Product Description

A stunning combination of personal reminiscence and spectacular photographs of this influential modernist masterpiece.

The most celebrated work of French architect and designer Pierre Chareau, the Maison de Verre is revered by experts, acclaimed as an inspiration by many, but until now only glimpsed by a very few.

In 1928, Chareau was commissioned to build this private residence in an eighteenth-century Paris courtyard. Dominique Vellay, the granddaughter of his original client, tells here for the first time the story of this extraordinarily inventive house, an embodiment of modern building principles and methods. Its metal framework, glass-brick curtain walls, and sliding partitions and panels have made a remarkable impression on architects and designers worldwide.

François Halard's photographs pay homage to the house and its unique architectural features: the interior, bathed in daylight gently diffused by the glass walls; perforated zinc screens that rotate or slide silently on curved rails; exposed steel beams; balconies with paneled bookshelves; open-stepped staircases that permit light to penetrate; and—not least—the house's furniture, created by the architect for his clients, and covered with fabrics by eminent contemporary artists and designers. 80+ illustrations in color and duotone.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #46852 in Books
• Published on: 2007-05-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Review
La Maison de Verre, the culmination of Chareau's work as an architect, is not open to the public—except, truly, through this work. Highly recommended. -- Library Journal

About the Author
Dominique Vellay is a writer and journalist living in Paris. François Halard has published in Vogue, The World of Interiors, Décoration Internationale, and House & Garden. He shares his time between New York and Paris.

Customer Reviews

Fascinating house, authentic book
I just received the book and had no time to read the text. The NY Times article in the summer covered the history of the house up until its current restoration. The photographs look a little as if they were from the "modern" era. Perfect perspective correction, focus on the details, rendering the home's atmosphere remarkably well. I especially like the color balance of the images. I disagree with the previous reviewer about the pictures. I can not imagine any different way to introduce this spectacular building. The black and white Polaroids (?) are a bit distracting. They may serve as spacers.

The "modern" is an important stage of the Western culture and deserves our attention.

Akos Szilvasi (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

Blah...
This book simultaneously (and half-heartedly) documents the owner, the architect, and the building. The text is boring, the pictures are less than spectacular, and there is an extremely limited set of drawings placed in the back of the book as an after thought.
Overall I am extremely dissapointed with my purchase, and if you are an architect or student of architecture chances are you will be too.