Antoine Predock: Houses [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

Antoine Predock (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 2000

Although Antoine Predock's practice is international, his roots are in the American southwest. His architecture draws from the elemental forces in any location, but in the desert it draws from the monolithic topography, expansive cerulean sky, and sparse geometric flora. Known for the way he incorporates references to the elemental forces--air, earth, fire, water--Predock's bold, fluid structures evoke the mythic nature that is rooted in regional culture and forms.

This is the first book to put together all of the extraordinary houses designed by Antoine Predock. Each of the twelve remarkable private houses featured here--ten from Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, and two from California--harmoniously blend with their landscape in ways for which Predock is now so renowned. Characterized by environmentally conscious design, the houses display both exquisite refinement and an ingenious level of invention.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Antoine Predock is the past recipient of the coveted Rome Prize of the American Academy in Rome. He has also received the AIA National Honor Award, the Chicago Architecture Award, as well as Honors Awards from the California Council of the AIA, the Los Angeles AIA, and the New Mexico AIA.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (December 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847822591
• ISBN-13: 978-0847822591
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,845,129 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a stunning book, February 22, 2001

By 

sue y. s. kimm (pittsburgh, pa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Antoine Predock: Houses (Hardcover)

This is a beautifully produced book with wonderful photographs that capture the essence of Predock's work, the magical interplay of light and shadow. A characteristic of Predock residences is the interdigitation of the house and the land so that it appears as if the house almost grew out of and/or grew into the earth (pp.46-7, 82-3). The siting of the Boulder House (pp.46-7)against the majestic barren New Mexico environ is bold and assertive but at the same time is pitched in perfect harmony with its surroundings(pp.38-9). It embodies the primordial purpose of a domicile, a shelter from the harsh elements of nature and a haven where the inhabitant inside feels snug and protected. A unique feature of Predock's buildings is his almost metaphysical approach to design so that the structure seems to morph into a kind of mythic place, evocative of some distant place/ancient times/primordial culture. This is exemplified by the Fuller house as illustrated on pages 86-7. The Fuller house is classical without appearing derivative. It is timeless in its suggested monumentality. Predock's designs should withstand the vagaries of time. Though he is a gifted master of modernism, he is a universal architect of all times and all places because of his almost mystical reverence for the land and his profound appreciation of the "geological strata" of culture encoded in the place where his building is situated. Because he also understands stage craft from his background in dance performance, he is a clever stage master and understands the emotional impact of well choreographed presentations. (See the boulders spilling down to the pool on pages 100-1.) He is also a brilliant colorist, as exemplified by the elegantly tinted exteriors of his houses which blend in so seamlessly with the background landscape without the artifice of mimicking nature (pp. 86-7, 104-5, 120-1). This book does an admirable job of capturing these special attributes of Preodock's designs.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars spaceman predock, May 9, 2007

By 

Jan M. Wood "jantheman" (sonoma) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Antoine Predock: Houses (Hardcover)

Predock is the George Jetson of our day. He ia a prime speciman of a spaceman. The man knows space. This is not so much a review of the product I received from Amazon as it is a prelude to a Predock. As you move yourself toward the crafting of your space and before your space craft blasts off, go for a test drive with Predock. He will put the rocket in your proverbial pocket. He will put the capital D on your dreamhouse. Predock is not the product but all props to Amazon for hooking me up with the man and his work. I am feeling deeply satisfied and inspired.