Organic Architecture: The Other Modernism

by Alan Hess

Organic The Other Modernism illuminates the broad brush stroke of Organic residential architecture throughout the panorama of twentieth-century Modernism. A wide-ranging style that defies definition, Organic buildings are notable in their curves and colors, as well as their exuberant, opulent, and at times, extravagant complexity of line, form, texture, structure, and color. Organized chronologically, beginning in 1880 and ending with the present, each chapter explores the contributions of Organic architects in depth. With riveting historical context, including the movement's foundation, evolution, and major events, author Alan Hess shows why the Organic movement has remained a strong, deep-running current in culture and design.
Some key Organic architects featured in this book
Louis Sullivan
Frank Furness
Frank Lloyd Wright
Bruce Goff
Charles Haertling
John Lautner
Walter Burley Griffin
Mickey Muennig
R. M. Schindler

276 pages, Hardcover

First published August 2, 2006

About the author

Born in California in 1952, Hess received his BA at Principia College, a Master's degree in architecture from the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, and is a licensed architect. After working with architects William Coburn, and Callister Payne and Bischoff, Hess started his own firm specializing in residential work and historic preservation. His first book, Googie: Fifties Coffee Shop Architecture (Chronicle Books 1985) focused on a neglected and popular Modern form. Following books continued to explore overlooked chapters in twentieth-century architecture and urbanism. He is responsible for qualifying several landmark buildings for the National Register of Historic Places, including the oldest operating McDonald's in Downey, Stuart Company Plant and Office Building and Bullock's Pasadena in Pasadena, and the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale, Arizona.