This sumptuous and comprehensive volume embraces one of the most beloved house forms, the Spanish Colonial Revival, presenting at once a lavish portrait of the style as well as the definitive statement on the subject through more than three hundred color photographs. The Spanish style in architecture encompasses facets from a vast array of traditions, many of which are in evidence in these extraordinary houses. Elements include thickset, whitewashed stucco walls, deeply recessed doors, lushly planted courtyard gardens, intricate and colorful tile work, telescoping towers inset with Juliet balconies, elaborately traced wrought-iron window grilles, and richly appointed interiors heightened by drama in light and shadow cast by moody pendant lamps and low-burning fires. The houses featured are the very best of the type, both famous and little-known, and showcase the work of architects such as George Washington Smith, Bertram Goodhue, Wallace Neff, and Paul Williams, from the early twentieth century, to the work of contemporary practitioners, including Marc Appleton, Michael Burch Architects, and others. These homes are a fantasy for living made real in the Southern California sun. Read more

Renowned for its picturesque charm, Mexico has lured design-world insiders to its retreats, as presented in this inspirational selection of some of the latest Mexican design trends from the Yucatán. In recent years leading international tastemakers have been drawn to the vibrant culture of the Yucatán. In Mérida—the region’s sixteenth-century capital—they have renovated many of the romantic Spanish colonial town houses into stylish retreats. In the nearby towns of Valladolid and Coba, picturesque houses surrounded by lush vegetation in sun-drenched settings have also been updated while retaining indigenous charm. Annie Kelly takes us on an insider’s tour of several stunning properties—from brightly painted town houses and contemporary villas to rustic bungalows—many with a distinctive bohemian feeling. These sophisticated residences blend artisanal craftsmanship with antiques and contemporary furnishings. They have been designed by such talents as architect Manolo Mestre, artist Jorge Pardo, L.A. modernist antiques dealers Robert Willson and David Serrano, and Nicolas Malleville of Tulum’s famed Coqui Coqui hotel, who has brought the fashion world to the Yucatán due to his chic homes and hotels there. Beautiful outdoor entertaining, garden, and pool areas enliven all these homes. This book is a stimulating resource for the design aficionado. Read more

An ode to the classic Spanish-style houses of Santa Barbara. Spanish Colonial Style celebrates an extraordinary tradition in architecture whose hallmarks include whitewashed stucco and plaster walls, wood-beamed ceilings, dramatic fireplaces, and, above all, mystery and romance. Homes in this much-loved style of architecture welcome the visitor and embrace the resident, and architects James Osborne Craig and Mary McLaughlin Craig, early proponents of the style and influential disseminators of it, were masters of the form. Their work, until now, has been largely underappreciated and little seen. The Craigs played pivotal roles in the development of the Spanish Colonial Revival and of other styles of architecture in Santa Barbara, and the influence of their work spread much beyond that. In addition to shining a long overdue spotlight on the rich career of these tremendously influential architects, Spanish Colonial Style also heralds Santa Barbara as the small city of international importance that it became in the first half of the twentieth century. Read more

Radical Practice celebrates the extraordinary, award-winning designs of Marlon Blackwell Architects, an Arkansas-based firm with a focus on public and civic projects that are located outside of the established centers of architectural culture.The distinct and original work of Marlon Blackwell Architects has produced iconic and award-winning designs across building types, scales, and budgets. Located in Arkansas, the firm merges the universal language of architecture and the particulars of place, a process that has resulted in a distinguished body of work, from schools to parks and beyond.Celebrating thirty years of practice by the 2020 AIA Gold Medal-winning architect Marlon Blackwell, this survey of more than a dozen buildings pairs detailed drawings and the vivid photographs of renowned photographer Timothy Hursley with essays by leading designers, planners, and artists. Contributors include Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, architects of the Obama Presidential Center; Maurice Cox, Chicago's city planning director; Pritzker Prize-winning architect Thom Mayne, James Corner, landscape architect of the High Line, and environmental artist Mary Miss among many others—all of whom attest to Blackwell's reputation as a leading voice of his generation. Read more

