YOUR PLACE RANCH HOUSE GETS ITS DUE.Byline: Diana McKeon Charkalis Lifestyle Editor For years, ranch houses have been the Rodney Dangerfields of the architecture world. No respect. But historian and architecture critic Alan Hess is one of a growing number out to change that. ``There are so many of them everywhere that they kind of fade into the background,'' says Hess, author of ``The Ranch House,'' (Abrams, $45). ``But the ranch was the most successful modern housing type of the mid-20th-century. It really solved the housing crisis America was facing after World War II.'' Hess will discuss the history and the comeback of this architectural style Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church Episcopal Church, Anglican church of the United States. Its separate existence as an American ecclesiastical body with its own episcopate began in 1789. Doctrine and Organization in Studio City. Hess calls the ranch ``an absolutely essential part of the story of 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, architecture.'' But what actually makes a ranch a ranch? Here's Hess' checklist from his book of characteristics with which the ranch is usually identified. He says a ranch will include many, but not necessarily all of these elements: A one-story house with a low-pitched, gabled or hipped hipped 1 adj. Having hips, especially of a given kind. Often used in combination: slim-hipped; large-hipped. hipped 2 adj. roof, with wide eaves A house of general asymmetry Asymmetry A lack of equivalence between two things, such as the unequal tax treatment of interest expense and dividend payments. A general horizontal emphasis An open, interior plan blending functional spaces A designed connection to the outside/backyard Informal or rustic materials or details A rambling plan suggestive of suggestive of Decision making adjective Referring to a pattern by LM or imaging, that the interpreter associates with a particular–usually malignant lesion. See Aunt Millie approach, Defensive medicine. wings or additions The ranch house talk kicks off the L.A. Conservancy's ``Spectacular/Vernacular'' program highlighting the high-style roots of modernism in the Valley. Events culminate with a six-stop tour of mid-century homes in the Valley Oct. 29. Tickets for Wednesday night's lecture are $5 for members, $10 for non-members. The Conservancy tour is $25 for members, $30 for non-members. For more information, visit www.laconservancy.org, or call (213) 623-2489. ALSO IN PRAISE OF THE RANCH: ``Atomic Ranch: Design Ideas for Stylish Ranch Homes'' (Gibbs Smith; $39.95). This new book, from the publishers of the quarterly magazine of the same name that is devoted to midcentury homes, offers exteriors and interiors of 25 beautifully photographed ranch houses located all around the country. By example, the book offers tips on embracing the ranch style rather than trying to change it and also offers ideas on how to decorate. And it features local references -- including one of the 125 Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. homes designed by Joseph Eichler Joseph Eichler (1900 - 1974) was a California-based, post-war residential real estate developer known for building homes in the Modernist style. Between 1950 and 1974, his company, Eichler Homes, built over 11,000 homes in Northern California and three communities in Southern , and a modest, updated ranch in Monrovia. It's an inspiring and loving look at a long-neglected architectural treasure. -- D.M.C. ZOOM ZOOM: One-of-a-kind toy cars customized by 33 international architects, designers and artists will be the focus of a silent auction and exhibit this week at L.A.'s Fitzsu Society, a modern design store at 7970 Melrose Ave. Proceeds from the auction will benefit the World Childhood Foundation (www.childhood.org). All the designers/artists, including Michael Graves Not to be confused with Michale Graves. Not to be confused with Michael Graves (poker player). Michael Graves (b. July 9, 1934) is an American architect. Identified as one of The New York Five, Graves has achieved his greatest fame with his designs for domestic and Mark Mothersbaugh Mark Allen Mothersbaugh (born May 18, 1950 in Akron, Ohio) is an American musician, composer, singer, and painter. Career While Mothersbaugh attended Kent State as an art student, he met Devo co-founders Jerry Casale and Bob Lewis. , were given a Playsam brand wooden toy car and allowed to let their imaginations go wild. The official benefit and auction take place at 7 p.m. Thursday. Those who wish to attend the free event can register by visiting www.fitzsu.com. The cars will also be featured on eBay Sunday through Oct. 22, and also will be up for bidding during that time. To access, visit www.ebay.com/givingworks. Type in ``fitzsu grand prix'' to locate the cars. The in-store exhibit will be open to the public during regular business hours BUSINESS HOURS. The time of the day during which business is transacted. In respect to the time of presentment and demand of bills and notes, business hours generally range through the whole day down to the hours of rest in the evening, except when the paper is payable it a bank or by a Oct. 20-22. For more information, call (323) 655-1908, or visit their Web site. -- D.M.C. CAPTION(S): 5 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Alan Hess, author of ``The Ranch House,'' discusses its architectural history  This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject.Please help recruit one or [ improve this article] yourself. See the talk page for details. and comeback. (2 -- color) HESS (3 -- color) no caption (book: ``Atomic Ranch: Design Ideas for Stylish Ranch Homes'') (4 -- 5 --- color) no caption (toy cars) |
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