Greene & Greene: The Blacker House [Hardcover]

Thomas A. Heinz (Author), Randell Makinson (Author), Brad Pitt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2000

Building on the success of his earlier books, Randell L. Makinson joins with Thomas Heinz and Brad Pitt in producing this rich monograph on the Robert Roe Blacker house, the largest and most elaborate of the refined Greene & Greene style. New color photographs provide the first full documentation of the house following its extensive five-year restoration, for which Makinson was the architect. This book has just been released, is already ranked #6 on the LA Times best seller list. (20000101)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Greene & Greene:The Blacker House" recounts the meticulous five-year restoration program that has brought the residence back to it's original glory. Written by Randell L. Makinson, director emeritus of the Gamble house and the leading Greene & Greene scholar, and photographer and Frank Lloyd Wright specialist Thomas A. Heinz, the book includes a black-and-white photo essay by Brad Pitt(yes, him).The actor's gimmicky pictures, shot with an infrared filter that gives trees and vegetation a ghostly spookiness, are proof of the architects' ability to inspire unlikely enthusiasts in many walks of life. (Martin Filler The New York Times Book Review )

From the Inside Flap

Contents Preface Introduction Pasadena The Construction of a Landmark The Greene & Greene Design The Decorative Arts The Furniture Through the Lens of Brad Pitt The Dissipation of a Landmark The Restoration Acknowledgements Restoration Team Illustration Credits

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Gibbs Smith, Publisher; 1st Edition. edition (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879059494
• ISBN-13: 978-0879059491
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 11 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,051,412 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent!, October 10, 2000

By 

Clay Curtiss (Lacey, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Greene & Greene: The Blacker House (Hardcover)

A great deal has been written about the work of architects Charles and Henry Greene, but never before has such a detailed monograph been published about one of the homes that they designed. Randell Makinson's narrative provides a thorough historical background of the Blacker Family from their Ontario origin to their final home and its construction by the Greene brothers in the Oak Knoll subdivision of Pasadena. The story continues with the 1947 subdivision of the 5.1 acre estate into seven separate parcels and the eventual removal and sale of the original furniture, light fixtures and art-glass windows (all designed by the Greenes). The book concludes with a detailed description of the restoration process that began when the current owners purchased the home in 1993, and was basically completed in 1998.

Historical narratives, while full of useful and interesting information, are typically a little monotonous. That is not the case with this book. Mr. Makinson's obvious passion for the work of Greene and Greene, and for this house in particular, is evident. His description of the removal of 53 light fixtures from the house in 1985 left a lump in my throat. I could not put the book down until I read the happy ending about the house's restoration.

I had the privilege of visiting the Blacker House on October 6th, and viewing firsthand the results of the restoration effort. While nothing can quite compare to walking through this masterpiece and touching the magnificent woodwork, I can assure you that the marvelous photography of Thomas Heinz and Brad Pitt comes very close. The collection of photographs in this book is absolutely wonderful. The interplay of light and shadows, the warmth and depth that the colors bring to the images, and the visual compositions themselves cause me to rank these among the best architectural photographs ever published.

This is a must-have book for anyone interested in Arts and Crafts architecture. The contribution of Charles and Henry Greene to the American architectural vernacular can never be overstated, and this house is certainly one of their most important contributions to the art. Thank you Randell, Thomas and Brad for supplying a valuable addition to my library. I hope this is the first in a series of books about the "ultimate bungalows."

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great photos of a true masterwork, October 18, 2000

By 

R. K. Johnson (The Great Pacific Northwest) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Greene & Greene: The Blacker House (Hardcover)

I must admit to being rather enamored with the work of Greene and Greene. I've visited a number of their homes in Pasadena, but have not yet had the opportunity to view the Blacker House (from the inside anyway). Over the last ten years, I have read about every book written on the brothers, and when I read the pre-release description of this book I was very excited. In particular, I was interested in learning in detail how this wonderful quality work was reproduced and restored by today's craftsmen. While this book does a great job covering the history and detail of the house, this is not new territory if you're familiar with the previous body of work. I really had my hopes up that the hammer and nails detail of this monumental restoration would be covered in such a fashion as to provide working information applicable to new design. The work of Greene and Greene carried residential detail design in wood and metal to it's zenith. With the structure exposed, this was really a magnificent chance to highlight the subtlties that set their work apart. This does not happen here. My comments may be a little unfair but this book ends up being another "architectural" reference. I was looking for something that broke new ground. This being said, I still love the book, and am glad to have it in my library.

5.0 out of 5 stars Genius, November 16, 2003

By 

Jeremy M. Davis (East Liverpool Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Greene & Greene: The Blacker House (Hardcover)

I had the extreme pleasure of being part of the production of this masterpiece by Mr. Makinson. I can tell you from an insiders point of view that, much research, time and love went into this creation.
Mr. Makinson is a perfectionist extrordiaire. Trust me when I tell you, each and every texture,color,and tone is just as it is in the actual home. Not like many books or photos. I promise you this: This book will make you feel as if you are there walking through the history of this remarkable landmark.
During production I read this book countless times. Even now several years later, I will pick it up and find myself immersed in the splendor of a marvelous works.
Jeremy Michael Davis