Osama bin Laden is dead, but Al Qaeda remains the CIA's "number one threat." Yet since the 9/11 attacks on the United States, the organization has evolved into a much more complex and far-flung entity, even as American military strikes have killed its most identifiable spokesmen and leaders. Moving well beyond the headlines, this richly documented and fascinating account of Al Qaeda offers readers a completely new understanding of the organization's...

"Travel through 20 sophisticated homes of designers deeply influenced by their international adventures abroad. A road map for bringing far-flung design ideas back home, Travel Home shows us how to curate interiors that reflect our favorite places and experiences in ways that are beautiful and authentic. Touring the homes of leaders in global design who share a deep affection for travel, the book explores interiors with influences as widespread as...

You will see many different techniques of drafting in this book. Drawings are the medium in architectural practice to communicate an idea. Those drawings are the answers to the challenges I went through to solve architectural issues that came with the practice of the profession. These drawings were produced under very different approaches to the main subject and from sketches to renderings. A few of my renderings pictured here are not my own designs...

Completing home remodeling projects on a budget is tough. Building with Secondhand Stuff is loaded with all the green construction and money saving techniques you'll need! From deconstruction methods and salvaging tips, to plotting efficient cutting plans and devising creative new uses for everyday items, Building with Secondhand Stuff is packed with clever ways to obtain low-cost (or no cost!) materials and keep debris out of landfills in the process.Building...

Discover a practical guide to residential space planning, in this room-by-room guide with up-to-date info on accessibility, ergonomics, and building systems. In the newly revised edition of “Residential Interior Design: A Guide to Planning Spaces”, an accomplished team of design professionals delivers the gold standard in practical, human-centered residential interior design. Authors Maureen Mitton and Courtney Nystuen explore every critical component...

First published in 1996, “The Eyes of the Skin” has become a classic of architectural theory. It asks the far-reaching question why, when there are five senses, has one single sense — sight — become so predominant in architectural culture and design? With the ascendancy of the digital and the all-pervasive use of the image electronically, it is a subject that has become all the more pressing and topical since the first edition's publication...

An award-winning architect and educator demystifies the process of making architecture and explains why good architectural design matters. The design of cities and buildings affects the quality of our lives. Making the built environments in which we live, work, and play useful, safe, comfortable, efficient, and as beautiful as possible is a universal quest. What many don't realize is that professional architects design only about five...

For the Swiss-born architect and city planner Le Corbusier (Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, 1887–1965), architecture constituted a noble art, an exalted calling in which the architect combined plastic invention, intellectual speculation, and higher mathematics to go beyond mere utilitarian needs, beyond "style," to achieve a pure creation of the spirit which established "emotional relationships by means of raw materials." The first major exposition...

Are you tired of doing things the hard way? Would you like to save time and money?Whether you want to (1) discover incredible household hacks, (2) save time and money, or (3) optimize and organize your home environment the right way, then this is the book for you!The best hacks and tips for cleaning and organizing your home!Hacks are wonderful shortcuts and clever tricks that make it much easier to live your life. These household hacks are innovative...

It's 1983 and Jonathan and Judith Souweine are ready to build their forever home on a four-acre lot just outside of Amherst, Massachusetts. A lawyer and a psychologist, neither has much experience with the process. In this New York Times bestseller, Tracy Kidder leads readers through the grand adventure of building the American dream. In his portrayal, constructing a staircase or applying a coat of paint becomes a riveting tale of conflicting wills,...