Description
Book SynopsisPries (1897-1968) was one of the most influential teachers of architecture and design at the University of Washington. This title offers a celebration of Pries' professional legacy, tracing his evolution as a designer, architect, teacher, and artist. It shows how Pries absorbed and synthesized disparate influences and movements in design.
Trade Review"Anyone familiar with the University of Washington, Seattle and the Pacific Northwest, and the history of architecture will find this book to be an information explication of a significant teacher and subject . . . . this is a beautifully produced book that makes excellent use of the attractive visual source material at hand . . . . Drawing on interviews and reminiscences of former students, clients, and friends of Pries, Ochsner enriches his well-researched text to offer an engaging portrait of Pries and creates a welcome contribution to the history of architecture and architectural education in the United States."
* Pacific Northwest Quarterly *
"The scholarship, critical judgment, and production values behind this book are exceptionally high."
* Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians *
"Lavish is an overused word, but I cannot think of a better description for this volume. There are gorgeous color reproductions of watercolors, paintings and architecture on nearly every page, printed at a large enough size to feel their emotive strength, while excellent photographs and crisp re-drawn floor plans allow a good understanding of the architectural work. . . . For anyone with an interest in the truly influential people of the Northwest, so often caught between the cultural noise of number one and the obscurity of zero, this book is essential. Ochsner has done a great service in bringing Lionel Pries to life again."
* Arcade *
"[This] big volume is beautifully written and reads almost like a mystery novel as Ochsner delves into Pries' past with respect, compassion, and drive to tell the truth. . . . A must-read."
* Tacoma Weekly *
"A meticulously researched and captivating portrait of Pries' own life and work. . . . It is challenging to juggle all the components of such a book, which examines Pries as educator, architect, artist, and collector. It places him and his work in a broader context of the arts community in Seattle and the changing approaches to teaching architecture at the UW. . . . Jeffrey Ochsner is up to the task."
* Pacific Northwest Magazine *
"A lucid, scholarly and lovingly illustrated study of [Pries]. . . .Ochsner proves adept at capturing the import of the artist and the spirit of the man. . . .making this overdue tribute as much a pleasure to browse as it is to read."
* Publishers Weekly *
"The book is surprisingly juicy. Lionel Pries is packaged as a coffee-table book—- with loads of illustrations showing Pries' houses and artwork—- but at times it reads more like a thriller. You immediately care about Pries and his work, and want to know what happened to him. . . . Architect James Chiarelli reportedly . . . said: 'The minute you stepped into the courtyard of the house he designed, you could feel his genius at work.' Now, with the publication of Ochsner's book, the rest of us can get a sense of it, too."
* Seattle Times *
Table of ContentsPreface
1 Introduction: "Do You Want to Be an Architect?"
2 Origins: An Education in Architecture, 1897-1923
3 Finding His Way: San Francisco and Santa Barbara, 1923-1928
4 To the Northwest: Bain and Pries, 1928-1931
5 Seeking a New Synthesis: Pries in Mexico, 1928-1942
6 In Practice: Design Evolution, 1932-1942
7 Educator of Architects: The University of Washington, 1928-1945
8 Master of the Arts: The Art Institute and the Community of Artists
9 In Practice: Romantic Modernism, 1945-1958
10 Colleagues in Conflict: The University of Washington, 1945-1958
11 Tragedy: The Last Years, 1958-1968
12 Legacies: Architecture and Character
Notes
Buildings and Projects
Major Archival Sources
General Background Reading
Index
