BEAUTIFUL HOMES AND GARDENS IN CALIFORNIA
Herbert Weisskamp
Herbert Weisskamp: BEAUTIFUL HOMES AND GARDENS IN CALIFORNIA. New York: Abrams, 1964. First edition. Oblong quarto. Blue cloth titled in white. Photo illustrated dust jacket. Peach endpapers. 212 pp. 428 black and white photographs, diagrams and site plans. 4 color plates. This book is relatively unknown—a scarce title that further elaborates on the buildings showcased in Esther McCoy's 1962 MODERN CALIFORNIA HOUSES. Jacket with a couple of short, closed tears and mild edgewear. Rear panel with a large closed tear and a chip to upper edge. Architectural Historians’ bookplate to front endpaper. Textblocked uniformly and mildly sun-haloed to upper edges. A nearly fine copy in a nearly very good dust jacket. Scarce in this condition.
10.25 x 7.25 hardcover book with 212 pages and 428 black and white photographs, diagrams and site plans and 4 color plates. 75 percent of the photography is by Julius Shulman. No contemporay editions come close to the beauty of this original edition's super-sharp reproductions, binding and design from West Germany. An amazing vintage relic that must be seen to be truly appreciated.
This volume contains individual chapters (with extensive information and photographs) on the following designers and architects work:
- Raphael S. Soriano
- Pierre Koenig
- Craig Ellwood
- Frank Lloyd Wright
- Mark Mills
- Aaron Green
- Harwell Hamilton Harris
- Henry Hill
- Jack Hillmer
- Lawrence Halprin
- Garrett Eckbo
- Bettler Baldwin
- Lloyd Ruocco
- John Carl Warneke
- John Rex
- Charles Eames
- Lee Stuart Darrow
- A. Quincy Jones and Frederick E. Emmons
- Conrad Buff, Calvin Straub and Donald Hensman
- Greta Magnusson Grossman
- David Thorne
- Thomas D. Church
- Martin Ruderman and Cactus Slim Moorten
- John Lautner
- George Frank Ligar
- Bernard Judge
- Thornton Ladd and John Field Kelsey
- Edward A. Killingsworth, Jules Brady, Waugh Smith and Associates
- Richard Neutra [neutransp]
From the Book: "California provides a showcase for some of the most adventurous domestic architecture in the world --ingenious in its use of space, harmonizing indoors and out, with a planned interplay between the living space and its natural surroundings. The extraordinarily varied landscape -- mountains, foothills, a long coast-line, desert lands, rich and fertile valleys, has long attracted people of individuality who welcome a striking setting to their lives, Californian architects have risen to this challenge, which results in very varied and interesting treatment of sites.
New ideas have involved the use of new materials and methods of construction; prefabricated sections in steel and wood of the utmost precision have been developed. The extremes of weather and climate, from the lushest vegetation to arid wastes, have had to be considered. Yet, despite the effect of spaciousness which is a feature of these houses, costs are often no higher than those of conventional buildings."
"This volume presents outstanding examples of the work of some thirty architects, including Charles Eames, Richard Neutra, Craig Ellwood and Garrett Eckbo. The author, Dr. Herbert Weisskamp, is a practicing architect who worked with Richard Neutra in Los Angeles for a number of years. His informed comments on these Californian buildings, supported by a wealth of photographs and plans, documents and impressive achievement. "