Jeremy Melvin teaches History of Architecture at South Bank University, London.Meeting the new opportunities for rural living demands imaginative design, and many of the world's most inventive architects are rising to this challenge. Among those featured in this book are well-known names like Kengo Kuma, Steven Holl, Lacaton Vassal, Eduardo Souto de Moura, Baumschlager + Eberle, Niall McLaughlin and Sean Godsell, as well as a host of talented architects from Russia to South Africa, Chile to China, New Zealand to the US. What makes the demand for new and challenging architecture all the greater is the rapidly changing relationship between countryside and city, driven by social and technological development. In these circumstances, precedents from history and tradition are at best starting points: imagination, innovation and creativity are essential to do full justice to new challenges, expectations and opportunities. As urban life becomes increasingly rarified and stressful, so the contrast with raw nature assumes a different value to its status in past centuries, when architects generally sought to bring nature under human control. So this book divides houses into sections that reflect elemental qualities of landscape, forest, plain, ocean and mountain, as well as a section on houses that update the tradition of manipulating nature into telling a story.'Country Houses Today' divides houses into sections that reflect elemental qualities of landscape, forest, plain, ocean and mountain, as well as a section on houses that update the tradiiton of manipulating nature into telling a story.An informed yet readable examination of the circumstances and motivations for new country house building. The book considers whether any contemporary "country houses" are worthy of that appellation, as opposed to being mere houses in the country. It also outlines "stylistic" trends and suggests how these relate to trends in contemporary architecture in general, investigate whether there is any correlation between motivation, source of wealth and architectural idiom. featuring 30 examples, representing traditional and contemporary designs, including straight refurbishments and conversions.Whither the contemporary country house? An informed though readable examination of the circumstances and motivations for new country house building. It will consider whether any contemporary "country houses" are worthy of that appellation, as opposed to being mere houses in the country. It will outline "stylistic" trends and suggest how these relate to trends in contemporary architecture in general, investigate whether there is any correlation between motivation, source of wealth and architectural idiom. It will feature 30 examples, representing traditional and contemporary designs, possibly including straight refurbishments and conversions. Projects will be roughly two-thirds from within the UK and one-third from elsewhere."many interesting observations... any serious enthusiast for contemporary architecture will enjoy this book." ("Country Life," September 2006) "A great read for anyone interested in the changing visual world around them." ("Hampshire Society Magazine," September 2006) "a book for anyone with an enthusiasm for country living and design" ("Home Building and Renovating," December 2006) "Whether you are looking for traditional or contemporary, refurbishments, conversions or houses built from scratch, this book explores them all, offering glossy photographs and drawings by the architects themselves." ("Home Front," December 2006) "Charting the most well-known faces in architecture... this book looks at demands placed on architects in the modern world." ("Period House," May 2007)"many interesting observations...any serious enthusiast for contemporary architecture will enjoy this book." (Country Life, September 2006) "A great read for anyone interested in the changing visual world around them." (Hampshire Society Magazine, September 2006)
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