Green School Primer: Lessons in Sustainability
Author: LPA Architects, California
Publisher: Images Publishing Group, www.images.com.au; April 25 2009
Media: print, hardcover, 128 pages
Language: English

What better way to learn about the effectiveness of sustainable architectural principles than within a school building that was designed with this in mind? The blogger reports some enthusiastic reactions from his network of professionals:
"This is an excellent book, and very timely -- both in content and production. First, the book quality is very good, well laid out and organized, with lots of very good representative pictures illustrating various principles, and is has a quality binding.” (...)
"The content looks to my appraisal to be very good and embraces the spectrum of Green, from energy to holistic planning, including the environment and approach to proper utilization and selection of materials. The book is focused on ten principles and presents them succinctly and clearly with supporting illustrations. It is not focused on the details of execution -- leaving that to the architects."
"There is only so much you can put in 143 pages. It has a chapter on rating, but interestingly does not pursue the ultimate in energy efficiency, looking more on the total picture of green, healthy, and functional. LPA has designed or modernized 200 schools in California, some illustrated in the book."

Architecture in Times of Need. Make it Right - Rebuilding the New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward
Author: Kristin Feireiss, Brad Pitt
Publisher: Prestel Publishing, Munich, http://prestel.txt.de;  April 2009
Media: print, hardcover, 360 pages (currently out of stock)
Language: English
Price:   US $ 39.95; GB £ 24.99

Architecture in Times of Need focuses on the redevelopment of New Orleans' vibrant Lower Ninth Ward which was severely devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Invited by the Make It Right Foundation, formed by Brad Pitt and GRAFT, a group of high-profile and influential international architects set about developing affordable, green housing for the area, incorporating the latest in innovative and sustainable design. The projects by David Adjaye, GRAFT, MVRDV, and Shigeru Ban, among others, are shown in numerous photographs and renderings with sketches, building plans, and informative commentary by the architects. Along with an interview with Brad Pitt on his motivation to start the Make It Right Foundation to help in New Orleans' reconstruction, the book also includes essays on the overall design process and describes the sustainable ‘Cradle to Cradle’ approach, which seeks to maximize economic, ecological, and social value by following principles inspired by nature. Architecture in Times of Need also features the Pink Project, a unique effort that directly connects monetary donations to the assemblage of houses. It brings to fruition an idea based on real needs and real people, and in reaction to a natural disaster, the recurrence of which is all too possible.