Lake/Flato (Contemporary World Architects) [Paperback]

Oscar Riera Ojeda (Author), W. Turnball (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Contemporary World Architects | Publication Date: October 1995

"Lake Flato's designs display an aversion to stylistic pretension and a commitment to doing a lot with a little--reflecting the values of the South Texas Prairie."--David Dillon, architecture critic

Since 1984, Lake/Flato has been designing practical buildings whose ingenuity and craftsmanship merge tradition with new technologies. Their work seeks a modern vernacular. Building upon the traditions of regional architecture they adapt local materials and craft to build well sited structures that recognize the need for comfort and a strong connection to nature. Their rural work in particular blurs the distinction of indoors and outdoors by mitigating the Texas climate with screened porches, breezeways, and arbors that embrace the natural realm. Recipients of a national AIA Honor Award, a National Brick AWard, a National Sunset Design Award, and over 40 design awards, their work has been featured in 40 Under 40, The Environmental House, The New American Houses, and Under the Sun, as well as published in numerous national and international magazines.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ted Flato and David Lake grew up in Texas. David Lake received a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin in 1976. Inspired by professor Pliny Fisk's sustainable designs, he moved to the Texas panhandle and built modern sod-buster houses for farmers who enjoyed the notion of cows grazing on the roof. Ted Flato received a B.A. in Architecture at Stanford University where he was strongly influenced by William Turnbull's enthusiastic sensitivity to site and context. Ted returned to his ancestral home of Central Texas, where he began applying these principles in the design of goat pens, houses, and a small-town bank. David and Ted received their tutelage in regional design and the craft of architecture at Ford Powell & Carson in San Antonio, Texas.

Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Rockport Publishers (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1564962334
• ISBN-13: 978-1564962331
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 8.7 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,258,418 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent coverage of firm's early work, December 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Lake/Flato (Contemporary World Architects) (Paperback)

lake/flato made a name for themselves as residential specialists. this book covers that beginning. the end of the book starts to cover a new range of the work that the firm was beginning to enter at the publishing date. the sensitivity and attention to detail is translating into larger non-residential commissions. the character of the firm and its work is dramatically changing, but this book serves as a strong introduction to the topics that interest and inform l/f's work now and hopefully in the future.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Creative Regionalism, March 17, 2002

By 

Dr.Stanley Tsigounis, Ph.D. (Sarasota, Florida USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lake/Flato (Contemporary World Architects) (Paperback)

From Texas to Florida to Australia! What do they have in commo? Regional architecture based upon site and climate. Lake-Flato do beautiful, regional architecture and this book documents their work in a clear and deliberate manner with many photos. Two wishes. One, floor plans and site plans to help us see how the elements relate to both. Two, a second volume documenting their more recent work. If you like contemporary casual with metal roofs, concrete, stone and wood and a relation of indoor to outdoors buy this book. You will enjoy it!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars west coast architecture connosieur, May 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Lake/Flato (Contemporary World Architects) (Paperback)

Wow ! What incredible discipline from such young minds. They just remeber how the beauty of nature is the master artist and they always "check" to it's greatness. The bonus spaces (porches, deep roof overhangs, courtyards, etc.) increase the value of their architectural products. By "forever erasing" the barrier between the indoors and outdoors - this truly reinforces their love of nature. I wonder how many other of their piers have the courage to check their ego's at the drawing board and pay homage to the power and honest beauty of nature?