Product Description

Gracefully written and brilliantly illustrated, this handsome new volume captures the vision, the wit, and the down-to-earth inventiveness of one of the most influential and beloved architects of the early twentieth century. Raised in Greenwich Village and trained in Paris, Maybeck spent most of his long career in northern California. An irrepressible bohemian with no desire to run a large office, he spent much of his time designing houses for friends and family, as well as for other patrons so loyal that they often hired him to design more than one house. Maybeck also created two of the most beautiful buildings in all of California: the exhilarating Church of Christ, Scientist, in Berkeley, and the gloriously romantic Palace of Fine Arts, in San Francisco.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #894508 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 248 pages

From Library Journal
This excellent biography thoroughly documents the often fantastic and always interesting work of California architect Bernard Maybeck, discussing major public commissions like San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts. Moreover, Woodbridge reveals that her subject, whose greatest triumphs were in domestic architecture, was not only an influential architect but also a creative designer and innovative engineer. The volume is extensively illustrated with vintage photographs and architectural plans and elevations, and much of Maybeck's extant work is detailed in recent full-color photographs by Barnes. Finally, a chronological checklist of Maybeck's planned and completed projects is included. Highly recommended for collections of architecture, design, and art.
- Martin R. Kalfatovic, Smithsonian Inst., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Nice Portrait of Maybeck's Work
This is the latest serious biography on Bernard Maybeck, and by far the best collection of photographs of his work to date (2008). A nice balance of archival material on Maybeck, including his drawings, and contemporary photos of his surviving buildings. Some photos accentuate golden hues that are not true to the real-life interiors, but this is a minor drawback in what is a very good picture of who Maybeck was and what he built. - William Marquand

Great Pics!
A great overview of Maybeck's work. As a decorative concrete contractor, I was really looking for good photography of his work for inspirational purposes. I am definitely not disappointed.

Perfect Gift, Hit the Mark
I have not even looked at this book. It left my house in its wrapper.

My review is based on the reaction of my mother. Her father built houses in the bay area and did a few designed by Maybeck.

The joy in her voice as she describes the work he did and the pictures of the houses that she remembers from her childhood was worth every penny. The next time I visit her I expect to see a lot of this book as she seems to be really enjoying the nostalgic trip it has provided.