Roots of Home: Our Journey to a New Old House
"Adobe haciendas, Low Country cottages, sturdy Pennsylvania Dutch farmhouses, white-columned neoclassical mansions - these and many other building types contribute to the rich architectural diversity that makes America's streets and roads such a feast for the unhurried eye. In this insightfully written and lavishly illustrated book, Russell Versaci and Erik Kvalsvik offer a guide to the characteristic features of the historic styles that left their mark on our nation's domestic architecture - and in the process, they suggest ways to preserve and adapt these features in the creation of contemporary homes of real distinction." --Richard Moe, President, National Trust for Historic Preservation"ROOTS OF HOME teaches us about the history of the houses that shelter our souls. Russell Versaci's insatiable love of old houses shines throughout his brilliant book." --Alexandra Stoddard, author of THE DECORATION OF HOUSES and LIVING A BEAUTIFUL LIFE"This book reminds us that good architecture is a blend of craft and artistry - and that practicing one's craft in a given manner, in a contiguous area, over time, is the surest route to mastery. Versaci narrates an engaging journey of architectural discovery which melds the educational value of the Historic American Buildings Survey with the appealing delivery of This Old House. His analysis is in service to the public, his fellow architects, and future patrons. Versaci is at his best when highlighting and explaining discreet building elements or architectural forms from the past. These `telling details' not only inform the veracity of the book, but the authenticity of the new homes he advocates." --Chase W. Rynd, President and Executive Director, National Building Museum"This is an important book. When the great challenge in modern life is the creation of the sense of identity of place, Roots of Home opens a door to the architectural history that has made different parts of the United States unique. An antidote to the spread of bland, anonymous places, this will allow the reader to anchor a place into its cultural background, illustrating not only the origins of the local architecture but how it has developed to suit its unique climatic and functional condition. The book is history but much more than history. It's is notable for not only revealing the origins of the particularity of each place but in giving examples of how to carry that character into the modern world. Everyone who cares about the identity of place should have a copy." --Robert Adam, Principal, Robert Adam Architects; Founder, International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism (INTBAU)"Russell Versaci's new book, ROOTS OF HOME, makes you want to grab your GPS, fill your gas tank, and take a long leisurely road trip to discover our amazing architectural heritage. ROOTS OF HOME is a must read if you are thinking about building a new house or restoring an old one. In the French, English, or Spanish styles, cottage, plantation, or cabin, you will find thought provoking inspiration to help you make the right decisions.""This book reminds us that good architecture is a blend of craft and artistry - and that practicing one's craft in a given manner, in a contiguous area, over time, is the surest route to mastery. Versaci narrates an engaging journey of architectural discovery which melds the educational value of the Historic American Buildings Survey with the appealing delivery of This Old House. His analysis is in service to the public, his fellow architects, and future patrons. Versaci is at his best when highlighting and explaining discreet building elements or architectural forms from the past. These `telling details' not only inform the veracity of the book, but the authenticity of the new homes he advocates."