Product Description

Art/Invention/House is an authoritative and handsomely illustrated presentation of forty new houses-many published here for the first time-exploring the creativity of top architects around the world, ranging from firms that specialize in residential work to those for whom a house is a rare indulgence. The houses shown here are understated or audacious, but never conventional. Each of these cutting-edge projects, whether built in town or country, represents a world apart from its surroundings. Some have only trees for neighbors; others are shoehorned into tight urban sites, perch on precipitous slopes, or cling like limpets to the coastline. But every house is one of a kind, the product of dialogue between demanding clients and creative designers around the globe.The book includes the world-renowned firms of Archi-Tectonics/Winka Dubbeldam, Will Bruder, Wallace Cunningham, Gwathmey Siegel, Steven Holl, Rick Joy, Thomas Phifer, and Richard Meier in the US; TEN Arquitectos, Alberto Kalach, and Michel Rojkind in Mexico; Marcos Acayaba and Marcio Kogan in Brazil; Seth Stein in the UK; Alberto Campo Baeza in Spain; Herzog & de Meuron in Switzerland; Georg Driendl and Hugo Dworzak in Austria; Jyrki Tasa in Finland; Alvaro Siza in Portugal; Tadao Ando, Shigeru Ban, Hitoshi Abe, and Kengo Kuma in Japan; and Glenn Murcutt and Harry Seidler in Australia.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #438473 in Books
• Published on: 2005-11-08
• Released on: 2005-11-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 320 pages

About the Author
Michael Webb began writing about architecture and design in London in the 1960s and now does so in Los Angeles, working out of a classic Richard Neutra apartment that Charles and Ray Eames once called home. He is the author of twenty books, including Brave New Houses: Adventures in Southern California Living (Rizzoli) and Modernism Reborn: Mid-Century American Houses (Universe). He travels the world, gathering material for articles in Architectural Review, Architectural Record, and Domus, Frame.

Customer Reviews

The House is Not only a Home, It is Art!
Michael Webb and Rizzoli have done it again. Since their last highly successful BRAVE NEW HOUSES: Adventures in Southern California Living book in 2003 Webb has pushed the edge of architecture and design and the result is a truly original look at houses as art. Recognized as one of the country's leading architectural critics, London-born Webb now lives in a Neutra 'house' in Southern California and writes articles for Architectural Review, Architectural Record as well as his own widening collection of books.

In this elegantly designed and beautifully illustrated book, Webb addresses homes that are truly unique - from concept, to site, to architect/client philosophy, to construction. Though some of these homes have been featured in other places, many of the forty odd homes are 'unveiled' in this book. Each home is viewed in its entirety with the focus on the aspects that make each home 'on the edge'. The sizes, shapes, settings - all aspects of these artworks are discussed with Webb's conversational yet always erudite manner. Included are homes designed by architects form the USA, Mexico, Brazil, UK, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Portugal, Japan, and Australia. And a more creative klatch of contemporary architects could probably not be assembled.

The real pleasure of this large book is the presentation of these unique houses as works of Art. While there is a large audience for certain architects of the 'home' styles (Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, Greene and Greene to name but a few), these artists are now historically based and the architects represented here are boldly modern and sophisticated. Some of the names here included are recognizable by the cognoscenti: the others soon will be! This is a magnificent 'Art Book', simply of another medium, and deserves a place in the library of great art (as well as great architecture) lovers. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, November 05

Great compilation of recently completed houses in a handsome book!
Recently published by Rizzoli, this handsome book is a collection of the most recent or newly built houses that go beyond convention. Author Michael Webb selected forty houses from five continents that exemplify the various types of houses throughout the world today that truly one of a kind. The houses featured are by some of the most gifted architects whose practice are of all different scales. Houses by large firms such as Richard Meier & Partners are included as well as small or single practices such as Glenn Murcutt. Each project is beautifully portrayed in large border less photos along with a detailed explanation of the project contained in about eight pages. Handsomely crafted in a one square foot volume, this compilation should be on the must have list of professionals as well as house enthusiasts who want to know today's artistic and inventive solution to the age old concept of a house.

www.biblioarch.com

Dream Houses
I've seen a lot of books on new houses, but this one stands out from the crowd. The selection of 40 new residences covers the world, from a forest in northern Japan to an idyllic bay in New Zealand, by way of Lake Bled in Slovenia and a hillside in Mexico City. There are masterpieces by celebrated architects and exciting work by people who deserve to be better knownThe brief text explores each house and the needs and personalities of its owners. The pictures are exceptional and are printed large enough that you can imagine yourself walking through these rooms. Now I've bought it the biggest challenge is to discourage friends from "borrowing" it.