when I became interested in historic houses I looked for a field guide to typical houses. Q: When you published the first edition, did you expect it to become such a definitive reference?Ī: As a lifetime user of field guides - to birds, insects, trees, etc. McAlester shared her thoughts on the new edition and American home design via email with The Dispatch. McAlester came up with the phrase “millennium mansion,” for example, to describe the two-story, multigabled suburban homes that many think of as McMansions. Some, such as “ranch” and “ split-level,” might seem obvious, while others required new terms. The heart of the updated book, though, lies in the new categories. The edition not only brings American styles into the 21st century but also expands earlier sections. The second edition, written by Virginia McAlester alone, clocks in at 880 pages - 350 pages longer than the first. The book was quickly heralded as the definitive guide to American housing styles. Written in 1984 by Dallas preservationist Virginia Savage McAlester and her husband, Lee McAlester, the original Field Guide offered a detailed description of three centuries of American homes, from cabins to Craftsmans. Last week, the second edition of A Field Guide to American Houses was published. Nearly three decades after its publication, the standard reference to American home design has been updated.
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