The Harvard Five in New Canaan: Midcentury Modern Houses by Marcel Breuer, Landis Gores, John Johansen, Philip Johnson, Eliot Noyes, and Others - Hardcover

Earls, William D.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0393731839 ISBN 13: 9780393731835

Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company, 2006

Synopsis

A virtual tour of thirty-five landmark houses, 1947-1966, built in a quiet New England community.

Since the fifties, "the Harvard Five" has been the catchphrase for the five architects featured in this book, who all built houses for themselves and for clients in New Canaan, Connecticut. Other architects, well known (Frank Lloyd Wright, for example) and not so well known, also contributed significant modern houses that elicited strong reactions from nearly everyone who saw them and are still astonishing today. An introductory essay by Jean Ely, "New Canaan Modern" (reprinted by permission of the New Canaan Historical Society), recounts the history of the area and how New Canaan came to be the locus of the modern movement's experimentation in materials, construction methods, space, and form. The book is done as a "house tour" in chronological order, with photographs and floor plans.

50 color, 50 black & white illustrations

About this title

About the Author:

William D. Earls, A.I.A. received a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Connecticut, a bachelor of architecture degree from the New York Institute of Technology, and a master of architecture degree from the University of Texas at Arlington. A registered architect who primarily designs custom residences, he has also worked on corporate, commercial, municipal, and religious buildings in Connecticut, New York, and Vermont. He lives in Wilton and works in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Review:

“Comments from the period, pro and con, from...critics and some of the architects, add spice and insight...Recommended.”
- C. W. Westfall, University of Notre Dame, Choice

“[A] valuable contribution to the literature of Modern architecture...key and fascinating chapter in the history of...America.”
- Kyle Johnson, DocoMomo

“[Y]our chance to step inside some of the most important homes created in the United States in the last 60 years.”
- John Denniston, FiftyPlus

“The coverage is exemplary, with vintage photography and floor plans.”
- Interior Design

“For...the...attention paid to...Modern homes in New Canaan, one might think there were...a few books...Until now, there was no such book.”
- John Mordecai, New Canaan News-Review

“[O]f interest to anyone with a love of mid-century modern houses and their architects.”
- New England Antiques Journal

“Provides a fascinating tour of the influential and beautiful structures.”
- Vince Cosgrove, ReadyMade

“[S]o satisfying....With well-rendered black-and-white plans, the reader can walk through each of the homes.”
- The Voice, AIA Cleveland Newsletter

About this edition

• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0393731839
• ISBN 13: 9780393731835
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 176