Red Tile Style: America's Spanish Revival Architecture

by Arrol Gellner, Douglas Keister

Virtually no other form of American architecture is as widespread or as popular as the Spanish Revival style. From bungalows and mansions to gas stations and government buildings, its influence—and its fans—can be found everywhere. Yet there has never been a single comprehensive survey of this diverse category of design. In Red Tile Style , Arrol Gellner describes the rich history and fertile permutations of Spanish Revival architecture. Packed with more than 250 lush color photographs taken by Douglas Keister, this handsome volume ranges from the style's origins in the Spanish colonial churches of the Southwest to its emergence as a commercial form in late-nineteenth-century railroad stations to the nationwide explosion in popularity sparked by the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego. Learned, lucid, and pleasing to the eye, Red Tile Style explores the far-reaching Spanish Revival influence in today's architecture in all its variations and adaptations. For the serious student and architecture fan alike, this book is truly a landmark.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published November 11, 2002

Reviews

[Stephany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of Mission/Stickly/Art Deco decor, and this book does a wonderful job of explicating that particular niche. I picked it up at the Gamble house in Pasadena, CA, which is worth a visit if you're ever in that neighborhood. Stunning craftsmanship, and well-curated. The bookshop (housed in the home's original garage) is worth a visit on its own.

[Chris Pate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good look at Spanish Revival style of houses from 1920's California. We used some of it as a template when building our house.