Brave New Houses

Michael Webb’s Brave New Houses – Adventures in Southern California Living (Rizzoli, 2007) presents 30+ outstanding, experimental private houses and projects in residential design.

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Michael Webb’s Brave New Houses – Adventures in Southern California Living (Rizzoli, 2007) presents 30+ outstanding, experimental private houses and projects in residential design. The contributions are by Richard Meier & Partners, Stan Allen Architect, Morphoses, RoTo Architects, Chun Studio, Ken More Design, and many others. The book has a short introduction to contemporary residential design in the Californian architecture culture. Each of the projects have also been given a thorough introduction. The contents has been thematised into seven sections: Shifting Geometries; Serene Volumes; Dynamix Structures; Fronting the Ocean; Engaging the Landscape; Confined Lots; and Radical Visions.

‘Home’ is a word that is heavily freighted with emotion – the embodiment of self-image, family, and childhood associations. No wonder so few people can resist its lure. Many of those who would like to break out of the box fear that an architect-designed house may prove too costly or take too long to realise, that the design will be contested or that the end product could prove hard to live with and harder to sell. Their home may be their only substantial asset and they are afraid to put it at risk.

Gathered here are thirty-four houses commissioned by people who were willing to take a chance and please themselves. Old and young, affluent or with limited means, connoisseurs and neophytes, these clients are as diverse as their dwellings. Each individual, couple, or family wanted something tailored to their dreams and practical needs, to the site and the climate, and all found architects who would listen and respond, creating houses that fulfilled their program and brought boundless rewards. In a few cases, the architect was also the client. Without exception, they found that their lives as well as their portfolios were enriched. Formerly skeptical friends congratulated them on their good fortune. Strangers came on tours and envied what they saw. Delays or cost overruns during construction were quickly forgotten.

None of this happened by chance. Designing a house is a balancing act – satisfying present and future requirements while addressing the site and context and going the architect abundant scope for creativity. Success depends as much on careful planning as flights of inspiration.
– Michael Webb, Introduction to Brave New Houses – Adventures in Southern California Living (Rizzoli, 2007), pp.9-10

The text is in English and the rich illustration consists of plenty of architectural photographs and architectural drawings of the showcased projects.

The copy in our stock is in good condition. The pages are clean without any markings, and the glueing of the binding is fine. There is some age-related yellow toning on the edges of the pages, but the covers are tidy and without any visible faults.

Weight 870 g
Dimensions 23,0 × 23,0 × 1,6 cm
Author(s)

Michael Webb

Publisher

Rizzoli

Publishing year

2007

Language

Images

architectural drawings, colour photos

Binding

Paperback

Condition

Number of pages

240

ISBN

0-8478-2565-5