Customer Reviews

The Louisiana Houses of A. Hays Town

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4 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Town, a South Louisiana native and student of the South, offers a subtle salute to the region's heritage in the 25 homes featured in "The Louisiana Houses of A. Hays Town." Photographs by Philip Gould capture the subtle design and recurring patterns in Hays' design. The text by Cyril E. Vetter and a tribute by Andres Duany is reverential...It is tempting to pause over Gould's photographs of Town's work, treat them like Ken Burns treats Civil War photographs and follow the lines. An alley of crepe myrtles frames the brick archway entrance to a richly detailed courtyard...A weathered fence serves as foreground detail for a shot of a deep, brick-floored porch...These are elements of Town's style. His residences wear it well.

"The Louisiana Houses of A. Hays Town," published by Louisiana State University Press, documents 25 of the hundreds of houses designed by Town in a career that spanned the major part of the century ...Up until now Town's residential work has not been assembled into one accessible publication, making "The Louisiana Houses" a long-awaited addition to books about Southern architecture...Gould's photographs, polished, honest and generous, give the book its rare and artistic importance...Malcolm Heard, an architecture professor at Tulane, says Town figured out how to combine the familiarity of the past and the flexibility of the present, striking out on his own path at a time when most architects were following more modernist pursuits.

This book's beautiful photography takes me back to the 1980s, when I visited A. Hays Town in Baton Rouge for a Southern Living article...The large format makes it easy to pore over photographs and absorb details. The book also provides a valuable source of ideas for landscaping, garden ornaments, and interior design. Whether you're planning your dream home or just enjoy regional architecture, you'll savor this book.

The magnificent use of recycled materials and varied textures has had a profound effect on residential architecture in Louisiana and Mississpi. I know as a local resident that any home that he has had a personal touch in building is a true showcase. Many younger architects are now trying to copy or learn from his style. Unfortunately, there are as yet no equals to his expertise. This book is a lovely treatise of some of his best work. It is, however, incomplete. How sad. We will miss him.

"The Louisiana Houses of A. Hays Town" combines text by Cyril E. Vetter with photographs by Philip Gould. Together, they celebrate the classic houses designed by Town. The book is full of superb photos of both interiors and exteriors. The book ends with a short essay by Andres Duany, in which he declares, "The long, long career of A. Hays Town is like a bridge that brings forth the traditional architecture of Louisiana to the present generation of builders."

Many picturesque elements recur throughout the book: classical statuary, brick floors, exteriors with a look of natural weathering, 2-level exterior galleries, etc. Some particularly memorable images include the following: Hamilton House's interior courtyard overlooked by a second floor balcony; Westerman House's charming lily pond, made from an old sugar kettle; the rustic wood posts on the porch of the Bonnecaze House; the elegant white pillars of the Godchaux House; and more.

My only disappointment is that floor plans for the homes are not included; they would have, in my opinion, given readers a better sense of these houses. Still, if you love great American architecture, I recommend this book.

Gould's photography is flawless, the saturation and clarity of the color perfect. Printed on expensive slick paper, the 159 pages of photographs collectively paint a clear picture of Town's philosophy of design including his insistence on using recycled materials and merging of landscape and building features...Fans of architecture will want to own this book. Devotees of Louisiana architecture will have to own it.

This book is a sampler of the classic Louisiana architecture designed by the late A. Hays Town. Anyone lucky enough to live in a house designed by Mr. Town is a lucky person indeed. His houses encapsulate all the divergent vernacular styles that coalesce into the gumbo of Creole style buildings. My only disappointment with this lovely book is the fact that the emphasis is truly on the architecture of the buildings and not the furnishings and appointments. The rooms looked a little cold and spare, but otherwise this book should be a resource for anyone contemplating building a French-style residence.

This book is a "must have"! Beautiful photography, well written and the best example of great Southern architecture! A. Hays Town's houses are unique and designed for comfort as well as beauty. Enjoy!

A fantastic new book is out that is a must-have for lovers of Louisiana interiors and exteriors alike. The Louisiana Houses of A. Hays Town (LSU Press), by Cyril E. Vetter, with photographs by Philip Gould, features 25 Louisiana homes designed by the celebrated architect. The vivid color photographs of the homes includes Town's own. In a career that includes designing more than 500 homes, Town has led architects, builders and homeowners to embrace the finest elements of Louisiana's rich architectural past. This book illuminates the momentous effect he has had on the look of Louisiana. Don't leave it on the shelf.

Hays Town developed his own interpretation of Louisiana-flavored design that is timeless. The pictures are inspiring; both inside and out. His total control over the houses resulted in interesting and functional design both inside and out. I would recommend for anyone thinking about building or buying.