Архітектура

Redefining the Modern Home. A monumental retrospective of the Case Study Houses program

The Case Study House program (1945–66) was an exceptional, innovative event in the history of American architecture and remains to this day unique. The program, which concentrated on the Los Angeles area and oversaw the design of 36 prototype homes, sought to make available plans for modern residences that could be easily and cheaply constructed during the postwar building boom.

The program’s chief motivating force was Arts & Architecture editor John Entenza, a champion of modernism who had all the right connections to attract some of architecture’s greatest talents, such as Richard Neutra, Charles and Ray Eames, and Eero Saarinen. Highly experimental, the program generated houses that were designed to redefine the modern home, and thus had a pronounced influence on architecture — American and international — both during the program’s existence and even to this day.

TASCHEN brings you a monumental retrospective of the entire program with comprehensive documentation, brilliant photographs from the period and, for the houses still in existence, contemporary photos, as well as extensive floor plans and sketches.

The photographer:

American photographer Julius Shulman’s images of Californian architecture have burned themselves into the retina of the 20th century. A book on modern architecture without Shulman is inconceivable. Some of his architectural photographs, like the iconic shots of Frank Lloyd Wright’s or Pierre Koenig’s remarkable structures, have been published countless times. The brilliance of buildings like those by Charles Eames, as well as those of his close friend, Richard Neutra, was first brought to light by Shulman’s photography. The clarity of his work demanded that architectural photography had to be considered as an independent art form. Each Shulman image unites perception and understanding for the buildings and their place in the landscape. The precise compositions reveal not just the architectural ideas behind a building’s surface, but also the visions and hopes of an entire age. A sense of humanity is always present in his work, even when the human figure is absent from the actual photographs. Today, a great many of the buildings documented by Shulman have disappeared or been crudely converted, but the thirst for his pioneering images is stronger than ever before.

The author:

Elizabeth A. T. Smith is Executive Director of the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, based in New York. Previously, she was Executive Director, Curatorial Affairs, at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto; Chief Curator and Deputy Director of Programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, and Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. While at LA MOCA she curated the 1989 exhibition Blueprints for Modern Living: History and Legacy of the Case Study Houses. She has curated, published, and lectured widely on a variety of topics in contemporary art and architecture.

The editor:

Peter Gössel runs an agency for museum and exhibition design. He has published TASCHEN monographs on Julius Shulman, R. M. Schindler, John Lautner, and Richard Neutra, as well as several titles in the Basic Architecture series.

The book does not aim to establish any bases for creative criteria, standards for presentations or be a concatenation of specific concepts; its pretension is much simpler yet one we believe to be effective: it aims to serve as a recipient or container of the latest trends presented and represented in architecture competitions.

The faсade represents the building’s outer skin and this skin endows the building with character through the choice of materials, textures and tones used to create the composition in accordance with the architect’s design. These are external, generally exposed elements which also perfectly reflect the cultural and aesthetic changes not only in the course of architecture but also the user’s customs, a combination which has also evolved over time.

The choice of one type of roof over another fundamentally depends on the building’s purpose, environmental considerations, climate conditions and the available means to carry out construction. Taking into account the quality of a roof, there are a wide range of solutions available on the market, so it will be up to the architect to provide a building design to suit these specifications, as well as how to best streamline the solution and adapt it to the environment.

In the nineteenth century there was an amazing flowering of ironwork forms, mass produced and widely distributed, but of extreme variety and richness of design. Too often they have been overlooked, or referred to mistakenly as ‘wrought iron’.

E. Graeme Robertson’s interest began decades ago with the realization that cast iron was being destroyed because its aesthetic value was not recognized. To remedy this situation he wrote a number of books on Australian ironwork and then, with his daughter Joan, travelled all over the world to compile this superb photographic inventory of the forms taken by cast iron ornamentation, its national variations, its relationship to architecture and its contribution to the attractiveness of buildings.

Supported by introductory texts, glossary and bibliography, Cast Iron Decoration will be welcomed by art historians, architects, designers and anyone who cares for our global cultural heritage.

In Bohemia and Moravia, the Czech Republic possesses one of the richest, cultural landscapes in Europe. Its castles and gardens make a significant imprint on the face of the landscape and they are to be considered among the most magnificent of noble residences to be found anywhere. This comprehensive, illustrated book presents 50 of the most important sites from the Renaissance up to the 19th century, a number of which are recognised as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Alongside the historical events which led to the building, modifying or decline of the selected castles, there is also a description of the architecture and furnishings which are the main focus of this studied and lively history. Magnificent photographs bring back to life the atmosphere of the castles, their majestic halls, art treasures and artistically designed gardens.

Theres a universal appeal to a home where we can kick back and chill out, one thats fuss-free, welcoming and cocooning and can counteract the stresses of busy modern life. In Casual Living, best-selling author and interiors expert Judith Wilson puts this goal firmly within reach. In the first section, Casual Style, Judith maps out the two different facets of the look Country Casual and City Casual. In Casual Elements she focuses on the different ingredients that come together to create a casual and comfortable home. And in Casual Rooms, Judith takes a look at how the style translates to every room in the house. We cant all achieve the perfect, stress-free life, but Casual Living will enable you to create a warm, welcoming and comfortable home that youll enjoy and appreciate every single day.

