Red Tile Style: America's Spanish Revival Architecture

This book is like the bible of Spanish Revival architecture. It's eight chapters cover the history of the style (Introduccion), small houses (Las Casitas), large houses (Las Casas Grandes), patios (Las Casas con Patio), commercial structures (Los Edificios Comerciales), public structures (Los Edificios Publicos), details (Los Detalles), and new structures (Los Edificios Neuvos). All of the chapters are beautifully illustrated with numerous pictures of full exteriors, interiors, and interesting details. Each picture is accompanied by copious text describing the significant features in the image and, in many cases, the defining architectural characteristics of the associated period as the Spanish Revival style evolved. Although the focus is on Spanish Revival architecture in California, other states where the style is common, such as Texas and Florida, also receive passing mention. The relationship of the Spanish Revival style to the closely associated (in stylistic space and time) Spanish Mission, Arts and Crafts, and Craftsman (aka 'Mission') styles is also covered in the introduction. For most homeowners the chapters on small houses, patios, and details will be the most interesting, but there are plenty of ideas and inspiration to be found in the larger houses, commercial, and public buildings as well. The chapter on Details is particularly wonderful, showcasing details of the doors, windows, lamp fixtures, tile and wrought iron work that are an integral part of the style. When you've finished this book, you'll be able to impress your decorator with your knowledge of the differences between the Mission, Spanish Colonial, Churrigueresque, and Andalusian flavors of the Spanish Revival style.As another reviewer commented, for some mysterious reason this book omits page numbers, although the Table of Contents reference them. I suspect this was a big 'oops' on the part of the publisher/printer.This book is an excellent rebuttal to Garrison Frost's article on "The Red Tile Terror" (google it), which rightfully laments the "lazy creation of ugly, soulless buildings" in the Spanish Revival style in modern day California. (Bay Area, I'm looking at you.) Indeed, Spanish Revival is as much a product of image and marketing as it is a reflection of a (mostly mythic) past. However, that is true of most architectural styles more elaborate than a mud hut. The chapter on New Construction highlights some Bay Area homes (rebuilt after the 1991 Oakland fire) that were done right. If you want to know what authentic Spanish Revival looks like, this is the book for you.

There are many strong points to this book and several weak points. First the strong points. This is a compendium of photographs of various buildings including a wide variety of functions which were constructed in Spanish/Misssion/Mediterranean styles which all share the use of red tiles for their roofing materials. It excludes English and other European styles which also use red tiles (usually flat rather than round) and is limited to the United States, which is given in the book's title.The color photographs are a delight and the captions pithy, although not terribly informative.The book is mostly unpaginated, which I found to be quite annoying and there was virtually no text other than a helpful introduction.This is a fine coffee table book and, as such, I recommend it.

This really is a beautifully illustrated book, randomly chronicling Spanish and Spanish colonial architecture--primarily in California. I bought this because we are thinking about building a new place or renovating an old colonial in this style. Lots of good ideas here, but the emphasis is often on grander and larger houses and therefore, somewhat less helpful for my more modest purposes. I'll keep the book for reference, but meanwhile am still looking for something that has more substance on building plans and contemporary material sources.If nothing else, "Red Tile Style" confirms the great, simple beauty of Spanish design and decoration and helps explain why houses in California and elsewhere in this style are still widely sought by home buyers.

We recently purchased a 1934 Spanish Eclectic that needs not only restoration of it's former architectural integrity, but an addition to make the home work for us. This book was a good choice to provide us with a photographic "library" of Spanish-style homes to reference. I do wish there had been more devotion to the "casitas" section of middle-class homes and less to buildings dedicated to government or business; and perhaps more photographs of interiors. But it's still a great find and a wonderful addition for anyone who collects either books on architecture in general or on California architecture specifically.

Incredible amout of information and pictures on houses and details.I am using it as the main reference book for remodeling a house in Spain in this style. I cannot find such good books in spanish

This book is well written and profusely illustrated showing overall views of varied Spanish Colonial Revival structures, residential, commercial and public. It also contains many detail shots of lighting fixtures, plumbing fixtures and other unique parts that make up the whole of this style. The book is valuable to the architect, restorationist, home owner and anyone interested in architecture in general.

One of the better books on Spanish Revival r/t what I personally was looking for! Lots of history, exterior and interior pictures. Mostly grand estates or businesses including museums but finally located my fireplace for authentication to me personally.Now I just need some window treatments! Lol

I wasn't expecting much from this book, and I just got a used one for cheap, but I was completely blown away by! So many great pictures of homes, courtyards, etc. Lots of ideas to take out of all the pictures in this book.

this is the first time I have ordered online books. It was disappointing. My impression was that this book would be more about spanish tiles. My mistake. Now I have two books I am dissatisfied with.