Customer Reviews

Modernism Reborn: Mid-Century American Houses

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

 

 

I'm surprised at the raves for this book. It is well produced. The photos are terrific. But: The building descriptions do little more than cheer-lead. He raves about features which are not illustrated. Most of the buildings only get 4 photos. The plans provided are far too small, usually only one plan is provided, though most of the buildings have more than one level. In at least one case the plans are mislabled. I'd only recommend this book to somebody who only wants a catalog of names. Still waiting for a really good book about mid-century modern architecture. This isn't it.

We are in danger of losing our mid-century domestic architectural heritage.

Yesterday's flat-roof, ultra-modern "home of tomorrow" is often perceived as the cramped and impractical "teardown" of today. Most real estate agents will confide that "Modern doesn't sell," and those modernist homes that are sold are usually fodder for the bulldozer; razed and discarded to make way for another McMansion.

Sometimes it seems that the only folks who have any fondness for "Home, Sleek Home" are advertising directors (who love to feature hip mid-century homes in TV commercials and print ads), and subscribers to Dwell Magazine (and subscribers to the Dwell Magazine lifestyle).

In his book MODERNISM REBORN: Mid-Century American Houses, architectural critic Michael Webb demonstrates that there is a growing appreciation for cutting-edge American residential architecture of the 1930s through the 1960s, and in it he highlights the intrepid homeowners who've assumed stewardship of 35 of these "Contemporary" domiciles of long, long ago. Tersely written, illustrated with floor plans, and enlivened by nearly 200 color photos by noted architectural photographer Roger Strauss III, MODERNISM REBORN explores the unique histories of these homes, and chronicles the research, labor, and expense that the adventurous owners have lavished on their preservation, restoration and sometimes, expansion.

Nearly all of the 20th Century architectural greats are represented here--Frank Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, Philip Johnson and R.M. Schindler--as well as iconic modernist structures such as Pierre Koenig's Case Study House #21, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's Farnsworth House, and Charles and Ray Eames' own home-studio. Webb presents homes that embody various modernist impulses in thematic chapters that prove that there was no one right way (or Wright way) to be "modern."

Webb's survey argues a case for Modernism as a mode (or ideal) of living, rather than a mere style (or styles). Indeed, these light-filled, open plan, spartanly furnished "homes of the brave" imply an enlightened lifestyle of Zen-like purity somewhat at odds with the ever more acquisitive and materialistic American way of life.

Don't read too much into the Modernist rejection of consumerism, however, because these designer homes were status symbols in their day, and to furnish a home with "Modern classics" like Le Corbusier's Petit Confort sofa, the Eames lounge chair and ottoman, and a pair of Mies Barcelona chairs will set you back several grand. Modern don't come cheap.

Ultimately, the stories that Webb weaves about the people that commissioned, designed, built, restored and live in these homes are every bit as enlightening and memorable as the homes themselves. In fact, the author makes their histories seem inseparable, as if house and owner are joined in partnership against philistine taste, obnoxious neighbors, natural (and unnatural) disasters, and metal fatigue.

This is not a scholarly study, but Webb assumes a certain level of cultural awareness and familiarity with architectural terms in his reader. It is a fine book with a fresh look at a perhaps overly familiar subject, and is well worth owning for the photos alone.

Reading MODERNISM REBORN makes one wonder how the home of 1950 will inform and inspire the home of 2050, the mid-century home of tomorrow.

I bought this interesting book because I wanted something that would cover, visually, the best of mid-century American architecture. As another reviewer has said, don't expect a full technical account of the background to these beautiful houses but if you want excellent exterior and interior photos in a well designed and printed book, 'Modernism reborn' is the one to get.

The fact that these thirty-five houses have all been restored in some way gives the book extra interest. Many of them were featured in the architectural press years ago when they were first built and these are the photos you usually see in books. Some of them were neglected but fortunately the current owners thought restoration worthwhile and this is how Roger Straus photographed them.

An interesting companion book to 'Modernism reborn' is Classic Modern: Midcentury Modern At Home by Deborah K Dietsch, not directly concerned with the architecture but more to do with the furniture, fabrics, lighting and style that made these houses such wonderful homes. If only I could afford to live in one!

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

I loved the stories behind each of these houses. I own several books on midcentury mod and this is the first that truly captures the modern aesthetic, from the book's design to the photography to the writing. Excellent!

As a fan of modern archictecture, I have numerous books on the subject -- the magnificent photographs by Roger Straus and excellent text by Michael Webb move this volume right to the head of the class!

This is an elegantly presented book on elegant, finely crafted houses...an instant new favorite of mine. Author Michael Webb draws the reader in through his delightful stories of these homes, their original owners, subsequent owners (who, more often than not, misunderstood what they had purchased and, in the process, destroyed these three dimensional works of art), and eventual resurrections by more sympathetic owners. It is an interesting approach (before/after/now) and one quite enjoyable. As a result, the reader becomes emotionally drawn to the pristine creations chronicled by Webb, a type of house that usually comes across as aloof and chilly. The photographs by Roger Straus are splendid and show the homes to advantage (although it would have been nice to see people actually using the rooms). A significant disappointment was the lack of images showing the homes in their "remuddled" state; it is difficult to fully appreciate just how much work went into the rebirth of some of these classics. Nonetheless, Webb and Straus have produced an interesting, informative, and fascinating read about a style of house that has never been presented better. Congratulations to them and to the many intrepid, intelligent owners who bravely undertook such projects.

The author provides a good overview of the history and restoration of 35 architecturally significant houses
of the 1930's through mid-century. The only thing keeping it from getting a 5 star rating is it's small format,
resulting in smallish pictures and smaller floor plans. These wonderful houses deserved a larger page size,
say 12" x 12", to show them to the best advantage. Still, given it's relatively modest price, this book provides
a lot of information between the covers.

If you want a strong, national (not just LA or Palm Springs) overview of mid-century modern, this is a good bet. Very well produced, beautiful imagery.

This is was the first book that I ever bought on mid-century modern architecture and it remains one of my favorites. "Modernism Reborn" provides an outstanding 'pictorial' introduction to mid-20th century American residential architecture. As a picture book the quality of the photographs is excellent... not always Julius Schulman excellent but excellent none-the-less. As an introduction this book offers a whirl-wind tour through a relatively large number of well chosen and architecturally significant homes by a veritable who's who of 20th century American residential architecture - Frank Lloyd Wright, Lloyd Wright, Richard Neutra, John Lautner, Eero Saarinen, Paul Rudolph, Louis Kahn, Pierre Koenig, Joseph Eichler (builder), Philip Johnson, R.M. Schindler - and those are just my favorites. If you just want to look at some nice pictures of cool modern houses or if you want to learn more about mid-century modern architecture but don't know where to start this is an excellent book. You'll have to go elsewhere if you want a deep understanding of any one building or architect's work but this book help you figure out which architects and buildings to seek out more information on. No one book could do all of these buildings and architects justice.

I was looking for mid-century houses that were more in the middle classes, and you do not get that here.

These are all high-end, very expansive homes, similar to the type one might come across in Dwell magazine. The book is nicely set up, with thick, distinctive paper used, and the book coming encased in cellophane, implying 'you're getting something very sophisticated and special here...', something I neglected to pick up in reality [but again I was looking for something else]. I also did not like the contrived use of marketing (paper and cellophane wrap). Always a bad sign.