THE ART OF CREATING HOUSES

AUTHOR JOHN R. DASILVA, FAIA OFFERS A DEEP DIVE INTO THE PSD'S SHINGLE-STYLE HOUSES.

-  Nancy A. Ruhling

IT'S ALWAYS INTRIGUING AND ENLIGHTENING TO PERUSE the portfolios of top architects because peeling back the layers to look beyond the brick and mortar reveals the thought processes behind the design of the great works.

The Art of Creating Houses, the fourth book in the series that details the work of Polhemus Savery DaSilva (PSD), provides an in-depth armchair tour of 27 of the firm's recent exceptional shingle-style houses.

Image after image, the nearly 2-inch-thick weighty volume, which mainly features the photographs of Brian Vanden Brink, peeks behind the shingles, delving into the details, from the sinuous lines of a central staircase to the star-pattern cupola illuminating a guest room, in a magnificent manner. The large-format tome also features floor plans and numerous centerfolds that create a satisfying immersive experience.

The residences PSD designs and builds, renovates and restores reference and reinterpret historical styles.