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Western Ranch Houses by Cliff May
The success of the first edition of Sunset Western Ranch Houses led Sunset and Cliff May to bring out a second edition in 1958. Very different than the first edition, this too proved to be a best-seller. In addition being more thorough than the earlier work, the second edition also showed that May's architecture was going in new directions. He still preserved the rustic traditions and materials of the ranch house, but his designs were more open and flexible. The houses show that May had absorbed many of the modernist advances in domestic achitecture taking place in Southern California, while still maintaining his esthetic roots in the Spanish ranch house.
- GenresArchitecture
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 25, 2019
Being in the midst of upgrading a 1954 post-adobe ranch, this book (old though it is; original publication in 1958) is a treasure trove of examples of how the ranch house came in to being and evolved thanks to forward thinking architect Cliff May.
The indoor/outdoor, the corridors, the separate patios, the beginning of the "open" concept between living room/dining room/kitchen, the use of walls of glass and sliding doors, plant pockets, natural materials, hugging the geography of the site.
Granted, the "history" lesson of the early Spanish and Mexican rule in California is romanticized and unhelpful, perpetuating stereotypes. Fortunately, that is brief. Unfortunately, that is at the beginning. No excuses, but it fits with the late 1950s general inattention to historical accuracy.
It is also somewhat of a time capsule with motor courts, girls and boys bedrooms, Mr. and Mrs. bedrooms, and even a "new feature"-- a curtain that can be pulled between the adults twin beds in the master bedroom, should one like to stay up later reading. Something of an I Love Lucy scenario.
Bonus: Reading the book I was struck by the fact that one of the designs look so familiar to my late father's cousin's home in King City, CA. After looking at the index for Cliff May's papers (held at UCSB), it turns out I was correct. The home was designed by May! Nice ending to the book.
The indoor/outdoor, the corridors, the separate patios, the beginning of the "open" concept between living room/dining room/kitchen, the use of walls of glass and sliding doors, plant pockets, natural materials, hugging the geography of the site.
Granted, the "history" lesson of the early Spanish and Mexican rule in California is romanticized and unhelpful, perpetuating stereotypes. Fortunately, that is brief. Unfortunately, that is at the beginning. No excuses, but it fits with the late 1950s general inattention to historical accuracy.
It is also somewhat of a time capsule with motor courts, girls and boys bedrooms, Mr. and Mrs. bedrooms, and even a "new feature"-- a curtain that can be pulled between the adults twin beds in the master bedroom, should one like to stay up later reading. Something of an I Love Lucy scenario.
Bonus: Reading the book I was struck by the fact that one of the designs look so familiar to my late father's cousin's home in King City, CA. After looking at the index for Cliff May's papers (held at UCSB), it turns out I was correct. The home was designed by May! Nice ending to the book.
February 29, 2016
It's interesting how modern these houses feel. Well, except for their obsession with separate patios of children and adults and the twin beds in the master suites :-)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews