Spanish Revival Architecture (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

More than 500 period photographs explore the Spanish Revival movement (1915-1940) in architecture. Original Spanish and Mediterranean buildings inspired partrons on "the grand tour" in Europe to build for themselves these sturdy homes in the 20th century that reflect a strong Mediterranean heritage. Tiled roofs and floors, arched windows and passageways, and stone walls and floors characterize the style. Exquisite details are explored, both inside and out, from residential, commercial, and public projects. Sections in the book focus on exterior details including outdoor rooms and staircases, verandahs, patios, and courtyards, pools, fountains, chimneys, and garden gates. Inside, revel in beamed ceilings, fireplaces, tile details, lighting and flooring. In addition to dozens of private residences, this book tours retail and commercial spaces, churches, schools, libraries, theaters, and private clubs. Work by celebrated architects who helped pioneer the Spanish Revival movement is featured, including George Washington Smith, Wallace Neff, Gordon Kauffman, Morgan, Walls and Clements, and many others. Also, some architectural renderings and floor plans are included. Architects, designers, and remodelers will find inspiration for today's structures on every page.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing (October 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764323091
• ISBN-13: 978-0764323096
• Product Dimensions: 12.2 x 9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #707,662 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good in its niche, August 5, 2006

By	Emma Peel (Menlo Park, CA, USA) - See all my reviews

I LOVE this book, but it isn't for everyone. It is a fine book to add to your already existing collection on Spanish Revival. This book provides a survey of how Spanish Revival really looked in primarily the1920s and 1930s--not just the landmark buildings. You see high schools, churches, and lots of homes that do not appear in any other book. And how they were decorated during this period. I got a much better sense of the style as it was used by the common (OK, mostly wealthy) person.

Now let's discuss what this book is not: not a coffee table book with all pictures artistically staged and clear, not a written resource describing styles, not the first book for your library on Spanish Revival. I get the idea--purely my inference-- that Mr. Cook had been collecting pictures of Spanish Revival (old advertisements, postcards, etc) in his antique shop for years and one day he got the idea to put them into a book. Hence, the dust jacket write-up boasts over 500 photos and it must have (I haven't counted), but the captions provide only the information on the original source, e.g., ranging from only referencing the add the photo was from to providing the location, owner, and architect.

As for the overall quality, some photos are amazingly sharp, others a bit fuzzy, this is 1920s technology were talking about... Realize also, that a few photos are repeated (I suspect when the authors lacked enough examples to fill out the page) and a few categories, such as "Interior Details: Lighting" have only 4 photos.

I do not consider myself an expert, but have collected some books on this topic. Because I've had disappointments, here is one woman's recommendation for additional books:

Good first book to learn about the style and movement (and has nice photos): "California Colonial: The Spanish and Rancho Revival Styles"

Best overall value (price vs. architectural overview): "Red Tile Style"

If you are interested in the European images that inspired American Spanish Revival: "Architectural Details: Spain and the Mediterranean"

If you're wanting to know more about the Spanish/Mexican roots of Spanish Revival (not many photos): "Spanish-Colonial Architecture in the United States"

Coffee table books: "Casa California", "Casa Florida"

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars As advertised, but..., December 7, 2005

By	J. Benich (Watsonville, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I should have paid attention to the fact that this book is comprised of "period photographs", all of which are sepia tone or black and white. There is little information about each picture beyond the site name and architect.

There is likely a value to this book for an architect or historian, but as my purpose was for inspiration during my remodel, I was disappointed. Many, if not all of the buildings pictured were built at a time when detail and craftsmanship were valued, and while they should be appreciated, it would be far out of my budget to recreate such detail.

If you are looking for inspiration, or current pictures (color) of older estates, I would recommend "California Colonial" as my first choice. Others to read are "Red Tile Style" and "Casa California: Spanish-Style Houses from Santa Barbara to San Clemente".

"Spanish Revival Architecture" is a nicely produced book, just not what I had in mind, and I returned my copy to Amazon.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Your Money Can Be Better Invested, February 14, 2006

By	Joshua M. Horowitz (California USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was quite disappointed in this book, which as a previous reviewer stated, consists mainly of period photographs with little or no information. I have always admired and purchased Shiffer Press books because they are well-produced and written, and quite useful, so this book came as a surprise. As a fan and owner of this architectural style, I have aquired many original and reprints of source material (e.g., Newcomb, Sexton, Requa, Smith, Neff), as well as some of the excellent recent books like Red Tile Style, Casa California, anything by David Gebhard, and Patricia Gebhard's recent book on G.W. Smith). The old books feature useful information and illustrations that actually inspired other architects and builders of the times, and continue to do so in the present day. The better new books add to the lore and show us how well this quintessentially California style has aged and how it continues to be a relevant and interesting part of the California landscape. Part of the charm of the source books was the artistic b/w photography and the sharp reproduction of those photographs in the printed plates. The reproductions in Spanish Revival Architecture are fuzzy and faded -- totally without the moody charm of the originals and not very useful in their muddiness. In addition, many of the details shown in Spanish Revival Architecure's photographs are not the best examples available. In contrast, the Shiffer Press' California Colonial is a fine and useful book that is worth the investment. If "Spanish Style" is really your thing, you'll also get more bang for you buck buying the available reprints of Rexford Newcomb books (alas, someone needs to reprint The Spanish House for America) and the excellent Smith and Neff books. If you have a sizeable book budget, first editions of source books, including Newcomb's several volumes, the late '20's Requa portfolios Architectural Details: Spain and Mediterranean and Old World Inspiration for American Architecture, and R.W. Sexton's Spanish Influence on American Architecture and Decoration, would all be worthy additions to your library.