Celebrate the beauty of California homes and interior design with this stunning architecture coffee table book—now in a more affordable size perfect for your home décor!   Film star Diane Keaton shares her love of Spanish-style architecture in exclusive photographs of Southern California’s most romantic historic homes.Explore the stunning historical architecture and interior design of Southern California! In this gorgeous architecture coffee table book featuring specially-commissioned photography, Diane Keaton showcases the most important, yet rarely seen, residential exemplars of the California Mission and Spanish Colonial styles.   From whitewashed stucco walls and cloistered patios to tile roofs and sumptuous gardens, each house is a rare architectural masterpiece, with splendid interior design finishes like authentic Monterey furniture, California tile, and Navajo rugs. Among the magnificent seaside estates, canyon villas, and courtyard bungalows is Diane Keaton’s former home in Beverly Hills, which she thoughtfully restored with noted interior designer Stephen Shadley, and for which she has been recognized as a committed preservationist.   Keaton brings her cinematic eye to each building—many of which have never been photographed or seen—while authoritative text by D. J. Waldie lucidly explicates the architecture. Now available in a more compact and affordable format, this California coffee table book is an intimate tour of a historic and distinct lifestyle, perfect for anyone interested in interior decorating and home design. Read more

From monumental architecture to miniature paintings, sumptuous carpets, and ceramics: the decorative profusion of the arts of Persia captured in glorious detail through hundreds of color photographs Persian art and architecture have a rich heritage that stretches far beyond the borders of modern-day Iran, from the Abbasid monuments of Baghdad to the splendid Timurid buildings of Samarqand and Bukhara. When the ancient land of Persia was conquered by the Arabs, its people embraced Islam but strove also to retain their own language and culture. The merging of influences resulted in a distinctive artistic style that spread through the Middle East. This book follows a historical path across the Iranian world and examines the artistic legacies of great rulers and their dynasties, from the rebirth of Persian art under the Seljuqs to the magnificent structures built by Timur-i Lang in Samarqand and the cultural flowering that occurred under the Safavid dynasty and beyond. Palaces, mosques, madrasas, and mausoleums display a mesmerizing decorative complexity, with form and ornament combining to create an indivisible whole. Spectacular polychrome tiles, intricate brickwork, curling arabesque motifs, and calligraphic inscriptions attain a transcendent beauty, designed to reflect both the temporal power of the rulers who commissioned them and the heavenly glory of creation. 280 illustrations, 255 in color Read more

In 1980, Los Angeles historian Jim Heimann wrote a book about the oddball roadside architecture that has dotted the American landscape since the advent of the auto. Published by Chronicle Books as California Crazy, it stayed in print for nearly 20 years. Finally, here is the greatly expanded new edition of that sought-after classic. California Crazy and Beyond is packed with madcap restaurants, motels, service stations, and many other businesses shaped like hot dogs, animals, airplanes, pianos, and other architectural anomalies. Over the years, Heimann's continued research has uncovered a multitude of new pictures and forgotten buildings. With over 380 photographs and an illuminating text that tracks the subject well beyond the bounds of the West Coast, California Crazy and Beyond is an authoritative document of a style born in America and spread to all corners of the world. Read more

Sustainable, circular, up-to-dateMost modern buildings are built from diverse materials, but few confront their manifold composition as a question of both design and performance. This book takes a close look at a series of global building traditions and contemporary practices to uncover the possibilities and challenges of working with mixed materials. Visually stunning, color-coded drawings reveal the materials and construction for every project. Through case studies, design experiments and writings, the authors examine the opportunities of heterogeneous construction for contemporary, sustainable, circular, and culturally situated architecture. With contributions by Jeannette Kuo, Ajay Manthripragada, and Jesús Vassallo, and photography by Naho Kubota. Graphic design by Andrew LeClair. Richly illustrated case studies of lesserknown hybrid construction techniques Beautiful graphic design and unique spot color printing reveal the interrelationships of materials in construction In-depth essays that discuss the technical, cultural, and environmental implications of heterogeneous construction Read more

