Product Description

In the early 20th-century, architects designing houses for the balmy climate of Southern California were influenced by the style of the villas and palaces that dominated the architecture of Italy, France, Spain, Greece, and Morocco, and a few other North African locales. The resulting style-noted for its pleasing combination of simplicity and dignity, for its often asymetrical undecorated facades-reflected romantic, European forms, and yet distinguished itself by adding American ingenuity. Prime examples of this include Villa Narcissa, widely celebrated for its unimposing grandeur, and Casa Leon, with its stunning hillside location and ocean views. Included here are residences by noted architects such as Julia Morgan, Bertram Goodhue, Addison Mizner, George Washington Smith, Wallace Neff, and others. While some of the houses are lavishly decorated villas with lush landscaping, others are more spare, creations; what all these interpretations of the California Mediterranean style have in common is an indoor-outdoor approach to living.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #468126 in Books
• Published on: 2007-04-03
• Released on: 2007-04-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

Review
"new photographic tome California Mediterranean showcases some of the SoCal coasts' most stunning estates" -- Riviera Magazine

About the Author
Melba Levick is a widely published and exhibited photographer who works and lives in Paris, Los Angeles, and Spain. She is the photographer for Rizzoli's Casa California, Estate Gardens of California, Great Gardens in Small Spaces, and many others. Marc Appleton is principal/president of Appleton & Associates, a Santa Monica-based architecture firm. He is a member of numerous organizations, including the California Preservation Foundation and the Historical Society of Southern California.

Customer Reviews

Not what I expected
Although Marc Appleton wrote a very interesting introduction and the history about the houses was engaging, I was disappointed in this book. I was hoping more for an architecture book but instead got more Architectural Digest coverage of the homes. Having photo descriptions such as "The dining room is carried out in white, platinum, ice blue, and iridescent periwinkle." really didn't do anything for me. As a floor plan of George Washington Smith's Casa del Herrero was included in the introduction, I was expecting floor plans of the houses, but there were none. The photos were beautiful and Marc Appleton apparently knows his subject, but this book left me wanting for something more substantial.

Never before seen gems.
As an avid fan of early Southern California architecture I found this book well worth while. Though not text heavy, the photographs offer previously unpublished tours of some great homes. In particular, the Yust residence, formerly architect F. Pierpont Davis's own home in Los Angeles built in 1921 and not in Sam Watters excellent, recently published book. A very fine, unfettered example of Tuscan revival architecture. It's gardens are also a treasure. It is a welcome addition to my library.