Case Study Houses Hardcover – Download: Adobe Reader, June 1, 2009

I've had my eye on this book in the original format for a few years now, but could not part with the $$$ for it. When I saw this 25th Anniversary edition I got so excited that I had to order it right away. Ok, I know it's not the "real" version of the book, but for less than half the price who cares. To be honest with you, this smaller version of the book is so big I do not think I could handle a larger book. You definitely have to set this book down on a table to read it, otherwise it is unmanageable. As for content, wait, let me go over to my bar and make a martini. Yeah, that's better. The beautiful photography of Julius Shulman truly transforms you back to a better time! There are also floor plans, sketches, notes, and of course the text of the book. You can tell they used the original plates for this book, since the font is quite small, but definitely readable. I'm sure in the original format the text would appear normal size. In most cases though, you won't be looking at the text in this book, this is a PICTURE book, and what a picture book it is! A ring a ding ding! Oh, wait that's the martini kicking in. Once I started looking at this book, I watched a documentary on Julius Shulman, called Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman, which had many of these houses in it and so accompanies this book, it should be included with it. Since it is not though, you should order it WITH the book. For any fan of Modernism, this book is a must, I love it! This is where it starts. Now if they would only come out with a cheap version of that Arts & Architecture magazine set that started the Case Study House program....

Love this book.. Stumbled across this study to realize where MCM architecture and furniture design started.It highlights the Case Study program put forth by Arts & Architecture Magazine from like '45 - '67. These houses were then furnished by the great furniture designers and production companies, like Knoll.Great pics. Even more up to date pics of past projects. It is printed in like 3 languages at the same time. But this does create more room for pics on a page. You have to kind to be into it all to want this big of a book!The original magazines of Arts & Architecture are a treat as well if you can find them. The amount of development of house building products and house system products being developed was amazing!

For anyone who loves truly modern homes, buy this book. The book itself is huge and beautiful like virtually all Taschen books (German).This was such an important period in American architecture because it was egalitarian in its philosophy and fueled so much of today's modern home building. These houses are truly remarkable for their creative use of traditionally commercial materials, their livable scale and very forward thinking energy conservation.We already knew about the Case Study House program and had downloaded all of the original articles related to each house. This book goes in depth more and, provides better photos and background information. We are so grateful for this comprehensive book.As we get ready to build our own modern home (and tear down or current house - we're recycling the lot), this has become our test question for potential architects. We've passed on many firms who could tell us nothing of a Case Study House.We are building our 'Case Study' home in a neighborhood where 'modern' means the largest houses possible in a truly boring vernacular that is at least 100 years old. These are filthy rich people; none bothered with any green form of green energy (radiant heat floors, geothermal heat field, solar, PAHS, you name it) despite having the means to afford it. We believe that we'll be so happy in our zero energy cost Case Study type house.And yes, we're prepared for quizzical looks. But, we'll also be behind our 10 ft high Verticrete perimeter walls in an older established neighborhood that thrives on one-upping the neighbors. We just don't care what the neighbors think.We crave privacy, functionality, scale and beauty. There is such a thing as way too much fugly house. Go figure.

This book is huge and filled with details, drawings, and photos of the CSH projects.

The Case Study Houses -- The Complete CSH Program 1945 - 1966 by Taschen is a wonderful, comprehensive study of some of the best of the archetectural projects created from this time period. The principal photography by Julius Shulman is breathtaking and some of the original, vintage photos are presented on two pages within the huge book. When open, this jumbo edition is almost a yard across and at 34" is nearly overwhelming...and by some, too large to handle.The text is well written, informative and easy to comprehend. It describes, in detail, the development of these ultra modern homes located in the Los Angeles area of California which mostly use metal, concrete and glass. All of the materials were derived from various industrial usages and were considered new in the home building area, and innovative to say the least.Combined with the text and the extraordinary photographs, this book is destined to become a collector's item in the future and well worth the investment.