Patterns of Home: The Ten Essentials of Enduring Design

I am heartened to see Jacobson, Silverstein and Winslow put forth such an accessible, readable and pleasant book on a subject that has been dangerously worn out recently. The material in "Patterns of Home" is not necessarily new, but the presentation of it in such a thoughtful manner is valuable and meaningful. The arrangement of the material is logical, starting with site planning, spatial relationships, and the basics of shelter, light and proportion. The transition into feeling, perception and texture is seamless and rewarding to experience.

The chapter (pattern) on "Refuge and Outlook" addresses a concept dear to my heart. My own home high in the Southern California mountains embodies much of this concept. The presentation of this concept gave words to things I've often struggled to explain. I was very moved by the elegant, yet simple language used to present this and the nine other patterns. The ability to crisply and efficiently write about ideas and concepts that can easily become mired in technical or philosophical discourse is not common. It is precisely this skill that the authors bring to this work, and which makes "Patterns of Home" so useful. The authors clearly appear to practice what they preach, and the honesty that I sense in this book is refreshing. I commend the authors on producing a book that is highly informative in a very sensible way.

This book is a companion to Lawler's "A Home for the Soul" on my display table. I heartily give "Patterns of Home" five stars.


Wonderful new book!   September 26, 2002
Mara (Virginia)
31 out of 32 found this review helpful

This book takes the main concepts in A Pattern Language and fleshes them out, illustrating them with concrete examples and explanations, and demonstating how they can work in a residential home. Some of the themes are quite practical, like capturing light and creating indoor and outdoor rooms, while others are more abstract and theoretical, like the concept of being able to look out from a protected space. All of the principles are based on human psychology and why we inherently like and feel comfortable in some places and not in others, which makes Patterns of Home much more interesting than a typical architecture book. It is a great guide for anyone that wants to design their own house or is interested in vernacular architecture in general. The photos and diagrams are great, and haven't been recycled from other Taunton Press books, which was a nice surprise. I found Patterns of Home very easy to follow and understand as it has a very organized layout that ties all the chapters and their themes together, making it an easy read in addition to everything else.


Appropriate Design Thought Engine   May 22, 2003
S. Colley (San Antonio, TX USA)
19 out of 20 found this review helpful

The authors of this book have taken the best of Alexander's "A Pattern Language", and combined wonderfully designed and excellently photographed homes to publish an inspiring and thought provoking book. Frankly, the world has too many "500 House Plans" types of books. This one describes the logic, reason, and common sense that involves the interlocking of ten basic patterns that could make any basic design more successful. As a residential architect, I consider this among my five top-rated books.


Wonderful   October 3, 2002
26 out of 30 found this review helpful

I don't know a book that does what this one does, clearly connecting design principles to exemplary, recent houses. There are plenty of books out there with lots of nice houses in them, and other books with lots of principles, but this one does just what is needed, by bringing the principles and examples together so that people can not only begin to think for themselves, but see the possible consequences of doing so. The houses are well chosen and beautifully photographed, and the writing is clear. This is a must-buy for anyone thinking of building or renovating a house, or just for inspiration.


Brings a New Concept to the Reader   November 14, 2005
John Matlock (Winnemucca, NV)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

There are a lot of books on residential architecture that show beautiful house designs. This book takes a different tact that I find most interesting. Instead of looking at the house first and then emphasizing features, it turns the process around. This book defines ten elements, or essentials, or patterns that help to define what goes into houses that are time proven to be a part of the design of exceptional houses.

The book defines these points and then illustrates what they are talking about through pictures and description of several houses that illustrate what they are talking about. Several houses are used on each of the ten points, because there is no one way to design a house.

For instance the first point is 'Inhabting the Site.' And sites vary. The site on a mountainside is dramatic. But it may be a long commute from the site in the historic community in which you work. And the house in an urban neighborhood is different than one in a suburb.

The other patterns discussed such as light, use of materials, great room designs -- all have various ways that they have been implemented, and are illustrated. This is a different kind of book and brings new concepts to the individuals think of a new or remodelled house.