Paying homage to the seminal mid-century modern architecture of Palm Springs, this luxurious book showcases historic jet-set homes designed by legendary talents such as Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, and Paul Williams, as well as private residences by today’s leading tastemakers.Since Gary Cooper built one of the first modernist houses in Palm Springs in the 1930s, this desert oasis has entranced Hollywood. A mecca for the international jet set that lured Frank Sinatra, Walter Annenberg, and others, Palm Springs came into its own architecturally as a haven for visionary modernists such as Richard Neutra, who were practicing the International Style in Los Angeles. The architectural legacy remains unsurpassed for its originality and influence, and recently many of the city’s modernist residential treasures have been restored.In original new photography, Palm Springs captures the allure of this famed modernist destination. The book profiles outstanding examples such as the Annenberg Estate, the Ford House, and the Kaufmann House, shown in their splendor, as well as today’s restorations by top interior designers such as Martyn Lawrence Bullard and fashion designer Trina Turk. A resource section provides modernist furnishing stores and other points of interest. Read more

Invitation to Vernacular Architecture: A Guide to the Study of Ordinary Buildings and Landscapes, is a manual for exploring and interpreting vernacular architecture, the common buildings of particular regions and time periods. Thomas Carter and Elizabeth Collins Cromley provide a comprehensive introduction to the field. Proposing a methodology, Invitation to Vernacular Architecture provides a systematic approach to vernacular architecture fieldwork. The authors walk readers through the process of examining and documenting a building, explaining in detail how to define a research area and create a research plan. They guide students step-by-step in how to take accurate measurements of sites and of building exteriors and interiors and explain what to look for at each level. They show how to find patterns and how to organize information to yield sound interpretations of buildings’ meanings. As a complement to this practical approach, Carter and Cromley present current scholarship on vernacular architecture and explain the need for a broad theoretical perspective. They show how analysis of facts related to a building can reveal important insights into the behavior and culture of people who lived in a certain area at a certain time. The authors then present a single ordinary house as a case study to explore the different points of view that scholars have brought to the study of vernacular architecture. Rich with illustrations and written in a clear and jargon-free style, Invitation to Vernacular Architecture is an ideal text for courses in architecture, material culture studies, historic preservation, American studies, and history, and a useful guide for anyone interested in the built environment. Read more

Adds a new dimension to the architectural guide by marrying incisive analysis of the development of New Orleans's urban design context with beautiful color illustrations, as well as beautiful photosThe book takes you on a vibrant pictorial tour of the city s innovative architecture, building interiors, cityscapes and topography by renowned photographer Timothy Dunford. His full-color, large-scale photographs showcase the city's atmospheric streets and boulevards, grand mansions and vibrant domestic residences, with close-ups of classical as well as modern architectural detailsGeoffrey H. Baker provides pertinent comparisons with historical references to New Orleans by other eminent writers, such as Mark Twain and others. Baker references and compares international cities with elements of New Orleans's urban development, architectural styles, and culture. He includes commentary on the Make it Right project, and HRH Prince Charles's work on PoundburyCovers topics ranging across architectural styles (balconies, shutters, courtyards, façades etc); indepth descriptions of key landmarks, including Saint Louis Cathedral, William Faulkner in Pirate's Alley, the atmospheric charms of the Vieux Careé, the Garden District, Rosa Park, Jackson Square; and the natural botanic elements of the city's flora, trees, parks, and greenery; and so much more New Orleans, like Venice, is built in a location that at first sight seems curious in the extreme. How could it be that these cities, built so precariously in the face of a watery threat, were to become among the great cities of the world? How could a site below sea level, at a swampy curve in the River Mississippi become one of the most visited cities in the United States, and possess a unique kind of magic that separates it from other cities? Geoffrey H. Baker's gem of an architectural guide answers these burning questions. Inside these richly illustrated pages he explains how the urban design works for this city's plight, which is frequently handicapped by nature's capacity to destroy in the form of hurricanes. Timothy's beautiful photography showcases the unique topography and architectural fabric of New Orleans, and Geoffrey's insight illuminates the city's inimitable spirit that's born of its constant battle forsurvival. Read more

