American Houses: The Architecture of Fairfax & Sammons [Hardcover]

Mary Miers (Author), Adele Chatfield-Taylor (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 7, 2006

Anne Fairfax and Richard Sammons are at the forefront of a movement among architects today who draw inspiration from the wellspring of the classical traditions in architecture. They have developed a body of work that reflects and adheres to the long-held theories of proportion and order passed down through many past generations of scholarship and practice. The firm's office also served as the headquarters for Henry Hope Reid's Classical America, the only organization offering an alternative to modernist aesthetics until the establishment of the Institute of Classical Architecture in 1992. The twenty-four projects in this volume show the firm's consistent focus on classical architectural beauty, whether the chosen style be Palladian, Tuscan, Mediterranean, Georgian, Adamesque, Neo-classical, British or Dutch Colonial, Colonial Revival, or even East Coast Shingle Style, in all of which Fairfax & Sammons are eminently proficient. The projects selected out of the firm's large body of work include country houses located in Connecticut, New York, Virginia, and Florida, including the renovation of town houses and apartments in New York City—all presented in new color photography.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A mix of renderings, gorgeous full-color photographs and concise, informative text, this book showcases 20 homes in all, including seven New York City apartments and seven majestic houses all within a two-hour drive of the city." -- 9/28/06 NEW YORK POST

About the Author

Mary Miers is Architectural Writer for the London-based journal Country Life. She lives in London and Scotland. Adele Chatfield-Taylor is president of the American Academy in Rome. She lives in New York City.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (November 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847828573
• ISBN-13: 978-0847828579
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 1.1 x 12.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,204,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Illustrates the Range of the Architects, January 11, 2007

By 

John Matlock "Gunny" (Winnemucca, NV) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: American Houses: The Architecture of Fairfax & Sammons (Hardcover)

Fairfax & Sammons have designed a series of modern day homes that build upon classical American architectural appearance but combine with the need for modern day convenience and construction techniques. Many of the twenty four houses depicted in this book would not have appeared startling to the founders of the country (until, of course they saw areas like the kitchens). These are not Frank Lloyd Wright style buildings. They belong out in the country with a lot of land around them.

At the same time the architects have been active in downtown city development where often small and unfunctional builds have been remodeled into dwellings meeting the unique requirements of the owner.

The exact style of the buildings it hard to define as the different structures borrow from various styles that integrate together to form a unique body of work. This is a great idea book for anyone interested in modern houses with a classical American look.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Neo-Classicism done well, March 31, 2008

By 

Jon L. Albee "Faulkner Wannabe" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: American Houses: The Architecture of Fairfax & Sammons (Hardcover)

This is a classic architecture monograph. The photography is excellent, and the text really serves to frame the photography and declare the design philosophy of the firm. The portfolio of structures is mostly residential rather than institutional, though Fairfax and Sammons have put together (and included in the book) a plan for Marion Square in Charleston that will probably never be executed but is still beautiful.

The houses contained within are all luxury accomodations with stunning classical details of delicate proportion. These architects practice a restrained neo-classicism that is both pure and original, and gives the neo-classical revival the quality it deserves. You're not likely to tire of these houses the way Robert A. M. Stern can leave you overwhelmed and then bored. Their work is like that classic song that fails to get your attention on first hearing, but becomes an all-time favorite after awhile. The work of Fairfax and Sammons reminds me very much of the classical masterpieces of Norman Davenport Askins. All the sites are located along the East Coast, where this type of architecture fits the historical context.

The only reason I rated it 4 instead of 5 is that I find these books to be vastly overpriced, much the same way art folio are overpriced. Since books like this are meant to be browsed and enjoyed, and do not serve as technical manuals or textbooks, I find it hard to justify the prices. That said, if you can find this one for a nice discount and you appreciate fine neo-classical work, you'll enjoy this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars American Houses - in appreciation, September 29, 2008

By 

Stephen C. Erskine - See all my reviews
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This review is from: American Houses: The Architecture of Fairfax & Sammons (Hardcover)

If anyone wonders at the taste of contemporary architects, the darlings of media critics, this book is a breath of fresh air and a reminder that good taste never dies. Several recent commissions for private homes are reviewed with excellent photographs and narrative. The architects Fairfax and Sammons were unknown to me prior to this book, but I now wish I had the means to employ them. American Houses: the architecture of Fairfax & Sammons is a book to enjoy again and again.