Greene and Greene: Masterworks [Hardcover]

Bruce Smith (Author), Alexander Vertikoff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1998

In the first decades of the 20th century, Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene almost single-handedly defined the Arts and Crafts aesthetic in America as the architectural firm Greene & Greene. The only full-color survey of the firm's greatest works-including several newly restored to their original grandeur-Greene & Greene reveals the consummate artistry that ensured the brothers' place among the most brilliant of American architects. An in-depth tour of 25 magnificent homes, this book examines the creative evolution of their style. From the Gamble House in Pasadena, Californiawhose director contributes the book's forewordto lesser-known gems throughout the state, Greene & Greene is a wonderful introduction to the brothers' work, and a warm homage to the charms of this refined domestic architecture.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

With Gustav Stickley and Frank Lloyd Wright, Charles Sumner Greene and brother Henry Mather Greene defined the Arts & Crafts movement in America. From their offices in Pasadena, they created "Ultimate Bungalows," finely crafted homes characterized by the integration of architecture and interior design into a harmonious whole. Though both brothers had long and distinguished careers, the highpoint of their work came between 1903 and 1909, when they created such lasting masterpieces as The Gamble House in Pasadena, the Pratt House in Ojai, and the Thorsen House in Berkeley. Greene & Greene: Masterworks presents their work in this era in loving detail. Bruce Smith, who wrote the text for the book, is an authority on the Arts & Crafts movement, and is currently working on a biography of Charles Greene. Alexander Vertikoff's lush photography is the perfect accompaniment to the text, beautifully capturing the sweeping grandeur of each house as well as capturing the subtle details that make each Greene & Greene home a treasure. After an overview of the Arts & Crafts movement and a brief biography of the of the brothers, the book turns its attention to various details that characterized the brothers' style. In the section on entryways, for instance, they point out that

Rarely in a Greene and Greene house is there an abrupt division between inside and out. One enters by transitions, in stages. Brick steps my lead up from the garden to a porch. Shelter comes from a gabled overhang or sleeping porch that extends from above--one is covered but still able to feel the breeze. The pattern in the door's art glass evokes the natural world being left behind. Stepping inside, one still does not feel totally enclosed; across the entrance hall are doorways framing a vista of gardens beyond.

After exploring the details, they move on to the houses themselves, looking at 24 houses ranging from the modest, unassuming Brandt-Serrurier House in Altedena--a single story cottage built in 1905--to their greatest creation, The Gamble House in Pasadena. A short history and examination of details is given to each house, but by and large the houses are allowed to speak for themselves through dazzling photos. One of the most striking features of each house is the honey-colored light that fills each room as it pours through Japanese-inspired stained glass chandeliers and is reflected from rich mahogany and teak floors and furniture. To walk through a Greene & Greene house was to walk through a work of fine art. As Henry Greene said, "The idea was to eliminate everything unnecessary, to make the whole as direct and simple as possible, but always with the beautiful in mind as the first goal." As Greene & Greene: Masterworks clearly shows, they succeeded brilliantly. --Laszlo Simonyi

Review

"The architect brothers who took the Arts and Crafts movement in America to unsurpassed heights of refinement-Charles Sumner Greene (1868-1957) and Henry Mather Greene (187 1954)-were in several respects the equals of their greatest contemporary, the similarly long-lived Frank Lloyd Wright. The Greenes' reverence for the classical culture of Japan, belief in the complete integration of architecture and interior design, disdain for historical styles and profound understanding of natural materials were all values they held in common with their more famous colleague. Regrettably, the fraternal partners did not share Wright's indomitable resilience or genius for late-life transformation. All three men went into a precipitous professional decline by the outbreak of World War 1, when the Arts and Crafts style fell out of fashion, but only Wright's fortunes ultimately revived. The Greenes, who worked in the idyllic Los Angeles suburb of Pasadena, where they built most of their houses, dissolved their joint practice in 1922 and struggled on separately until the Depression finally ended their careers..." -- New York Times

'Greene & Greene' is the first book to survey the remarkable architecture of Charles and Henry Greene, California architects and brothers who embraced the American Arts and Crafts Movement at the turn of the century. The Greenes mostly designed private homes for their neighbors in Pasadena, California, and frequently fashioned windows, light fixtures and furnishings for the houses they built. Splendid photography shows how they blended an interest in Asian art with their Eastern Shingle style training to create a genre all their own. Any reader interested in the Arts and Crafts Movement will find ideas for furnishings and inspiration from the artistry of these architects. -- Country Home

[D]espite the beauty of Alexander Vertikoff's color photographs of the Greenes' sophisticated bungalows, their autumnal tonalities also project a certain poignancy. In his intelligent text, Bruce Smith, a specialist in Arts and Crafts design, recounts the personal histories of the architects' enlightened upper-class clients. -- The New York Times Book Review, Martin Filler

