Wallace Neff and the Grand Houses of the Golden State

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By: Diane Kanner
(7 customer reviews)
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EDITORIAL REVIEW

Wallace Neff was the preeminent architect of Spanish colonial-revival houses in Southern California, but surprisingly little has been written about him, despite the publicity he received for designing great estates for Hollywood legends such as Mary Pickford. "I just build California houses for California people," this exceedingly private architect told friends and clients. In fact, Neff was an ambitious and inventive designer who was not only adept at manipulating traditional styles to please famous, wealthy clients like Cary Grant, Claudette Colbert, and Darryl Zanuck; he was also a pioneer in low-cost housing and pneumatic building. The Bubble House, as his best-known Airform structure was fondly nicknamed, had a social vision as compelling as that of any modernist housing project.

Wallace Neff and the Grand Houses of the Golden State tells the life story of this significant architect, who was raised as Southern California aristocracy, as an heir to one of the founders of Rand, McNally & Company, and grew up to influence the course of architectural history in California. Illustrated throughout with lush black-and-white archival photographs that document Neff’s family life and professional accomplishments, journalist Diane Kanner’s compelling narrative offers a behind-the-scenes look at the development of residential architecture in Southern California. The first comprehensive analysis of the life and work of this undiscovered master, it is sure to become a classic among architecture and interior design enthusiasts.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Publisher: Monacelli
Pub. Date: 17th November 2005
Catalog: Book
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Pages: 240
Ean: 9781580931632
Isbn: 1580931634

ABOUT THIS BOOK

USER REVIEWS

I wish I had read all these reviews
~ Written on Jun 22, 2008. 2 out of 2 users found this review helpful.

The book is well researched, but there are very few photos. For that reason I find it unsatisfying. In a book about an artist, a lack of visuals is a serious flaw.

Leaves you wanting more!
~ Written on Jun 13, 2008. out of users found this review helpful.

I thought the information in this book was wonderful! The biographical details on Neff and those he designed for are captivating.
If the book has a weakness, it would be that the photos are very few considering his body of work. Only one distant aerial shot of the Enchanted Hill estate of Frances Marion and Fred Thomson when so many commissions were generated from those who visited the home???
I'm dreaming of a Wallace Neff book with hundreds of interior & exterior shots of his works, floorplans, and current status of the house.
Having said all that, I'm still reading this every evening before bed, so it is fair to say I love it!

wallace neff and the grand houses of the golden state
~ Written on Feb 15, 2008. 4 out of 4 users found this review helpful.

if you are looking for examples of the archictecture of wallace neff this is not the book to purchase. There are very few pictures of his architecture in this book, in fact the nicest picture in the book is the one on the front cover. The book is mostly about the man and what influenced his designs.

Great Book
~ Written on May 5, 2007. 1 out of 4 users found this review helpful.

I really liked this book. I thought it was excellent. I enjoyed reading about the man Wallace Neff and reading about his architectural career and seeing photos of his works. Yes, there could have been more photos-but what was there was nice. And I must commend the publisher as these days I find so many typographical errors when reading books--and I did not find ONE typo!!! A very well done book.

Where are the pictures?!
~ Written on Jan 5, 2007. 10 out of 10 users found this review helpful.

The book is well researched and his life presented well but the monograph is so skimpy on photos that you're left feeling like you just ate your appetizer and now you are being denied your filet mignon. His work is so stunningly detailed in person that only giving the reader a few black and white photos devoid of detail is jsut mean spirited. Very disappointing.

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