Owning a getaway home, long a fantasy for many urbanites, has become even more appealing in an era of color-coded terrorism alerts. Architect Mulfinger (The Cabin
) shows how the fantasy can become a reality, encouraging readers to dream big as he showcases 24 homes designed for escape and relaxation. Given Mulfinger's profession, it's no surprise that the book focuses on new construction ("a getaway is typically built with discretionary income," Mulfinger writes in the introduction), which might alienate those of more modest means or ambitions. Dramatic architectural details abound as readers tour homes built in secluded coastal, wooded and mountainous areas, from a futuristic metal cliff-top cabin in Nova Scotia to a round adobe house in New Mexico. Mulfinger includes a few smaller, less costly homes—a tiny mountaintop wood cabin, a beach house constructed with cheap barn siding and PVC—but in general, the projects involve major investments. To Mulfinger, whose firm designed four of the houses featured in the book, what matters most in a vacation home is creating a comfortable environment that allows for "the interweaving of indoor and outdoor spaces," and the way these dwellings use their surroundings is inspirational. Tips on adapting to local weather and topography will be of interest to those designing homes in challenging locations; for others, simply ogling the gorgeous photos might provide escapism enough. (Oct.)