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; 1ST edition (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811818780
• ISBN-13: 978-0811818780
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 1.3 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,284 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A magnificent introduction to two great architects October 11, 2002

By Paul Martin

Format:Hardcover

The Greene brothers were architects who designed in the Arts and Crafts style. Like Frank Lloyd Wright, their style was so distinctive that they are not considered as examples of a type, but as architects whose style stands by itself. Unlike Frank Lloyd Wright, the Greene brothers' practice was almost completely limited to personal residences. This has probably limited the reach of their reputation. Outside of the Gamble house, which has been made into a museum, the work of the Greene brothers is generally not accessible to the public. All but one of their houses was in California, most of them in Pasadena. One wonders how well known Wright would be had he never designed the Guggenheim, or the Marin County Civic Center, or if he had never ventured outside of Chicago.

This book addresses the problem by taking us inside twenty-five examples of Greene and Greene's work. The text is accompanied by the breathtaking photography of Alexander Vertikoff. I own a large collection of books on the architecture of this period, and those illustrated by Vertikoff stand in a class by themselves. His photos are magnificent, doing justice to the material he portrays. I doubt if there is a finer photographer working in this field today.

With photos like these, it would have been easy to turn this volume into nothing more than a glorious picture book. Instead, Bruce Smith provides an engaging story of the careers of the two architects. The best writing is found in an extensive introduction, where the author discusses the Greene and Greene style in general terms. One can see at a glance how the style starts with Arts and Crafts. Indeed, there is a wealth of Stickley furniture in many of the houses. It is equally obvious how the two went beyond the plain craftsman designs so common further east. The Japanese influence was much stronger here, and the craftsmanship in the wood joinery was much more refined. There is more woodworking than carpentry here. The woods included Burmese teak, Honduras mahogany, Port Orford cedar, oak, maple and redwood. In some cases, the brothers were able to design furniture, landscaping and gardens to go with the architecture.

For the remainder of the book, we get a tour through twenty-five houses designed by Greene and Greene. Each house is presented in the order of its design and construction, with a history of the entire house to the present day. In some cases, this includes restoration after some abuse. Some of these houses were created on a budget; others were done with no apparent limits on the imagination of the architects. All are works of art, created as a labor of love by all concerned. For anyone unfamiliar with the work of Greene and Greene, this is an excellent introduction. For those who are already captivated, this book is a must, if only for those magnificent pictures.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Greenes literally turned living spaces into works of art February 17, 2000

By Dr. John H. Plouffe

Format:Hardcover

For those of us fortunate enough to live in Southern California and actually see a Greene and Greene work of art first hand, we know that there is nothing to hold against it in comparison. Nothing, this is, until the publishing of this wonderful book through the collaborative efforts of Bruce Smith and Alexander Vertikoff. For as long as I can remember I have found the Greene & Greene homes in the Pasadena, California area to be the most uniquely beautiful structures imaginable. Two years ago my wife and I toured The Gamble House, and were overwhelmed by the workmanship, the level of detail and the thoughfulness incorporated into its construction. There is nothing like physically being inside a Greene & Greene home. Smith and Vertikoff provide us with second best; the opportunity to see the inside of these works of art. The exterior views and the interior photographs provide a wonderful insight into these magnificant structures. Bruce Smith provides the reader with just enough description as to leave one wanting more. My concluding reaction to their superb effort is to want more. More photographs, more narrative, diagrams of the homes, and understanding owners willing to open their homes, their charges, to a public filled with appreciation for this type of beauty, so seldom experienced.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Greene with Envy April 7, 2002

By Dave Klopp

Format:Hardcover

As an aspiring woodworker with apparently very little natural talent, I can only view Greene & Greene's work with a mixture of awe and jealousy. While I find much of what Wright has done to be at times inaccessible and dated (primarily because so many others have attempted to copy or incorporate his style into theirs - and failed miserably by the way), the Greene's work is absolutely gorgeous, and would fit in with many current styles.....But then again you all know that. The question is why buy this particular book?

If you are looking for wonderful, full-page color photographs this is it. The first 50 pages are devoted to the G&G style; there is a page or two devoted to Materials, Joinery, Lighting etc. Descriptions are quite brief, and include a couple of pics.

The next 170 pages are devoted to 25 different houses with narration about the original design process, the ensuing history, and the current state. Again tons of color pics, and lots of shots of the furniture they designed to go with the particular house.

If you are looking for an in-depth discussion, check out Randall Makinson's "Architecture as a Fine Art/Furniture and Related Designs. These two books (now available in one edition) cover the G&G history in detail, but have less photos (many in black and white). They do have many front on center views of the furniture (as well as early drawings) so if you are interested in building their furniture, these books make a suitable companion to the one being reviewed.