Cliff May’s modern homes epitomize the indoor-outdoor lifestyle characteristic of the American Dream, fusing the open plan/open living philosophy with the traditional ranch house. Starting in the 1930s, the modern ranch house took the country by storm, migrating from California to Arizona, and Cliff May was the chief proponent of this style. His long, low designs managed to be both modern and traditional, celebrating a casually elegant, indoor-outdoor lifestyle, and drawing inspiration from California’s Spanish Mexican ranchos while embracing the latest technological gadgetry. With their low profile, large carports and garages, patios, and expansive horizontality, May’s modern ranch houses became synonymous with the nascent California lifestyle and were enthusiastically promoted by the popular Sunset magazine throughout the U.S. He personally designed and built more than 1,000 homes and commercial buildings, and over 18,000 designs are attributed to his office, including the Robert Mondavi Winery and the offices of Sunset.Complete with new color photography, Cliff May and the Modern Ranch House celebrates the best of May’s work, from his start building homes during the Depression to how he evolved a brand of regional modernity that fulfilled the public’s desire for informal living in the 1950s and 1960s.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Gregory and Fletcher bring May back to the attention of architectural mavens with a well-written, highly informative text and photographs of May's houses as they exist today." ~Modernism
"...the overdue reappraisal of Cliff May...has enough recently photographed houses to suggest that the Ranch's relevance isn't lost on everyone." ~Architectural Digest
"The mod yet traditional abodes designed by Cliff May, the style's chief progenitor, seamlessly fuse indoors and outdoors--the epitome of Califonia easy living." ~Angeleno
"...tells the colorful tale of this self-taught architectural Johnny Appleseed who scattered the ranch style from coast to coast." ~Men's Vogue
"...the overdue reappraisal of Cliff May...has enough recently photographed houses to suggest that the Ranch's relevance isn't lost on everyone." ~Architectural Digest
"The mod yet traditional abodes designed by Cliff May, the style's chief progenitor, seamlessly fuse indoors and outdoors--the epitome of Califonia easy living." ~Angeleno
"...tells the colorful tale of this self-taught architectural Johnny Appleseed who scattered the ranch style from coast to coast." ~Men's Vogue
About the Author
Daniel P. Gregory is Senior Home Editor at Sunset magazine. He has a Ph.D. in architecture from UC Berkeley. Joe Fletcher is a photographer based in the Bay Area with clients that include Wallpaper*, Dwell, and Interior Design magazines.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another stunning effort by Rizzoli International Publications documents the career and widespread influence of Cliff May on mid-20th century residential architecture. Dan Gregory's text is informative and entertaining, and provides excellent insight regarding the early-California ranchos influences and thinking behind May's design ideas. Joe Fletcher's photography offers a lot of diversity, showing both contemporary period shots as well as numerous beautiful modern-day views of many of May's most significant residential designs. Floor plans, original sketches and renderings are also included, which makes "The Modern Ranch House" a wonderfully diverse and comprehensive retrospective on May. When one realizes that May was never formally trained as an architect, his broad influence is even more amazing. As fulfilling and singular in its coverage of May's career as this book is, this reader was left wanting for even more. Highly recommended.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By jwrjwr
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I bought this as a gift for my son and daughter-in-law as they live in a Cliff May that they need to update. They need to make changes to the kitchen but want to maintain the integrity of the design. They have both told me that this is a wonderful book and it has given them many good ideas. So, based on their recommendations, I would have to rate this highly. I am looking forward to a visit with them so I can actually see the book in person!!
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Kelly
Format:Hardcover
I was planning to remodel our 1965 California ranch house. Wanted to retain the orginal character while upgrading with current designs/materials. Over the years, previous owners had added or changed the kitchen and family room spaces. It was difficult to visualize what the original "look" was conveying. I now have my copy of Cliff May's designs on our coffee table. Enjoy the history and flavor it adds to the "feeling" of our home.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cliff May for the coffee table (but not the study)
A sizable coffee table book outlining Cliff May's prodigious career, richly illustrated with vintage and new color photos, many in large format. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Steve Schuh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful book!
This book is beautifully edited and art directed getting to the heart of Cliff May...who he was as a person as well as the motivations and culture that influenced the homes he... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Nord
5.0 out of 5 stars
Cliff May Homes
Excellent pictures, beautiful book and fun to see all the different sizes, areas, and ideas about those homes that were around me in my childhood in Pacific Palisades/Brentwood. Read more
Published on June 25, 2008 by Kim McGrath
5.0 out of 5 stars
Long-Overdue
I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to all Cliff May owners and prospective owners. Gregory does a wonderful job of balancing academic research and analysis with colorful... Read more
Published on June 8, 2008 by Stephen Meade
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