Customer Reviews

Greene and Greene Architecture As a Fine Art (v. 1)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One wishes that this book would have been at the same size as the team;s earlier work, the Brad Pitt book on the Blacker House and the Passion & Legacy.

The content is great, all new photos wtith the color and depth that has not been seen in the work of others, They really show what Greene & Greene was really about, attention to color and detail. These are some of the most beautiful photographs of buildings and furniture, etc, that I have ever seen.

When looking at the photos in the back of the book, I wonder if I have ever really "seen" the Greene's work since these photographs show much more than I ever remember.

I hope there are more books in the pipeline by these two fellows. They make it so interesting and rewarding. Keep these prices coming too!

This is a fine introduction to the Greenes and their accomplishments. Particular attention is paid (quite rightly) to the 'ultimate bungalows,' the large houses they built between 1907 and 1909 for which they pulled out all the stops. If you fall under the Greene & Greene spell, though, you will eventually want large color photographs, which means you will have to buy more books. Don't say I didn't warn you.

A little thin on content but the illustrations and pictures are top rate and provide many excellent ideas for those looking for craftsman design elements.

I bought this book based on the previous reviews. Having just read it this morning, I can only conclude the positive reviews were from friends and family - they certainly aren't justified, and I wish I didn't own this book. And I say that as someone who owns over 5,000 books - I don't precisely pick and choose.

First the good - the cover photo. In fact, the technical printing quality of of the book is excellent.

Then there is the bad - everything else. One review above alludes to the text being thin - that only begins to describe it. I'd add boring, banal, and barely specific to the Greene's. Its just essays full of architecture speak - if you like reading words like "sculptural" "brutal" or "repetitive roof rafters speak clearly of an ordered construction system" or other examples of how architecture is trying to remake itself into a minor branch of philosophy, this book is for you.

I'd be willing to wade through the architecture-gabble, and the writing reminiscent of college papers in which someone has nothing to say, but 20 pages to say it in, if there was any useful content. Nope. If you are interested enough in the subject to order a book on it, you know everything in here pretty much.

Then there are the photos. While technically good, they rarely capture anything interesting. Which in the case of Greene and Greene really takes some effort!!

I guess, to paraphrase monty python though, its "not completely useless" and so I can't justify giving it one star. But its a grudging 2 stars.

by Randell L. Makinson...If you have studied the works of Greene and Greene..this is the book for you...one of the most comprehensive covering their history and architecture..this was the first time in published form EDITION...EVEN has their individual works discussed and illustrated. copyright 1977...

Having seen several of the houses designed by the Greenes, the book was nice in putting these into perspective. It points out the salient features that distinguished the houses. Like the very overt dark, thick wooden beams. Both on the exterior and inside. Along with the joins between the beams and other structural elements being curved. Giving an effect akin to being inside a giant doll house. While the book does not describe it in those terms, if you look at the interior photos in the book, it really can seem this way.

The book also is good in describing other Greene houses outside Los Angeles. I'd only seen some in LA. But the brothers also has commissions in northern California, executed in their style.

This is a well written book and would be perfect for architecture students or Architects wanting a more text book style reference on their shelf. I think craftsmen, artists, and fans who are wanting to see more of the Greene & Greene detailed workmanship will be a little disappointed. The photos and plans shown in the book are great just not what i was expecting.

If your interests include Greene and Greene, this is your book, house design, furniture design, and a good personal background on the Greene brothers

good, but not quite what I expected. However, for fans of these still a good read