Book Review: Private Towers

May 28, 2009

Private Towers: Expanded Edition by James Grayson Trulove

Private Towers: Expanded Edition by James Trulove is a delightful compendium of oddly shaped residential structures that demonstrate how various tall forms are used to maximize the relationship between a functional program and surrounding environment. Peter De Bretteville’s personal residence, aka “Cistern Tower” in New Haven, is featured in this book. Peter is an instructor at the Yale School of Architecture who taught second year design studios, and materials and methods while I was there. I remain a fan of the round “free weights” that anchor the edges of the otherwise loose canvas awnings that surrounds the exterior of his reclaimed and reused water tower. Examples found in this book influenced our plans for the “Wiley Tower,” a project currently on-the-boards located in Mendocino, California.

Check out the rest of my lending library and view my reviews.