Customer Reviews

Classic Modern Homes of the Thirties: 64 Designs by Neutra, Gropius, Breuer, Stone and Others (Dover Architecture)

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"Classic Modern Homes of the Thirties" is an unabridged reprint of a book first published in 1940, and thus serves as a valuable historic document. But this introduction to the "modern" style of architecture is not just a book for historians: it is visually stunning achievement that will be appreciated by all who have a passion for the art and science of home architecture.

The book introduces the reader to 62 marvelous houses which exemplify the modern style. Architects represented include Gregory Ain, George Howe, Richard J. Neustra, Raphael S. Soriano, and many more. Detailed floor plans, exterior and interior photographs, and details of construction are included. The houses range in size from modest 1- or 2-bedroom homes to expansive, luxurious mansions.

This book is a spectacular introduction to the vocabulary of the modern period in architecture. The photographs and floor plans capture the bold interplay of geometric shapes, the experimentation with glass and other materials, the profusion of balconies and terraces, and above all, the concern with functionality that motivated the masters of the modern.

Co-authors James Ford and Katherine Morrow Ford have included a interesting introduction. Also included is a collection of brief statements by many of the featured architects.

This is a great book for those interested in American cultural history, interior design, home photography, and other subjects. But at its core this book is an excellent record of and tribute to one of the most remarkable movements in the history of home architecture.

This is a wonderful book combining insight into "modern" residential home architecture of the 30's with a view into the lives of those who designed and lived in them. Like all Dover books, this title is remarkable well printed which allows the reader to easily see all the floorplans, pictures and other images of these homes. The text tells the reader about the family the house was built for, their lifestyle and needs, the layout and construcion details and decorating details of their home. What is remarkable is how fresh many of these homes look today and how much recent modern architecture owes the pioneers who designed these homes. Very enjoyable... anyone who appreciates architecture and history will love this book.

I am so glad to find a reprint of this book! It has been impossible to return the one I have on loan. Some less known but notable architects like Pietro Belluschi are included along with the big names. Details such as floor plans and original cost per square foot are a bonus.

A really super book for the price. This is a paperback reprint of a book published in America in 1940. Each house has one or more photos, inside and out, plus a plan (some a bit too small) and details about what the owners wanted, site, cost, materials, exterior and interior details etc. The black and white photos are good considering they have been taken from a printed source.

The authors describe the concept of modern architecture in the short introduction and in the back each architect writes about their views on design. I must have looked through this book dozens ot times and I still love these houses. Unfortunately I bet a lot of them are no longer standing, which makes this reprint even more important as a visual record.

If you are interested in this type of streamline building have a look at 'The Modern House Today' by Nick Dawe and Kenneth Powell, this has excellent color photos of sixty-three houses in England that are still standing, unfortunately the book is let down by the minimalist design. Charlotte and Peter Fiell's massive 576 page reference book '30s and 40s Decorative Art' covers Moderne houses (mostly in the US and Europe) with photos of interiors, ceramics, textiles and lighting. All three books are worth owning.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

In 1932, Philip Johnson and Henry Russel Hitchcock held a retrospective of European modern architecture at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. They coined the term "International Style" to describe this newly emerging style. This show captured the imagination of many of the United States' best young architects and designers. They soon began to put an American spin on the new "International Style" of architecture.

Eight years after the MOMA show, James and Katherine Ford published, "The Modern House in America". The purpose of the book was to draw attention to this new style of architecture as it was being developed in the United States. This volume was in turn republished by Dover Press in 1989 and retitled, "Classic Modern Homes of the Thirties".

This volume showcases sixty four designs by such noted architects as Neutra, Gropius, Breuer, Shindler and Soriano. These works are shown with 194 photographs and 128 plans and drawings. It is important to note, these images come from a book published in 1940 and therefore lack the precision and design values that you would find in a book published today. This reprint is not a coffee table style of book. Its value is more historical in nature.

What I found most interesting in this book, is to see how some of the best homes of this period start taking on an iconic stature within a few years of being constructed. Homes that are the subject of recently written monographs are shown as newly built homes.

Mid-Century Modern is all the rage at the current time. There is no better volume to give an enthusiast an understanding of what forces came together to form this look. To really know Neutra, Schindler and Soriano, you have to know what they were building in the late 1930's.

This book features 64 homes in the mid-century modern style designed by Neutra, Gropius, Breuer, and other less well-known architects. A brief introduction provides an overview of the modernist movement, and it is clearly written. Each home is presented in 1 to 4 pages, with information about the house, period black-and-white photographs, and plans. The plans are reproduced clearly and most are very easy to read.

The briefest descriptions provide basic information about the requirements (for example: "Young family. Interested in art and outdoor sports.") and the construction of the house (wood frame, cement walls, concrete slab, etc.). Many houses include more detailed information about the interests and requirements of the family, and the site, construction, interior finishes, furniture, and cost of the house. Some even include quotations by the original owners about the house, the design, and the architect. Some houses are accompanied by simple floor plans, but the majority show the site plans and landscaping as well. A few include elevations or details of special features.

This book is recommended for libraries with architecture and design libraries. It is a good source for students researching mid-century modernism, modernist homes, or any of the architects included. It would also be of interest to general readers interested in the period.

Wow, what an awesome book. Great addition to my library collection. Exactly as listed, but better than expected. Shipped quickly, too.