Art Invention House [Hardcover]

Michael Webb (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 8, 2005

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.

Editorial Reviews

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.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli; 1St Edition edition (November 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847827356
• ISBN-13: 978-0847827350
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 1.3 x 12.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #784,483 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Webb is the author of 26 books on modern architecture and design. He was born in 1937 and grew up in London, where he worked at The Times and Country Life magazine, before moving to the U.S. in 1969 to become Programming Director of the American Film Institute. He resumed his writing career in 1981 and now lives in Los Angeles when he is not traveling the world to gather material for books and articles.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The House is Not only a Home, It is Art!, November 10, 2005

By 

Grady Harp (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Art Invention House (Hardcover)

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

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great compilation of recently completed houses in a handsome book!, December 31, 2005

By 

Heejae Lee "hjl studio" (Seoul, Korea) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Art Invention House (Hardcover)

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.

amassingdesign.blogspot

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dream Houses, December 28, 2005

By 

dennis puzey "dennispuzey" (San Francisco, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Art Invention House (Hardcover)

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.