In this collection of unequalled photography, renowned architectural photographer Marvin Rand reveals a whole new interpretation of the legendary California brother architects Charles and Henry Greene. Rand has documented the architectural work of the Greenes since 1959, when he accepted a request from the Metropolitan Museum of Art to photograph their sconces and lighting. He has been enamored with the Greenes ever since, building a body of work that is unsurpassed.

Going beyond documenting the Greenes' work, Rand captures the emotion and art of their buildings. His images focus on details-architectural elements, lighting, materials-creating the illusion that one could reach out and touch them, feeling the sensuousness of line and texture they possess.

Architect Irving J. Gill (1870–1936) is widely considered the first and preeminent architect of the "Modernist" era. In her groundbreaking work Five California Architects, Esther McCoy asserts that, along with Bernard Maybeck, Charles and Henry Greene, and R.M. Schindler, Gill is one of California's most important architects.

As one of the most influential architects of the late nineteenth to early twentieth century, Gill is said to have been so far in advance of his time, that there was yet no discussion of "modernism"—it simply had not emerged as a movement or a conscious-ness. Gill followed no one, choosing instead to lead a paradigm shift from crafts construction to machinic building, particularly in light of the development and evolution of concrete as a material of choice. This book is a must-own for any serious fan of Gill, California architecture, modernism, and turn-of-the-century development in building.

Craig Ellwood - the Californian Modernist best known for the Los Angeles Case Study Houses - was a product of Hollywood, fashioned and honed by ambition. This text examines both the architecture and the colourful life of this extraordinary man. Ellwood's life and career are discussed chronologically, beginning with his early work in the post-war building industry and ending with his retirement to Italy for a new life as a painter. From his initial interview with Ellwood in 1988, Neil Jackson's many interviews with dozens of Ellwood's family, friends and colleagues contribute to making this volume more than an architectural monograph. The book is illustrated with drawings and images from the Ellwood archives at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, as well as with photographs by Marvin Rand, Julius Shulman and specially commissioned pictures by John Linden.

photo by David Montalba

Marvin embraced new technology, maintaining nothing but the finest of hardware and software. Thankfully, Mary Ann, who has worked with computers since mainframes, was around to assist.