California houses

Thirty-six houses completed in the past decade that capture the spirit of California in a distinctive way and respond creatively to context and the environment. Most were shaped by a dialogue between owner and architect, site and budget. Large or small, urban or rural, they demonstrate the extraordinary range of invention emerging from the offices of established and younger architects. This is a celebration of the best talent as well as clients with the courage, imagination and means to commission unique houses that advance the art of architecture. It demonstrates how great design can enrich lives. An introduction explains how California, one of the most geographically diverse states in the nation, has nurtured innovation for more than a century.