Customer Reviews

California Victorians (Beautiful America)

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The Victorian style can be described as a "sweet gingerbread architecture" that reminds you of the houses you know from the pictures of books of fairy - tales. Theses houses just want to be nice (for sure, that depends on the personal idea of a good taste - it' s not the Bauhaus, Mies van der Rohe or Philipp Jahnson) and not to give an occasion for an intellectual discussion between the world's most famous architects. This book by the architectural photographer Keeneth Naversen gives a fascinating insight into into the Victorian era in architecture of California. The book is not a catalogue or a special guide for tourists. It's primary emphasis is photographic, and its basic purpose is to provide pictorial sampling of the Victorian domestic architecture that has managed to survive from the gold rush era to the present. Naversen devides the book in chapters concerning the different styles: The Gothic Revival Style, the Italian Villas, the Evolution of the Row House in San Francisco, the Mansard Palaces, the Stick Style and East Lake Houses, the Queen Anne Villas and the Romantic Eclecticism. Unfortunately, you don't get views of the interior, details of the artisans' work or construction. Naversen shows only outside views of the houses . However, you feel the overwhelming touch of flair by watching the great photos of the extravagant and colourful facades decorated with towers, turrets and woody fancywork of all sorts. I can also recommend the following books to people interested in that kind of architecture: "Northwest Victorians" by Keeneth Naversen and the pocked - sized book "San Francisco Victorians" by Michael Blumensaadt and Randolph Delehanty. Dipl.-Ing. Dipl.- GwL. Christoph Erlemeier (Stuttgart, Germany)