A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (Center for Environmental Structure Series)

If you are planning a future home or working with an architect, you really should read this book. It has given me a "language" to describe all the features I would like or have appreciated in the past. It sheds light on good design details and why some ideas are much more desirable than others. If you know what you like but do not know how to describe it or why it works for you, this book will help. If you don't know what you like yet, this will give you great ideas about good design.

This book has a lot of great theories if you are interested in urban design. Alexander covers the board with issues concerning people and public spaces. Must read for the urban designer!

Even if you're sold for deconstructivism, minimalism, etc., have the time to dig this out. The structure has the rigour of a technical book, and the content is synthetic enough to make you feel you actually learn something here. You can absorb a great amount of information in little time because the patterns are strongly tied together so you can relate them to one another easily. Highly recommended.

I am designing/building my own home and this book helped me adjust my plans until I had something that suits me perfectly instead of something "saleable." Funny thing, everyone who sees the plan and my initial start is enchanted.... Forget building houses and start building homes. I also read A Timeless Way of Building, which is a nice introduction to this one.

This is an eye-opener. How form, structure and space can affect our mood, our sense of place, and our place in the communal structure are all rare insights deftly treated in this book.