Customer Reviews

Paul Rudolph: The Florida Houses

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As the Case Study program got under way in southern California, Rudolph launched his own from his office in Sarasota on FloridaÕs Gulf coast. For two decades (with time off for U.S. Navy service) he created (first with Ralph Twitchell and then independently) a succession of airy pavilions that mitigated the steamy heat and filtered the brilliant light. In Ezra StollerÕs crisp period photographs these houses seem almost dreamlikeÑtoo graceful and pure to endure storms and the crass consumerism of waterfront development. And yet, despite the pressure of escalating land prices and the cult of gigantism, most of these houses have survived in their original form, and several have been lovingly restored. Every aficionado of mid-century modern should buy this elegant volume. (Michael Webb is the book reviewer for LA Architect magazine.)

I found myself becoming nostalgic looking through the pages of this book. Having grown up in Florida, I was stunned to see that the house I lived in had been a knock-off of one of Rudolph's houses. His early Florida houses were widely emulated for their clean lines and passive solar designs. It is an impressive collection, and illustrates the lighter side of Rudolph before he became caught up in the monumental forms that dominated the latter part of his career.

You might call him the John Lautner of Florida, creating a lifestyle as much as an architecture. You could see Travis McGee laying back in one of these houses, drinking a beer as he waits for the elusive flash of green. Rudolph really captured the spirit of Florida in the 40's and 50's. Simple, well-thought out designs that are as relavent today as they were then.

This book is an wonderful mix of photographs, drawings and text that give great insight into the work of Rudolph's understanding of the Florida's climate and the technology available in his day. It is a must for anyone seriously interested in modern architecture. What an amazing architect, what an amazing book!

I have the hardcover version of this book, and I must say the graphic design, color, printing, editing, text, and even the dimensions of the all seem wonderfully appropriate. I know the format of this, The Florida Houses, is similar to that of The Late Work in the same series; however it is far more successful when showcasing the building logic and detail elegance in early work of Rudolph and Twitchell than the later "brutal" style Rudoplh explored.

A total package as well as totally classy. I suggest the hardcover.

This is by far one of the most exquisite Modern Architecture books I have ever seen... Paul Rudolph left such an important legacy through his Florida House designs... The illustrations are crisp and very well drawn and the content id pure of insightful information regarding the architect and his work. This book has become one of my favorite architecture books.

If you are interested in the 'Sarasaota Modern' style of architecture, this is a wonderful resource. Rudolph was one of the pioneers of this style and is a worthwhile study.

surpreendent phase of this great american architect.
the book explain small buildings with great significations.