Product Description

As cities throughout the U.S. struggle with housing shortages, valuable lessons can be learned from the principles that underlie the design of the courtyard house. Whether humble or sumptuous in scale, courtyards create a sense of privacy and enhance quality of life by creating the impression of green space for their residents.

Now available in its fifth printing, Courtyard Housing in Los Angeles documents the historical, technical, and cultural forces that shaped the development of this distinctive West Coast building type. The authors's in-depth research and analysis is enhanced by the inclusion of numerous plans and technical drawings. Julius Shulman's sensuous black-and-white photographs document the range of courtyard styles—from simple bungalow-style dwellings to more ornate buildings combining Italian, Spanish, and North African influences.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #676474 in Books
• Published on: 1996-11-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 232 pages

Review
The authors' detailed research and precis analysis are complemented by period photographs and Julius Shulman's sensuous black-and-white images. Michael Webb, L.A. Architect

Customer Reviews

A great tool for rebuilding neighborhoods
The authors have done a spendid job of assembling the full range of courtyard housing types from the complex atached units of the Andalusia to the arrangement of modest bungelow courts.

Onather world of peace and charm
More than stressing a communal vibe, the courtyard buildings covered in Courtyard Housing reflect Hollywood's fascination with fantasy architecture. The sense of palatial Moorish palaces at a smaller scale provide a whimsical escape from the drudgery of everyday urban life, while the climate of Los Angeles and the Mediterranean architecture combine to create a sense of exotic, charming otherworldliness.

The Zwebells's astounding courtyard design, The Grace on Grace and Franklin, is sadly not included in this book, but luckily many fine buildings are.

What a wonderful book!
I purchased this because I live in a courtyard building in WeHo, and have long been a fan of the form. The authors make a compelling case for preservation by identifying courtyard housing as an important and valid alternative to the socialist-inspired modernist forms (Corbusier, et al) that were coming up at the time (1920s-1930s). One small caveat, though -- a photo on page 210 identifies an area as between Harper and Hayvenhurst, when in fact the streets seen are Laurel and Hayworth (the Villa de Este is on Laurel, not Harper).