "mobile home".Well researched and masterfully integrated with the sociopolitical influences that have played such a large part in shaping the industry, this book is an incredible resource for those interested in the mobile home as a housing form, or for those researching some of its sister forms--modular and prefabricted housing.
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Subjects:  1. Business/Economics    2. General    3. History - General History    4. House & Home    5. Industrial Psychology    6. Industries - General    7. Mobile Home Living    8. Mobile home industry    9. Mobile homes    10. Psychological aspects    11. Sociological aspects    12. Sociology - General    13. United States    14. Business & Economics / Labor    15. Cultural studies    16. Houses, apartments, flats, etc    17. Housing    18. Road & motor vehicles: general interest    19. USA