[.ca] Turn-of-the-Century House Designs: With Floor Plans, ... (ISBN 0486281868)

What distinguishes this book is...:
Although the title says "Turn of the Century", this book reprints an 1893 book and is more typical of 19th century than 20th century architecture books. The distinguishing features of this book: - Nineteen different architects contributed the various designs, so the book showcases a wide variety of styles. Even the presentation varies from one design to another. Each architect gives an elaborate description, pointing out the specific advantages and features of his design, sometimes even telling a story about its history. - There's a sixteen-page primer entitled "Suggestions On House Building" that describes 19th century house design and construction in remarkable detail. It gives the rationale for the placement of every fixture, including gas outlets and electric lighting, and even debates specific construction techniques like plastering and sheathing. - The book is bound sideways, so that it must be held with the binding at the top instead of at the side. This makes the book rather inconvenient to browse.