Customer Reviews

Bernard Maybeck: Visionary Architect

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This is the latest serious biography on Bernard Maybeck, and by far the best collection of photographs of his work to date (2008). A nice balance of archival material on Maybeck, including his drawings, and contemporary photos of his surviving buildings. Some photos accentuate golden hues that are not true to the real-life interiors, but this is a minor drawback in what is a very good picture of who Maybeck was and what he built. - William Marquand

A great overview of Maybeck's work. As a decorative concrete contractor, I was really looking for good photography of his work for inspirational purposes. I am definitely not disappointed.

I have not even looked at this book. It left my house in its wrapper.

My review is based on the reaction of my mother. Her father built houses in the bay area and did a few designed by Maybeck.

The joy in her voice as she describes the work he did and the pictures of the houses that she remembers from her childhood was worth every penny. The next time I visit her I expect to see a lot of this book as she seems to be really enjoying the nostalgic trip it has provided.

SF Bay Area craftsman architect who defines the title. Who else would think of building an electric oven into the kitchen wall- at the turn of the 20th cent.? OK, a few ideas went awry-the dip the burlap sack in wet cemenent, nail it to the wall number comes into mind. We lost some of his homes in the Berkeley Fire, and many industrial pieces to "progress", but he, Julia Morgan, and Polk define turn of the 20th cent innovation and
brilliance as Gehry does the 21st now. Sally Woodbridge is the best authority on the subject and does it justice.