Case Study Houses: 1945-1962 [Paperback]

Esther McCoy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1977

Since the popular Museum of Contemporary Art exhibit of 1989, Blueprint for Modern Living, much attention has been paid to the pioneering work done by the architects of the Case Study Program. Sponsored by John Entenza's Art & Architectue Magazine, the Case Study Houses program brought new thinking, techniques, and materials to post-war California house building. Contains the work of Charles Eames, Eero Saarinen, Craig Ellwood, Pierre Koenig, Richard Neutra, William Wurster, and others.

Product Details

• Paperback: 217 pages
• Publisher: Hennessey & Ingalls; 2 edition (January 1, 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0912158719
• ISBN-13: 978-0912158716
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 10.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #716,446 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good supplement on modern architecture in Southern CA., May 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Case Study Houses: 1945-1962 (Paperback)

This book made me aware of how visions of residential space has changed over the decades (such as the fact that family homes were often equipped with only two bedrooms). I enjoyed having the addresses on these homes listed in this paperback also -- now I can take an architectural tour on my own. More importantly, I learned the legacy of Arts & Architecture, the now defunct magazine that made the Case Study project possible.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The shock of the new again...The Case Study Houses, October 28, 2006

By 

Brett E. Schryver "urbanguy99" (Melbourne, VIC Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Case Study Houses: 1945-1962 (Paperback)

I completely forgotten about the Case study houses and how much they have influenced how we live today...til I read this book.

Back in 1945, John Entenza's Arts & Architecture magazine, commissioned major architects of the day, to design and build inexpensive and efficient model homes for the residential housing boom caused by the end of World War II and the return of millions of soldiers.

The houses are amazing to say the least - and although the book has only black & white photo's, they are the original photo's when the houses were first built - so you see what the the architects (Like Richard Neutra, Charles & Ray Eames for example) were experimenting with - materials from wood to steel to even plastic...creating open planned abodes with floor to ceiling doors & windows opening up these dwellings to natural light and views of the surrounds... or to the new to patio or terraces..from bedrooms with built in robes and furniture...to kitchens with all mod conds and bench seating...to ensuite bathrooms with double vanities...to open fireplaces, sunken rooms and split level floors - all of which we take for granted today...the indoor and outdoor blended, and the home started to take form and life ( or should I say 'lifestyle') of it's own - not just a art deco or colonial or Spanish mission revival box - it became a living functional machine...

The program ran from 1945 until the mid 60's. Most of the houses were built in California. The case study houses in their time started basic and pure, but ended up costly and a luxury item for rich americans.

It exploded the idea of the traditional house - and the way we interact with it...in fact if you look at homes from the Mc Mansions of the new estate suburbs to the more expensive commisions some architects are lucky enough to create - all (yes even the ones which look like a copy of Tara) have used, abused and quite frankly stolen ideas from the case studies...that is the legacy which has survived.

This book was meant more of a record than a historical piece (originally published in the mid sixties) - however it has great photo's and introduction. Yes there has been more in depth books on the subject, but this is more so an good solid foundation of the homes, plans are included and the original black & whites photo's of the homes - so we can see what the intention of the architects - raw, clean, living.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars What a Great book!, August 23, 2009

By 

B. Hill "unlimited bookreader" (Dirty burg,va) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Case Study Houses: 1945-1962 (Paperback)

I remember seeing this book on my mother's coffee table as a child. It was not this one it was the more expensive hardback edition. I wish this book was a required read for home builders these days they could have learned a lot about personal style and function just by understanding what the Case Study Houses were all about. I mainly purchased this book because of my dream home "Case study house 22". It was amazing how well written this book was although it did not give too much information as to how much the houses cost to build back then and more detailed pictures it was a enjoyable read. There are more books that have color pictures but they just don't have as many pictures as this one.