Pure California: 35 Inspiring Houses in the New California Tradition [Paperback]

Aram Bassenian (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2004

This inspiring and beautiful book takes the reader on a journey of 35 of the most recent homes designed by Bassenian/Lagoni Architects of Newport Beach, CA. From an early Cailfornia home in Coro de Caza, to a California Cottage on Balboa Pennisula, to an Old World Tuscan Adaptation in Rancho Santa Fe, this collection reveals some of the finest examples of what admiring critics are calling "The New California Tradition" in American housing.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bassenian/Lagoni Architects is a new breed of residential designer...." -- Howard Englander, from the Foreword to the book, January, 2002

"It is the finest presentation that I have ever seen by an architect. Well conceived and elegant" -- Bob Liewer, VP of Development, MBK Homes

About the Author

Bassenian/Lagoni Architects of Newport Beach, California, is one of the most active and influential residential design firms in California and the United States. In a recent survey of the top residential architecture firms in California, BLA was ranked #1 in Orange County, San Diego County and the San Francisco Bay Area. The firm also has major projects in such cities as Seattle, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Orlando, as well as major new developments in China and Spain.

Noted as the originator of the "New California Tradition" in residential design, featuring refined, New-World elevations and floor planning inspired by Early California and Old-World architecture, BLA has won numerous design awards and competitions.

Aram Bassenian, AIA, a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley School of Architecture, and founder and chairman of the firm, is a noted speaker at housing design and industry functions and has received a number of prestigious design and marketing awards. He has been credited for bringing a new sense of style and grace to production housing in the United States.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Bassenian/Lagoni Architects (August 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972153918
• ISBN-13: 978-0972153911
• Product Dimensions: 11.5 x 10.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #509,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Nice book and for a nice price!, January 14, 2006

By 

Rosemary Thornton "Niece of Addie Hoyt Fargo ... (Norfolk, VA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pure California: 35 Inspiring Houses in the New California Tradition (Paperback)

For anyone who loves to do the Sunday-afternoon-drive-around-and-look-at-old-houses thing, this is the book for you. The quality of the photos is really impressive and while I suppose it'd best be described as a coffee-table book, it also contains a fair quantity of information about the houses and their style and influence and history of design.

While there is some history and corollary info, I was saddened to see not a word - not ONE word mind you - mentioned about Pacific Ready-Cut Homes. Perhaps you're thinking "what has that got to do with anything?", let me explain.

This book has quite a bit of info on Pasadena and whilst Pasadena is home to a stunning variety of architecture, it's also home to a wonderful collection of bungalows that were originally ordered as KIT HOMES from Pacific Ready-Cut Homes.

That being said, I was truly impressed with "Pure California" and found it to be a fun, easy read and a beautiful book with wonderful, strong-quality (and richly-colored) photos.

Rose
author, California's Kit Homes

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Building a house? You need this book! Fantastic!, August 23, 2007

By 

Chris C (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pure California: 35 Inspiring Houses in the New California Tradition (Paperback)

This book has more inspiration per page than any other book I;ve purchased on home building. This is a literal home idea book in one package. Floor plans , detailed pictures and amazing ideas are all within the package. I;m building a home and this book has provided more inspiration than all other books combined. Bravo, bravo, bravo. Save the decorator fees, just check out the ideas within. You won;t need a decorator!

I wish they would make more versions of this. These architects rock!!!

1.0 out of 5 stars Copy-Cat Plans, September 6, 2011

By 

M. Welch "emdub" (tucson) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pure California: 35 Inspiring Houses in the New California Tradition (Paperback)

What a waste of everyone's time! Just the same old boiler-plate track houses with a few luxury upgrades and too much square footage. I don't see a significant difference from one house to the other. Wish I had saved my money!