English
Case Study Houses
The pioneering project that sought to bring modernism to the masses
The Case Study House program (1945–1966) was an exceptional, innovative event in the history of American architecture and remains to this day unique. The program, which concentrated on the Los Angeles area and oversaw the design of 36 prototype homes, sought to make available plans for modern residences that could be easily and cheaply constructed during the postwar building boom. Highly experimental, the program generated houses that were designed to redefine the modern home, and thus had a pronounced influence on architecture—American and international—both during the program`s existence and even to this day. This compact guide includes all projects featured in our XL version, with over 150 photos and plans and a map of where all houses are (or were) located.
About the Series:
Every book in TASCHEN's Basic Architecture Series features:
- approximately 120 images, including photographs, sketches, drawings, and floor plans
- introductory essays exploring the architect's life and work, touching on family and background as well as collaborations with other architects
- the most important works presented in chronological order, with descriptions of client and/or architect wishes as well as construction problems and resolutions
- an appendix including a list of complete or selected works, biography, bibliography and a map indicating the locations of the architect's most famous buildings
About the author:
Elizabeth A. T. Smith is James W. Alsdorf Chief Curator and Deputy Director for programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Formerly she was curator at The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles where she organized the exhibition “Blueprints for Modern Living: History and Legacy of the Case Study Houses.” Smith has taught at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and has published and lectured widely on a variety of topics in contemporary art and architecture.
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Case Study Houses
Gössel, Peter (ED)
Smith, Elizabeth Softcover, flaps 7.3 x 9.1 in., 96 pages, $ 9.99 |
- Reviews (6 items)
"A pleasingly accessible snapshot of America's Case Study Houses Program in which architects designed low-cost experimental prototype homes."
Grand Designs, London, United Kingdom
Grand Designs, London, United Kingdom
- Clippings (3 items)
Case Study Houses
Easy Living, United Kingdom, March 01, 2007
Easy Living, United Kingdom, March 01, 2007
- See also (5 items)
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Case Study Houses Houses that were designed to re-define the modern home |
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Eames "... everything hangs on something else." - Ray Eames |
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Koenig A leading proponent of the Case Study House program |