Product Description

Pure California: 35 Inspiring Houses In The New California Tradition is a beautiful new hardcover book of photography and text that provides a personal tour of 35 of the most influential and important houses designed by Bassenian/Lagoni Architects (BLA) over the past 5 years. From an Early California home in Coto de Caza to a California Cottage on the Balboa Peninsula to an Old World Tuscan Adaptation in Rancho Santa Fe, this milestone book takes the reader on an adventurous, inspiring journey through some of the finest luxury production homes in California. Along the way, the reader will discover and enjoy spectacular examples of what admiring critics are calling "The New California Tradition" in American housing.

For consumers and lay readers, Pure California will serve as a splendid work of ideas and inspiration for the latest in California home design, floor planning, landscaping, interior and furnishings. For professionals and students, the book will help define the techniques and demonstrate the execution of a land use method that is having major impact on housing in America.

The 160-page hardcover book features over 200 glorious color photographs of the outside and inside of 35 different houses, as well as a detailed floor plan and site plan of every residence. A narrative tour leads the reader on an inspiring walk through each house, pointing out the architectural, design and furnishings elements along the way. The book also includes a Foreword by Howard Englander, a noted housing marketer and forecaster, as well as an Introduction by Aram Bassenian, CEO of BLA, and an Afterword by Carl Lagoni, President of the firm.

This book is a "must" for anyone interested in viewing and understanding the most recent developments in California architecture, as well as design trends and land-planning methods that are having major influence across the United States.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #636882 in Books
• Published on: 2002-12-20
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Review
"Bassenian/Lagoni Architects' bold and cutting-edge achievements have set a new standard in the housing industry..." -- Howard Englander, noted housing authority and commentator, in the Foreword of the book, December 2002

About the Author
Totaling a staff of over 90 professionals, Bassenian/Lagoni Architects (BLA) of Newport Beach, California, specializes in the total design, theming and "texturing" of residential communities. Innovation in architecture and discipline in construction costs are BLA trademarks. The firm's commitment to design excellence has broght BLA over 163 Gold Nugget Grand and Merit Awards, 138 MAME awards, 43 Best in American Living Awards and two Professional Builder magazine "Smarter Housing for the Money" selections.

Aram Bassenian, AIA, Chairman and CEO, is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley School of Architecture. In private practice since 1970, Aram has been a leader in bringing livability, logic and high style to production housing in America.

Carl Lagoni, AIA, President, received his Bachelor's Degree in Architecture from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo and is a registered architect in four states, Carl is in charge of all aspects of day-to-day operations at BLA and is responsible for fine-tuning and refining many of BLA's award-winning designs.

Customer Reviews

california homes
We are building a new house. The pictures and home layouts in this book inspired many new ideas. It was a great resource when feeling overwhelmed with so many options to choose from. Everything in these homes are first class.

Multo-Bene! Aram
This book documents what I have understood for many years. BLA is one the premier american residential architectural firms. Beautiful work! Fabulous projects! A joy to peruse. The book has interior and exterior photos of several "Pure" California design approaches from Spanish, to Coastal, to Tuscan style. If you are building a home, or enjoy good architecture, you will not be disappointed.

Wow! Nice book and for a nice price!
For anyone who loves to do the Sunday-afternoon-drive-around-and-look-at-old-houses thing, this is the book for you. The quality of the photos is really impressive and while I suppose it'd best be described as a coffee-table book, it also contains a fair quantity of information about the houses and their style and influence and history of design.

While there is some history and corollary info, I was saddened to see not a word - not ONE word mind you - mentioned about Pacific Ready-Cut Homes. Perhaps you're thinking "what has that got to do with anything?", let me explain.

This book has quite a bit of info on Pasadena and whilst Pasadena is home to a stunning variety of architecture, it's also home to a wonderful collection of bungalows that were originally ordered as KIT HOMES from Pacific Ready-Cut Homes.

That being said, I was truly impressed with "Pure California" and found it to be a fun, easy read and a beautiful book with wonderful, strong-quality (and richly-colored) photos.

Rose
author, California's Kit Homes