Greene and Greene: Masterworks

Rarely in a Greene and Greene house is there an abrupt division between inside and out. One enters by transitions, in stages. Brick steps my lead up from the garden to a porch. Shelter comes from a gabled overhang or sleeping porch that extends from above--one is covered but still able to feel the breeze. The pattern in the door's art glass evokes the natural world being left behind. Stepping inside, one still does not feel totally enclosed; across the entrance hall are doorways framing a vista of gardens beyond.

This book addresses the problem by taking us inside twenty-five examples of Greene and Greene's work. The text is accompanied by the breathtaking photography of Alexander Vertikoff. I own a large collection of books on the architecture of this period, and those illustrated by Vertikoff stand in a class by themselves. His photos are magnificent, doing justice to the material he portrays. I doubt if there is a finer photographer working in this field today.

With photos like these, it would have been easy to turn this volume into nothing more than a glorious picture book. Instead, Bruce Smith provides an engaging story of the careers of the two architects. The best writing is found in an extensive introduction, where the author discusses the Greene and Greene style in general terms. One can see at a glance how the style starts with Arts and Crafts. Indeed, there is a wealth of Stickley furniture in many of the houses. It is equally obvious how the two went beyond the plain craftsman designs so common further east. The Japanese influence was much stronger here, and the craftsmanship in the wood joinery was much more refined. There is more woodworking than carpentry here. The woods included Burmese teak, Honduras mahogany, Port Orford cedar, oak, maple and redwood. In some cases, the brothers were able to design furniture, landscaping and gardens to go with the architecture.

For the remainder of the book, we get a tour through twenty-five houses designed by Greene and Greene. Each house is presented in the order of its design and construction, with a history of the entire house to the present day. In some cases, this includes restoration after some abuse. Some of these houses were created on a budget; others were done with no apparent limits on the imagination of the architects. All are works of art, created as a labor of love by all concerned. For anyone unfamiliar with the work of Greene and Greene, this is an excellent introduction. For those who are already captivated, this book is a must, if only for those magnificent pictures.


The Greenes literally turned living spaces into works of art   February 17, 2000
Dr. John H. Plouffe (San Juan Capistrano, CA)
19 out of 21 found this review helpful

For those of us fortunate enough to live in Southern California and actually see a Greene and Greene work of art first hand, we know that there is nothing to hold against it in comparison. Nothing, this is, until the publishing of this wonderful book through the collaborative efforts of Bruce Smith and Alexander Vertikoff. For as long as I can remember I have found the Greene & Greene homes in the Pasadena, California area to be the most uniquely beautiful structures imaginable. Two years ago my wife and I toured The Gamble House, and were overwhelmed by the workmanship, the level of detail and the thoughfulness incorporated into its construction. There is nothing like physically being inside a Greene & Greene home. Smith and Vertikoff provide us with second best; the opportunity to see the inside of these works of art. The exterior views and the interior photographs provide a wonderful insight into these magnificant structures. Bruce Smith provides the reader with just enough description as to leave one wanting more. My concluding reaction to their superb effort is to want more. More photographs, more narrative, diagrams of the homes, and understanding owners willing to open their homes, their charges, to a public filled with appreciation for this type of beauty, so seldom experienced.


Greene with Envy   April 8, 2002
Dave Klopp (Milwaukee, WI USA)
19 out of 21 found this review helpful

As an aspiring woodworker with apparently very little natural talent, I can only view Greene & Greene's work with a mixture of awe and jealousy. While I find much of what Wright has done to be at times inaccessible and dated (primarily because so many others have attempted to copy or incorporate his style into theirs - and failed miserably by the way), the Greene's work is absolutely gorgeous, and would fit in with many current styles.....But then again you all know that. The question is why buy this particular book?

If you are looking for wonderful, full-page color photographs this is it. The first 50 pages are devoted to the G&G style; there is a page or two devoted to Materials, Joinery, Lighting etc. Descriptions are quite brief, and include a couple of pics.

The next 170 pages are devoted to 25 different houses with narration about the original design process, the ensuing history, and the current state. Again tons of color pics, and lots of shots of the furniture they designed to go with the particular house.

If you are looking for an in-depth discussion, check out Randall Makinson's "Architecture as a Fine Art/Furniture and Related Designs. These two books (now available in one edition) cover the G&G history in detail, but have less photos (many in black and white). They do have many front on center views of the furniture (as well as early drawings) so if you are interested in building their furniture, these books make a suitable companion to the one being reviewed.


The Greenes rival F.L. Wright; this book shows us why.   December 7, 1998
Mary Drew (Spokane WA USA)
18 out of 20 found this review helpful

The story of the Greene brothers is bittersweet. Greene and Greene built, in their day, houses that rival Frank Lloyd Wright's. Their day was short, however, and their fame never reached Wright's. You will agree after reading "Greene & Greene: Masterworks", that their art was as brilliantly creative and harmonious as that of Wright.

In this book we sample what remains of their work, both the almost-forgotten houses, and those better-known, in particular the houses in Pasadena, CA, including the Gamble House. (This house is open to the public and anyone who finds himself south of the Tehachapi should make the pilgrimage.) Until then, "Greene & Greene: Masterworks" will give you a feel for the smooth, integrated beauty and grace of the creations of these arts-and-crafts architects.

Their genius can be seen in the details, which make a Greene and Green house akin to a wooden puzzle, each piece of which is entirely necessary to the whole. The book presents photos of the warm beauty of the wood used by the Greenes and the detail that integrates the rooms inside with the porches, roofs, and doors outside and relates the entire house to its site. The Greene brothers' work glows with extraordinary creativity and this book, with words and pictures, helps us to understand what they were doing and to grasp their importance.

The careers of the brothers were dissipated by the depression, denying us the larger body of work and the public buildings we might have had if they had continued working into their full maturity. Greene & Greene: Masterworks is a fine begining of a more widespread knowledge of the Greenes and their beautiful houses.


WHAT FOLLOWS ARE COMMENTS FROM THE AUTHOR   August 23, 1998
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

I would enjoy hearing directly from anyone who has comments or questions about the book. I have been working for nearly a decade on a biography of Charles Greene, the older of the two brothers, and would be curious, in return, if there interest is in such a book. In this book just published, GREENE AND GREENE MASTERWORKS, I HAVE incorporated much of the new research I have done these past ten years -- you will find here a focus on the life of the Greenes, on their relationships with their clients, which I hope will give a deeper understanding of their individual works as well as to the style they so beautifully developed. I will look forward to hearing from you -- Bruce Smith