Ranch Houses: Living the California Dream (Hardcover)

~ David Weingarten (Author), Lucia Howard (Author), Joe Fletcher (Photographer)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If you're longing to vicariously experience a bit of sunshine, pick up the new book RANCH HOUSES: Living the California Dream by architects David Weingarten and Lucia Howard, with photos by Joe Fletcher....Their list contains the familiar and the unexpected, and they acknowledge both the limitations and the vast possibilities inherent in this classic American house type." ~CustomHomeOnline.com

"lively and insightful..." ~Residential Architecture

"Shows what a remarkably diverse form the ranch house can be...” ~HousePlans.com

"Topping our list of favorites is Ranch Houses..." ~San Francisco Magazine

“Ranch Houses is an essential resource for architects, homeowners, and all those who aspire to the indoor/outdoor lifestyle that is the California dream.” ~California Homes

Product Description

With its archetypal open plan and reverence of indoor-outdoor living, the Ranch house is at the very heart of the California dream. When we picture California Ranch houses—the low-slung, informal dwellings that engulfed suburbs after World War II—we are thinking of just one part of a phenomenon that has its roots in early-nineteenth-century ranchos, and which continues today in houses that are startling and up-to-the-minute. Examples of the type have been called ranchos, ranchers, and California ramblers. They have been styled Spanish, Japanese, and French; Monterey and International; Vernacular, Minimalist, and Modernist. From the 1797 Rancho Los Alamitos of Long Beach to such contemporary homes as the Miller Residence of Corte Madera, Ranch Houses unveils the great variety and the very finest examples of this multifaceted form. Including the work of such architectural luminaries as Cliff May, Richard Neutra, John Lautner, and Charles Moore, Ranch Houses is an essential resource for architects, home owners, and all those who aspire to the indoor/outdoor lifestyle that is the California Dream.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (April 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847831825
• ISBN-13: 978-0847831821
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #185,782 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great photos of California Ranch Houses, April 16, 2009

By	J. Tang - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was lucky enough to see an advance copy of this book, and I have to say that the pictures are just fantastic. Although my aesthetic leans more toward modern architecture, these photographs are so vivid and the colors so engaging - it made me want to jump right into one of those pools.

I live in the Bay Area, and have seen this photographer's work before in the San Francisco Chronicle and also in Dwell Magazine - his sense of space and attention to lighting are dead on and almost always flawless.

I have to be honest, I didn't really read a whole lot of the text in this book. I'm sure it's interesting, but without the beautiful photos, this would just be another book destined for the dusty shelves in the back of the bookstore.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really beautiful book!, April 16, 2009

By	Esme A. L. Shaller - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm not an architect or an architecture geek, but I love design and art books, and the places in this one are to die for. I never knew there were so many cool old houses in CA as well as hip modern ones. Tons of big images, a great buy.

4.0 out of 5 stars a real beaut., April 18, 2009

By	A. DiGerlando (Astoria, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you live in any American suburb, you've seen a ranch house. Maybe you even live in one. If this is the case, chances are you haven't given the style of your house much thought other than citing it to assist approaching visitors find the place. If you don't live in a ranch house, perhaps you've pondered what it might be like never to have to lug a load of laundry up the stairs. That's likely where the musings end...
This book will change that: flip open any page and bask in the glory of the true high-points of the genre as photographed by Joe Fletcher (Cliff May and the Modern Ranch House).
This book is a real gem. In fact, my only gripe is that in some instances the publishers thought it wise to lay pictures out in such a way that they stretch across the binding, a practice which I consider rude as it disrupts the splendor of the work. Why would they do that? Especially since the eye-popping visuals are this book's true selling point. I guess it's possible that the layout of the book could have been designed to better serve the text; but if that's the case who are they kidding? No one is buying this for the captions.
Anyway, all that aside, treat yourself and buy "Ranch Houses: Living the California Dream." It is a worthwhile addition to any book lover's collection.