Dream Houses

The term ""dream houses'' is a weak thematic link in this meandering assembly of ``visionary'' homes that includes faithful revivals (an ancient Greek villa, a Georgian restoration) that border on parody as well as interesting industrial conversions: an Australian factory, British malt house and Mediterranean watchtower. A pedantic introduction regrettably sets a tone of stilted admiration for a succession of cliched Romantic country houses, further marred by poor photography and lackluster catalogues of interiors and the houses' ownership histories. In the main, the 20th century selections are the most compelling, enlivened by sophisticated, luminous photographs of such breathtaking images as a post-modern ``farmhouse'' in the ``Pennsylvania vernacular'' and a pink neo-Moorish Marbella resort. Gilliatt (The Complete Book of Home Design) describes with particular verve the dramatic architectural feat of Ricardo Bofill, who brilliantly transforms a series of abandoned cement silos in Barcelona into a modern Gothic marvel. (October 29)