Author(s): Russell Abraham

Architecture

With Silicon Valley in the north and Hollywood in the south, California has become a magnet for creative and entrepreneurial types from within the United States and around the world. Architects have not been immune to the Golden State's aesthetic and cultural draw. Here, in the melting pot of world cultures and native talent, modern residential architecture has been reborn. From the seaside towns of Los Angeles to the rolling hills of San Francisco and the wine country of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, California's adventurous architects have reached back to the cultural and economic optimism of the 1950s to give modern architectural design a new look. With its mild climate and sun-filled days, California has always been a natural fit for modernism's tenets of open plans, indoor-outdoor living, and expansive window walls. There modernist design concepts have adapted easily to the 21st Century's demand for green architecture and energy conservation. Many of the houses in California Cool are energy independent and built using either recycled or sustainable materials.
California Cool includes contemporary work from some of modern architecture's progenitor's from the mid 20th century along with designs from the young practitioners of the 21st century, who can be found working out of converted warehouses and lofts in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Berkeley. From north to south, this beautifully illustrated book captures the rich, creative vibrancy of California's modern architectural presence.