Housing is a fundamental human right. For most of human history; our homes were built by hand from whatever local materials were available. However; since the Industrial Revolution; most housing has become little more than quickly constructed; mass-produced; uniform boxes. At the same time; the invention and standardization of the thirty-year mortgage and our ever-increasing reliance on credit has come to mean that most of us never own our homes outright.Housing Reclaimed is a call to arms for nonconventional home builders. It examines how technological advances; design evolution; and resourceful; out-of-the-box thinking about materials and efficiency can help us meet the challenge of building affordable; environmentally friendly; beautiful; and unique homes. Focusing on the use of salvaged and reclaimed materials; this inspirational volume is packed with case studies of innovative projects including:*Phoenix Commotionmdash;working together towards low-income home ownership through sweat equity and 100 percent recycled materials*HabeRaemdash;revitalizing neighborhoods by creating urban infill using modern technology and sustainable and reclaimed materials*Builders of Hopemdash;rescuing and rehabilitating whole houses slated for demolitionThese projects and others like them demonstrate that building ones own home does not have to be an unattainable dream. This beautifully illustrated guide is a must-read for anyone interested in creating quality zero- or low-debt housing; reducing landfill waste; and creating stronger communities.Jessica Kellner is the editor of Natural Home and Garden magazine and a passionate advocate of using architectural salvage to create aesthetically beautiful; low-cost housing.
#1115335 in eBooks 2004-10-01 2004-10-01File Name: B006CQ99A8
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Geniuses RevealedBy G. SchneiderColored Lights: Forty Years of Words and Music. Show Biz. Collaboration. and All That Jazz An absolutely fascinating look into the hearts and minds and working habits of two men who contributed so much to the American Theater over the last half century. Fred Ebb is no longer with us. so we can be truly thankful that he and John Kander collaborated on this book while he was still alive. As a songwriter myself. I always find such memoirs interesting and valuable.16 of 16 people found the following review helpful. A Broadway hit!!!By A CustomerAs the song says. start spreading the news -- this memoir in dialogue form by John Kander and Fred Ebb really is a surprising gem. I didnt expect to enjoy a book that is mainly conversation but I went through it in one sitting (on a flight from NY to LA) and didnt want it to end. These two geniuses of musical theater are totally engaging. and their breezy dialogue is often as provocative (and sometimes hilarious) as their best musicals and songs. Its like being in the same room with the two of them and having a chance to eavesdrop on their wry insights into the shows and various personalities theyve worked with. including Liza Minnelli. Barbra Streisand. Frank Sinatra. Lauren Bacall. Bob Fosse. Shirley McLaine. and Anthony Quinn.The anecdotes in the book. even the dishiest ones. are told with wit and intelligence. and without the usual celebrity tell-all pretensions. Kander and Ebb come across as two very different personalities as collaborators. yet both seem very earthy and wise about life and show business. Anyone who was wowed by Chicago or Cabaret will be delighted by their reminiscences. And there are some surprising revelations. like the fact that their biggest hit. "New York. New York." would never have been written if it hadnt been for Robert Deniro. who they say disapproved of their first version of the song and made them rewrite it for him. I was also surprised by the down-to-earth side of Liza Minnelli that comes across in the Introduction -- not at all like her usual media image. This book is like a little play itself. and what a great way to experience forty years of Broadway history and backstage lore. Definitely. a uniquemust read for theater lovers.2 of 4 people found the following review helpful. First You DreamBy Kevin KillianGood for Greg Lawrence for facilitating this oral history ad thinking of the right questions to get these two chatterboxes off and running. to the races! Lawrence wrote an OK biography of Jerome Robbins. and an as told to "by" Gelsey Kirkland which was good. but this book is terrific fun. The only thing is. arent Kander and Ebb a couple? Or was that something they didnt want to talk about? Maybe theyre not. who knew! But discussion of their personal lives is totally not on the menu here. Maybe after they are dead the whole story will come out. They tell some great stories here about working with Bob Fosse. maybe the best sustained account available of the great choreographers ambitions. dreams. desires. and mania. I like the way that Liza Minnelli and Harold Prince also jump in to give their two cents here and there from the bleachers. Its a technique you often see in journalism. and here it works just fine. Liza is subject #1 of Kander and Ebbs discussions. They are always trying to make her look good. or rather to bring her natural talents to the fore. But in doing so they paint a picture of a talented actress who was thwarted by the commercial failure of THE RINK and therefore never tried to be anything but "just Liza" again. and being "just Liza" is pretty messed up what with having a mother who tried to take over her life in a drunken haze and at least one boyfriend (Martin Scorsese) who attempted to direct a whole show for her (THE ACT) via Moviola. Kander and Ebb also discuss writing for Lauren Bacall and the differences that affected WOMAN OF THE YEAR when Raquel Welch came in and replaced Bacall. Its all very illuminating and will make you laugh out loud as well. Their post mortems for their flops THE RINK and STEEL PIER. which they consider among their best shows. are not convincing. but their account of work with a sour kvetching Frank Sinatra and a controlling Barbra Streisand have the bitter ring of truth. This is not a particularly light-hearted book but I think anyone whos interested in musical theater will get a charge out of it.I wish there had been more in it about the mysterious ingenue Jill Haworth who. after a strong of movies for Otto Preminger. took the Sally Bowles part in CABARET and got crucified for it--and had a "thing" with Sal Mineo (!!!) -- and then left show business. She is one of the most intriguing personalities of the 1960s and Kander and Ebb mention her only briefly (though very sympathetically).
