Customer Reviews

The Work of Dwight James Baum

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This coffee-table sized hardbound is a reprint of a 1927 monograph on architect Dwight James Baum. It has been updated with photographs of Baum's work between 1927 and his death in 1939. This reviewer first became intrigued with Dwight James Baum upon learning that a nearby Georgian Revival mansion was his work. The house was the SC Allyn home which unfortunately fell into disrepair, and was ultimately demolished. This book provides an interesting overview of Baum's work by Ronald McCarty, and a lavish assortment of crisp, superbly reproduced B&W plates which are very generous in size. Of particular note are the large number of homes with accompanying floorplans......both first and second floors. Floorplans are frequently lacking in many architecture books which can be frustrating as one can only guess at the layout of the house. The book is divided into styles..Mediterranean, English, Georgian, Colonial, Dutch Colonial and "Miscellaneous" with numerous examples of each. Baum's most famous work was, of course, the over-the-top Ca' D'Zan in Sarasota which is heavily featured in this book. The lack of text besides the Intro is the only reason it was not given 5-stars. If you have an interest in this architect or...if you're looking for a coffee-table book that shows your knowledge of architects goes beyond Frank Lloyd Wright this may be just the ticket.

This is another of Acanthus Press' fine reprints of earlier, hard to find books on great architects. Baum's work is quite a good inspirational resource for me as an architect, and with this book it's great to have such a wealth of photos, plans and detail drawings at my disposal for studying over and over again.