This book presents, through the finished works of a considerable number of Catalan architects (among them; Bonell i Gil, Enric Miralles, Carme Pinós, Carlos Ferrater...), the vision of a phase between 2004 and 2009. This publication aims to spread the work of these architects, while defining the informative and cohesive task of the Col·legi d'Arquitectes de Catalunya (COAC, Architects' Institute of Catalonia). Portrait of a Time, forms part of this trajectory, as well as constituting a point of inflection in various respects. It actually forms part of an even longer trajectory that began in 1874 with the constitution of the Associació d'Arquitectes de Catalunya [Architects' Association of Catalonia], which handed down to us an architectural documentation centre of which we are justly proud. Our Historic Archive houses the professional holdings of some 120 architects whose work is vital to an understanding of the history of Catalan architecture.

Fighters made of bronze, gigantic wall reliefs depicting heroic workers or cosmonauts, and socialist pomp….

When you enter subway stations in Eastern Europe and in countries that were once part of the USSR today, time seems to stand still. The stations are chroniclers of the history and art of a long-vanished world power. In this volume, photographer Frank Herfort presents around 20 metro systems of the Soviet era from Moscow to Bucharest, from Baku to Tbilisi. His focus is on the details, capturing over 700 works of art with his camera. They were conceived as prestige projects, thousands of kilometres apart and created under different conditions at different times. The stations in his photographs come together to form a holistic and comprehensive representation of socialist art that does not stand alone but relates to the everyday life of people today.

With texts by Knesia Smirnova, specialist in monumental Soviet art and architecture, deputy director at Shchusev State Museum of Architecture.

Frank Herfort has spent over a decade photographing interiors of various public spaces throughout Russia and Eastern Europe. An architectural photographer by trade, Herfort’s personal work is a homage to the décor of the Soviet era that is still very present. Yet, transported into the present, the boundaries between time and context blur and the readers are enabled to create their own narratives.

Art tile is a truly exciting option for both interior and exterior decoration. There is a vast array of tile available on the market today, ranging in design from traditional to modern, and conservative to outrageous--the possibilities are overwhelming! This book is a wonderful introduction to art tile, loaded with ideas and resources that will charm and inspire. Hundreds of breathtaking photographs of installations in and out of the home show the work of today's leading contemporary tile artists. Insightful text guides readers to an informed appreciation of this timeless art and its marvelous suitability for all areas of the home. Chapters include a history of tile making in America, how art tile is made, visiting a tile showroom, designing with art tile, trends in art tile, what to expect during installation, and ceramic art in public spaces. A large resource index and a directory of artists is included.

Adaptations of 16 of the renowned Russian-born French painter's finest stained glass works, among them I and the Village, The Cellist, Bride and Groom with Eiffel Tower, Equestrienne, The Green Violinist, and Girl on Horseback. Place colored plates near a source of bright light to create a glowing stained glass effect.

Today’s chalets have come a long way from their original function as herdsman’s hut in the Alps. They now serve as sites for relaxation and retreat from everyday life, they provide room for soul-searching and introspection. The particular attractiveness of chalets is derived from the interplay of architecture and interior design with the topography and mountainous nature around them.

This volume presents new constructions as well as renovated and reconstructed historical chalets from around the world – in Aspen and Zermatt, the South American Andes and the mountain regions of Japan. The designs are multifaceted, ranging from traditional to modern, simple to luxurious, but the individual expression of each project captures the particular charm of the surrounding landscape.

Against a backdrop of fluctuating real estate markets in China in recent years, it is imperative that developers stay relevant and ahead of their competition. With 39 unique projects that cover a range of themes from the integration of local Chinese culture and human oriented designs to the use of eco-technology Changing and Unchanging II plots a course for better understanding of the changing demands and increasing competitiveness in this industry. Colour throughout.

Arguably America's most beloved designer of Country French interiors, Charles Faudree has been working his magic on homes domestically and internationally for more than thirty-five years. His fourth book, Charles Faudree Interiors, continues to reveal his versatility in classic and international styles, and showcases his newest signature country French interior-his own new cabin nestled in the Oklahoma countryside-along with a tropical island retreat, a chic metropolitan high-rise, and homes done up in Georgian, contemporary and ranch high style.

Here, in his personal, engaging manner, Faudree walks us through the challenges and successes of his newest designs that prove French Country can keep its traditional spirit and still be modern, surprising and edgy.

About the Authors:

Charles Faudree was named one of America's top 100 designers in 2002. He is often featured in design magazines, including Traditional Home, Southern Living and House Beautiful. His previous books, Charles Faudree's French Country Signature, Charles Faudree's Country French Living, and Florals and Interiors have been widely lauded. While designing homes and creating books, Charles maintains a retail shop in Tulsa, and has launched a fabric line, The Charles Faudree Collection, for Vervain. He lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Jenifer Jordan is a Texas-based photographer whose work has been featured in Traditional Home, Renovation Style, House Beautiful, Southern Accents and Veranda, as well as in two of Faudree's previous books, Charles Faudree's French Country Signature and Charles Faudree's Country French Living.