Changes

The bach had a main house, and extra bedrooms forming an L shape. It was made of wood, and creaked in the wind. Other than that, although we could tell you which bed had the bounciest springs, and where the floor sagged badly, none of our group would be able to put into words the architectural style or history of the building. This is why I opened ''Architecture Uncooked'' by Pip Cheshire and Patrick Reynolds with much anticipation. Here is a book written by a man who is clearly in love with New Zealand, its heritage, landscape, and its architecture. It is not just that he describes the design of seven Kiwi baches from the Southern Alps to Northland with clarity, describing both their aesthetic and functional characteristics, but he brings them to life by intertwining his time spent there with his personal history. I have visited some of the locations, but the ones I haven't, I now feel like I have, so vivid and personal is his writing.

Likewise, Reynold's photography captures the architectural details, but more importantly, he captures the spirit of the buildings and the landscape, and gives you an intimate portrait of how the baches are living, breathing entities, filled with people currently living there, and, as with my friend's bach, filled with the memories over the past generations.

If this book appeals to you then we think that you might also enjoy [[Celluloid Circus: the Heyday of the New Zealand Picture Theatre by Wayne Brittenden]]. You might also appreciate [[Going as Far as I Can: The Ultimate Travel Book by Duncan Fallowell]].