Californian Idylls: private landscapes, modernist gardens in Southern California.PRIVATE LANDSCAPES, MODERNIST GARDENS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . By Pamela Burton and Marie Botnick. London: Princeton Architectural Press, 2002. [pounds sterling]28.95 When you learn that most of the photographs in this book are taken by Tim Street-Porter and the equally legendary Julius Shulman Julius Shulman, (born October 10, 1910) is an American architectural photographer best known for his photograph "Case Study House #22, Los Angeles, 1960. Pierre Koenig, Architect." The house is also known as The Stahl House. you know you are in for a visual treat. Shulman's are the black and white befores and Street-Porter's are the luscious colour after images of a number of current domestic landscapes in Southern California. These aren't any old domestic landscapes but designed gardens for houses by West Coast luminaries such as Neutra, Schindler, Raphael Soriano Raphael Soriano, FAIA, (August 1 1904–July 21 1988) was an influential architect and educator who helped define a period of 20th century architecture that came to be known as Mid-century modern. , John Lautner John Lautner (16 July, 1911-24 October, 1994) was an influential American architect whose work in Southern California combined progressive engineering with humane design and dramatic space-age flair. and Quincey Jones. There are, mostly and virtuously, plans for each garden and mercifully mer·ci·ful adj. Full of mercy; compassionate: sought merciful treatment for the captives. See Synonyms at humane. mer brief and quite lightweight descriptions. The photos are lovely--though selected for scenic rather than explanatory value. So that you are not, until you search the plans very carefully, entirely sure exactly what is being illustrated. And an examination of the plans is too often not very enlightening en·light·en tr.v. en·light·ened, en·light·en·ing, en·light·ens 1. To give spiritual or intellectual insight to: or is too revelatory of the paucity of landscape thinking--which, in a way, you can understand in a climate with such an abundance of lush plant material. But it's an odd book. It turns out that many, though not all, of the after landscapes just happen to be reinterpretations recently carried out by one of the author's firms, Pamela Burton & Company--and that one of them is for the family of the other author Marie Botnick. Most readers like to know under what colours a book is sailing. Here you cannot be sure and so your final sensation is of unease. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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