Beauty, Neuroscience & Architecture: Timeless Patterns & Their Impact on Our Well-being. Those who don't believe that beauty can be judged objectively should peruse this book by Denver architect Donald H. Ruggles, AIA, NCARB, ICAA. Neuroscience has confirmed that beauty is a prime motivator in life, and that beauty triggers feelings of pleasure, which in turn relieve stress. If beauty is actually a release of endorphins, how can an architect design a building that is beautiful? Ruggles suggests that it’s about drawing something that is focused on the well-being and health of those who will occupy the structure. He urges architects to pay attention and use neuroscience, biology, psychology, and architecture to create a new discipline: neuro-architectology. (University of Oklahoma Press 2018; hardcover; 136 pages)
Backdoor Revolution: The Definitive Guide to ADU Development. ADU advocate/educator/consultant Kol Peterson addresses two audiences in his latest book: homeowners who want to build an accessory dwelling unit, and policy makers and advocates who want to get more ADUs built in their jurisdictions. Part 2 offers insights into why permitted ADUs are rarely found in today’s housing stock; what institutional elements are unique to their development; and what conditions will help them flourish. (Accessory Dwelling Strategies 2018; paperback; 358 pages)
Houses, Houses, Houses Coloring Book Vol. 1: Early American Styles. Best-selling authors Henry S. Harrison and his daughter, Kate L. Harrison, have created an adult coloring book for real-estate appraisers, Realtors, real-estate agents, architecture students, homebuyers, and design geeks everywhere. Get out the Crayolas and immerse yourself in architecturally accurate, beautifully drawn Early Colonial American, English Victorian, and French Country homes set in historic gardens and landscapes. Each illustration is paired with details about the home’s history and highlights its most important architectural features. Interior design elements and common methods and materials of construction are also discussed, making this both a useful study tool and a relaxing pastime. (Amazon 2017; paperback; 54 pages)