Linden Tree presentation: September 9th (at) 7pm

Ranch Houses: Living the California Dream

With its archetypal open plan and embrace of indoor-outdoor living, the California Ranch House is at the very heart of the California dream.  When we think of ranch houses – those low-slung, informal dwellings that formed new suburban communities after world War II – we are thinking of just one part of a phenomenon that has its roots in the state’s late nineteenth-century Spanish and Mexican ranchos, and which continuestoday in houses that are startling and up-to-the-minute.  

David Weingarten and Lucia Howard are principals at Ace Architects in Oakland,CA.  For nearly 30 years, Ace has authored buildings and interiors that are exuberant, spatially-charged,
often vividly-colored, and nearly always a lot of fun.  Among the firm’s lively projects are a variety of eclectically-styled ranch houses.  VANITY FAIR described Ace as "the court jester of California architecture"; and much of the firm's work, or should we say 'play', is in the realm of joyful public places, including projects for Disneyland and Disneyworld, as well as Universal City Walk and Children's Fairyland in Oakland, California.    www.aceland.com

Known for his sensitive interpretation of architecture, Joe Fletcher has work in publications such as Wallpaper, Western Interiors, The San Francisco Chronicle, and California Home + Design.  The current issue of Architectural Digest features Joe's photographs of the Palm Springs home of Jim Jennings & Therese Bissell. www.joefletcherphotography.com