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David Adler, Architect: The Elements of Style

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Knowledgeably edited by Martha Thorne, featuring essays by Richard Guy Wilson, Pauline C. Metcalf, and Ghenete Zelleke, and enhanced with color photography by Bob Harr and Hedrich Blessing, David Adler, Architect: The Elements Of Style is an astounding visual and descriptive tour of the unique and influential architecture of David Adler (1882-1949) famous for designing homes and estates in America during the period of the "great American house." His elegant style, blending classical inspiration with a uniquely modern finish that shows through the test of time, is presented through memorable color and black-and-white photographs as well as diagrams and extensively detailed text (beginning with an informative foreword by Robert A. M. Stern) and offers enriched background information as to the creation of David Adler's most well-known masterpieces. David Adler, Architect: The Elements Of Style is very highly recommended for connoisseurs of grand architecture and a core acquisition for professional and academic Architectural Studies reference collections and American Architectural History supplemental reading lists.

David Adler (1882-1949) was one of the most important architects designing homes and estates in the United States, during a period known as that of the "great American house." Adler's works--which range in date from 1911 to 1949--were truly American, offering an enormous range of stylistic expression on the exteriors and a simpler definition of interiors than traditional European models allowed.

This important book features seventeen homes and one private club designed by Adler, all of which are beautifully reproduced in full-color with newly commissioned photographs by the firm of Hedrich Blessing. Highlights of this volume include the Stuart-style country house in the manner of Sir Christopher Wren, built for Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Crane in Ipswich, Massachusetts; the Celia Tobin Clark residence, in Hillsborough, California, in which Adler used English half-timber construction; and the William McCormick Blair House, built in Lake Bluff, Illinois, a Colonial New England farm house that constituted a new experiment for Adler.

The book also presents examples of Adler's interior designs, that respond to the demands of modern life, by featuring both the use of new materials and historical elements or furniture acquired during his European travels.

This volume is a strong compliment to the original, David Adler: The Architect and His Work by Richard Pratt and Ezra Stoller. I am in a good position to comment on the matter, as I have both volumes in my library. I have referenced the original often for my own research, and work. I now find this volume a brilliant addition, creating a full and comprehensive view on David Adler's career. This book adds vivid color to his work, via the images, and a fresh, up-to-date and well researched perspective on his life, career, and impact on timeless American architecture.

As the general public unfortunately were force-fed the failures of Modernism, and then had to endure the hideous Deconstructivist anti-architecture that followed during the 20th century, this book is a highly recommended return to intellectual, and aesthetic, sanity. The traditional and classcial architect will, of course, find it mandatory. And the serious architectural theorist, academic and student (who has the intelligence and confidence to think independently) interested in history and honest architecture, that lasts, will find it a must have reference.

This book does do a commendable job of disecting Adler's major works and the research is quite good, though it could have used more photos. I must stipulate that the photos used are quite good. Note to publisher the cover photo, with Adler's name vertically imbosed cheapened the look of the book, although the back photo was excellent. If you are fan of Adler I recommend this book, but with slight reservations, look at my other reviews to find truely great books on American Master Architects. I'm a tenacious reviewer, but if I say a book is great, I'll bet you will agree. I really do try to write reviews that will help people, not just give them a positive synopsis, these books are expensive and some are great, some are good, like this one, and some are just plain disappointing. Anyway, I really hope this helps you in some way, if not...well this is a minute of your life you will never get back.