Publisher: Artez Press, ISBN: 9789491444418, Authors: Jr Kikkert, T Saariste, Format: Softcover, 170 x 240 mm, 352pp
The American architect John Lautner (1911-1994) was well ahead of his time. His original, unconventional and very versatile oeuvre was never repetitive. His concern for the dreams and desires of his clients, his sensitivity to the location if his buildings and his interest in the latest technical developments were constants in his work. Lautner blurred the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces, between nature and architecture.
Lautner's oeuvre spans more than half a century, from his first independent commission in 1939 until his death in 1994. In this time period he carried out 144 if his designs, 103 of which are still standing. Most of them are located in and around Los Angeles. Lautner 's work developed greatly throughout the years: he started off close to his mentor Frank Lloyd Wright and ended with an uninhibited, unique and personal architectural style.
This book provides an unprecedented treasury of information about all of Lautner's built works. It is an odyssey, the story of two architects on a mission: Jan-Richard Kikkert and Tycho Saariste located, visited and described all the surviving buildings. This began with finding the correct addresses though Google Earth and ended with studying dusty rolls of drawings in owners' attics. Each house visit is described separately, with a focus on striking architectonic elements, the locations and the clients. Kikkert and Saariste also conducted extensive (archival) research on buildings that no longer exist and designs that were never built. The book is richly illustrated, often with images made specifically for this book.