A Shelter in the Garden : Playhouses, Treehouses, Gazebos, Sheds, and Other Outdoor Structures

Whether it's a tree house perched among the branches or a rustic gazebo by a pond, a small-scale playhouse or a whimsical dovecote, structures in the garden conjure images of long-ago summers and thoughts of childhood, innocence and worry-free relaxation. "Garden Architecture" inspires readers to recreate these bygone days by constructing their own outdoor features: arbors and pergolas, greenhouses and potting sheds, tiny cottages and canopied cabanas, birdhouses and bird feeders. With 175 photographs of structures in beautiful garden settings, this book showcases a huge array of ideas for outdoor projects. Some are largely decorative, some more utilitarian - a tool shed, a dining gazebo, a vine-covered sunshade - but all are charming in their design. Detailed instructions are given for making 50 of these projects with illustrations explaining the techniques and materials used. Bringing out the builder and the dreamer in all of us, "Garden Architecture" can help anyone turn their garden or yard into an enchanting and personal space.

Pierre Nessmann is a journalist, garden designer, and the author of numerous works about gardens. His most recent books are The Gardener's Palette and City Gardens (both STC), with Brigitte and Philippe Perdereau. Brigitte and Philippe Perdereau are among the best-known garden photographers in France. They travel throughout Europe photographing gardens, and their work has been published in many books and magazines. They also photographed STC's City Gardens and The Gardener's Palette.