Product Description

Architect and co-presenter of BBC's Discovering Welsh Houses, Michael Davies revisits some of the architectural gems featured in the programme. This book is a vibrant yet informative guide to eighteen homes - how they bought their home and what they have done with it. Michael revisits a potter's cottage in Snowdonia, a telegraph station overlooking the Irish Sea, a straw bale house in Cardiganshire, the oldest house in Wales, just north of Brecon, a lighthouse in the Wye Valley, a Tudor manor house in the Vale of Glamorgan and an Edwardian Villa in Cardiff.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54591 in Books
• Published on: 2007-11-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

From the Author
How we have shaped our architectural landscape and how architecture has influenced our culture - a culture that is very different to the rest of Britain - is reflected in our buildings.

From the Back Cover
Michael Davies re-visits some of the architectural gems featured in the BBC television series; a potter's cottage in Snowdonia; a telegraph station overlooking the Irish Sea; a straw bale house in Cardiganshire; the oldest house in Wales, just north of Brecon; a lighthouse in the Wye Valley; a Tudor manor House in the Vale of Glamorgan and an Edwardian Villa in Cardiff

About the Author
Michael Davies was born in Cardiff and lived there until he got married and moved to Caerphilly. He graduated from the Welsh School of Architecture in 1987 and went to study building conservation at the Architectural Association in London. He formed Davies Sutton Architects in 1993, which has now become one of the most respected conservation practices in the country. Some of his more notable works include the restoration of Sker House, Glamorgan, which receved an RIBA Award, the Shell Grotto in Pontypool Park and new visitor centres in Caerphilly Castle, Aberdulais Falls and Raglan Castle. Michael was appointed chairman of the Historic Churches Committee for Wales in 1999 and is the Cathedral Architect at St Woolos in Newport. He regularly lectures on building conservation and is particularly interested in how new buildings can fit into an historic setting. Michael co-presents the television series Discovering Welsh Houses.

Customer Reviews

Welsh architecture at its best
This is a really broad, well balanced look at some architectural delights around Wales. The range of properties is excellent - anything from a Tudor period mansion to recently designed buildings. Peppered with great photos and engagingly written with an easy, accessible style it's a perfect book to delve in and out of and put back for all to see on your coffee table. It's 'Grand Designs' with the added interest of Welsh history and culture.

Must for house lovers
I loved this book and keep returning to it, not just for the glorious photographs of all manner (no pun intended) of houses but the author's very readable words that are both interesting and entertaining. This is a man who knows his stuff and can also get it across in an enjoyable way. If you saw the TV series you will love rediscovering the houses. If you didn't you are in for a treat. By the way, just because it has Welsh in the title don't think it is only of interest in Wales because some of the house styles are very much characteristic of house building across the UK at that time, such as the lovely Edwardian villas. Highly recommended.

More than just a book on architecture!
A beautiful book illustrating a full cross section of ancient and modern Welsh Houses. In addition to the usual physical descriptions and photographs of each property, the author manages to give some of the history of the period in which they were built and an insight into each owners approach their home. The result is a book about some wonderful eclectic places, but also about peoples passion for buildings.