A rare glimpse into Korean hanok, Inside the Korean House takes readers on an unprecedented tour through the modern interiors of twelve magnificent tradional homes.Amidst the glass-and-steel skyscrapers and luxury apartments of modern-day Seoul, traditional Korean houses known as hanok survive and play a surprisingly important role. Inside the Korean House showcases 12 very special hanok that have been selected to reflect the style-conscious Korea of today, a country where traditional values are still highly respected.While the exteriors of these homes are indistinguishable from the traditional hanok of the past, the interiors have been adapted to keep up with the times. Traditional stone, wood and clay are still the basic materials used, and the houses make full use of natural elements such as wind and sunlight based on the principles of baesanimsu—which position the hanok in harmony with the forces of nature and the geography of their sites.The hanok in this book all have unique stories that are told from the point of view of their owners, many of whom are well-known architects, designers and business leaders. The book provides an unparalleled look at the lifestyle of contemporary Koreans who are leading the world now in terms of design, fashion and innovation. Read more

With their understated beauty and holistic design, Mediterranean homes are a perennial source of inspiration. The Mediterranean Home has an ongoing influence on residential architecture and interior design: from classical to rural styles to more grounded spaces that interweave form and function. Blending the inside and the outside, bringing together traditional features with contemporary elements, Mediterranean houses connect with their environments and the local culture. The Mediterranean Home looks at architecture, at interior design, decoration and furniture, at how vegetation and rock provide both shade and colorful warmth. It showcases old buildings converted into modern homes in various regions and coastal hinterlands and celebrates the unique Mediterranean aesthetic that continues to inspire a sense of home and comfort around the globe. Read more

Shows a variety of homes in the Santa Fe, New Mexico area and discusses the use of stone, adobe, Navajo weaving and crafts, folk art, and hand carved furnishings that make up the local style Read more

Book by Nabokov, Peter Read more

“An engaging historical account and an attractive, practical resource.” —BooklistColonial, Neoclassical, Queen Anne, Craftsman—what distinguishes one architectural style from another? This unique book will allow readers to recognize the architectural features and style of virtually any house they encounter. Here, architect John Milnes Baker explains the historical, cultural, and technical influences that shaped each of these styles and many more. Organized in periods, from Early Colonial (1600–1715) to the Modern Movement (1920–60) and beyond, this tour of America’s varied residential architecture is rendered in elevation drawings that precisely illustrate the key characteristics of each style.Nearly 25 years since the original publication of American House Styles, this updated edition includes a new preface and house styles from the mid-1990s to the present—from the rise and fall of the McMansion to energy-efficient, regionally influenced homes. The illustrations, now in color, are more delightful than ever in a new, larger format. This a must-have volume for anyone interested in architecture or adding a bit of style to their home. Read more

“These notes are about the process of design: the process of inventing things which display new physical order, organization, form, in response to function.” This book, opening with these words, presents an entirely new theory of the process of design.In the first part of the book, Christopher Alexander discusses the process by which a form is adapted to the context of human needs and demands that has called it into being. He shows that such an adaptive process will be successful only if it proceeds piecemeal instead of all at once. It is for this reason that forms from traditional un-self-conscious cultures, molded not by designers but by the slow pattern of changes within tradition, are so beautifully organized and adapted. When the designer, in our own self-conscious culture, is called on to create a form that is adapted to its context he is unsuccessful, because the preconceived categories out of which he builds his picture of the problem do not correspond to the inherent components of the problem, and therefore lead only to the arbitrariness, willfulness, and lack of understanding which plague the design of modern buildings and modern cities.In the second part, Mr. Alexander presents a method by which the designer may bring his full creative imagination into play, and yet avoid the traps of irrelevant preconception. He shows that, whenever a problem is stated, it is possible to ignore existing concepts and to create new concepts, out of the structure of the problem itself, which do correspond correctly to what he calls the subsystems of the adaptive process. By treating each of these subsystems as a separate subproblem, the designer can translate the new concepts into form. The form, because of the process, will be well-adapted to its context, non-arbitrary, and correct.The mathematics underlying this method, based mainly on set theory, is fully developed in a long appendix. Another appendix demonstrates the application of the method to the design of an Indian village. Read more

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A photographic journey behind the opaque storefronts of shuttered retail spaces, and their magical worlds of compositions and modern ruins.In Capital, Mark Hage reframes the story of gentrification, and in photographic portraits of shuttered retail spaces captures the hidden soul of the city. Exploring the accidental compositions that emerge in the built environment, he invites us to view an alternative to increasingly over-mediated spaces in photographs of what is abandoned, altered, left behind, gutted. Read more