by Diane Keaton (Foreword), Diane Keaton (Foreword), Daniel P. Gregory (Contributor), Erhard Pfeiffer (Photographer), Stanley Abercrombie (Afterword)
Elegant rusticity meets unpretentious luxury in the work of this award-winning architecture firm. Howard Backen, principal of the architecture firm Backen, Gillam & Kroeger, is at the center of a popular movement in home design that emphasizes elegant simplicity and embraces the rustic charm of natural materials. This volume, the first on his work and that of the firm, is an artful exploration of this aesthetic, featuring farmhouses in the Napa Valley, hilltop homes, seaside retreats, and lakeside hideaways. Throughout the work, a sense of intimacy, warmth, and informality pervades. Natural materials, such as wood, stone, and brick, form the foundations, walls, and ceilings of these subtly luxurious spaces, while nature itself plays a considered role that is at once complementary and also intricately conjoined with the work. Sensitive, alluring, and wonderfully resonant with the suggestion of invitation, the work of Backen, Gillam & Kroeger is both thrilling to the eye and restorative to the soul.
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 456
Edition: 1
Publisher: Rizzoli International Publications
Published: 15 Oct 2013
ISBN 10: 0847840778
ISBN 13: 9780847840779
.. .the sheer size and weight of the book reflects the enormity of his accomplishments and influence. But it's a beauty filled with images of 38 properties, from wineries to seaside retreats, with images so large, you could believe you've stepped into the house. Napa Valley Register
.. [one of] this fall's highly anticipated design titles from AD100 talent, filled with remarkable spaces and expert advice. Editor and author Daniel P. Gregory surveys the work of California firm Backen, Gillam & Kroeger whose signature rustic aesthetic emphasizes natural materials. Architectural Digest
This volume...isn't overrun with text or filled with the filler of meaningless black and white snaps, as so many of these books are. Instead clients are mentioned, plans are explained, materials and layouts are discussed. And the placement of each photo is as deliberate as the projects that are highlighted within. Backen understands that powerful architecture is a successful manifestation of the dialogue between structure and surrounding. His work is brave and moving because it demands that we not only look at it, but beyond it. Nintchka.com
From the Land is an artful exploration of the architecture firm's aesthetic. Throughout the work, a sense of intimacy, warmth, and informality pervades. Editor at Large
From the Land, a new shelter book by Daniel P. Gregory from Rizzoli, showcases the stunning portfolio of Napa-based architects Backen, Gillam & Kroeger. Gentry Magazine