Palm Beach Houses [Hardcover]

Shirley Johnston (Author), Roberto Schezen (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1991

Palm Beach Houses offers a strikingly illustrated, extensively researched history of Palm Beach architecture. It reveals the stories behind the families who built these palatial homes with exquisite detailing, lavish interiors, and semi-tropical gardens. Valuable close-ups on Addison Mizner, Maurice Fatio, and Marion Sims Wyeth, the three major architects in the area during the 1920s and 1930s, are also included.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

The winter residences of the rich and famous are the stars of this elegantly designed and lavishly illustrated pictorial on the architecture of Palm Beach, Florida during the 1920s and 1930s. In the introduction, Robert A.M. Stern details the history of Palm Beach by the talented architects who conceived these palatial estates and sought to create a semitropical paradise. The first section focuses on seven famous estates, including Whitehall, Southways, and Mar-a-Lago. The following three sections highlight the careers of Addison Mizner, Maurice Fatio, and Marion Sims Wyeth and the lavish homes they each created. While the beautiful illustrations portray these 32 estates as they are today, the historic photographs of early Palm Beach in the introduction are disappointing because of their postage-stamp size. The brief text accompanying each home is always informative, sometimes humorous, but occasionally confusing. An index to names would have been a welcome addition. All in all, Schezen brings to life the splendor of this bygone era. Recommended primarily for public libraries.
-Stephen Allan Patrick, East Tennessee State Univ. Lib., Johnson City
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 324 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (May 15, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847813134
• ISBN-13: 978-0847813131
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 1.2 x 11.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #255,546 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb illustrations and text, May 29, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Palm Beach Houses (Hardcover)

This fine coffee table book is filed with wonderful photographs of a small selection of some of the finest mansions in the country. The ranges of houses from Adam and Regency, to simple clapboard, to Spanish/Moorish is excellent. The text is informative, accurate and well written. If interested in South Florida fine architecture, this book is a must.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant book for architectural enthusiasts., November 22, 2001

By 

Michael J. Kissimmee (Kissimmee, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Palm Beach Houses (Hardcover)

My boss has this book to get ideas for designing custom homes for high-profile clients. I have read the book from cover to cover but every time I open it, it seems like I discover anew more pictures & details of these beautiful homes. These Palm Beach houses were built as if they were competing with one another for the title of 'most splendid work of art'. Most are not sprawling mansions or overly complicated expressions of the wealth of their owners. They are, however, fine examples of the architecture of Palm Beach summer homes of the 1920's priveleged upper class.

I love this book. Of course It would be nice if there were floorplans. And as usual one closes the book wishing he could see more photos of each of the houses. But there are many stunning photos. Kudos to the photographer. It is well worth the money and I will get it someday if I can no longer borrow it from my boss.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Vahalla on the Atlantic, January 20, 2006

By 

Shannon Deason (Houston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Palm Beach Houses (Hardcover)

This is an easy book to navigate, the text is informative, and the photographs are nicely done. I was a bit disappointed that some of the grandeur mansions where absent, but the largest, Mar-A-Lago was included, and that was appreciated. None of the homes are explored in great detail and though every home has an image, I would have liked to have seen more visuals, but as I have stated above the images are well done and the book does cover an impressive list of homes. I recommend this book as a good sampling of Palm Beach homes, but hardly definitive, maybe someone will be able to gain access at some point to some of the grandest private estates, and here's hoping they bring a camera with plenty of gig's.