Book Reviews
VIEW FROM THE TOP
Edited by Janelle McCulloch (Images) £35
ISBN: 978-186470-226-2
This substantial book explores the very heights of urban living, with
a look inside some of the most luxurious apartments and penthouses
in some of the world’s major cities.
Of course there’s something about high-rise living that really
captures the imagination. For wealthy city dwellers, the convenience
of having a base right in the centre of things, yet be able to enjoy
an elevated view across ‘your’ city is worth every penny of the
substantial sums such a pad would command.
It has to be said, in some cases it’s pretty clear that money can’t
necessarily buy good taste, but then even the most garish of designs
in this instance have at least some redeeming features that make
them worthy of inclusion.
Among the real highlights are a real old-meets-new interior in
Rome designed by Studio Transit, and an ultra-minimal clifftop
penthouse in Monaco by architectural legend Claudio Silvestrin.
Whilst the city and its respective ‘style’ varies greatly between the
projects featured, all have one very strong attribute in their favour –
the incredible view. Unfortunately, with one or two exceptions, it is
hard to get a feel from the admittedly generous photography quite
how well each design has succeeded in designing the space in such a
way as to get the most out of this most valuable of assets.
MICRO: VERY SMALL BUILDINGS
By Ruth Slavid (Laurence King) £19.95
ISBN: 978-1-85669-495-7
From one extreme to the other, this chapel in Finland through to an Australian
fascinating little sourcebook of inspiration toilet block or a portable bandstand on the
considers an altogether different design English south coast, the ideas employed and
challenge – that of the spatially challenged challenges overcome make for fascinating
building. reading.
Slavid is special projects editor for The In many ways, you get the impression
Architects’ Journal and she has clearly drawn than by focusing on a much more restricted
on her wide knowledge of this area to bring space, the creativity of these architects
together a comprehensive and extremely and designers has been concentrated and
varied selection. bolstered to a level that somehow exceeds
The book is divided into five themed what you could have imagined would be
sections: public realm; community spaces; possible.
on the move; compact living; and extra Micro is a real treat and a very
space. From a capsule hotel in Japan to a worthwhile homage to ‘microarchitecture’.
Book Reviews July p.indd 18 22/7/08 10:48:21
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