[.ca] Albert Frey: Houses 1 + 2 (ISBN 1568981902)

Save your money:
The captionless pictures are an amateurish mish-mash--a wall here, a cupboard there, a flower pot, etc.--that intends to explain the houses by showing their components. There might be one or two actual pictures of the complete houses, but they're not especially flattering. Makes you appreciate professional photographers. No technical info either. There is an interview at the end, however, if you're willing to buy the book for that.

Frey shows well in Europe:
In London I stumbled on this beautiful book at the Tate museum. Interestingly Palm springs modernism seems to be a highly sought after style here and this book embodies the best of that look. I never knew Frey did the detailing of the Villa Savoye and helped execute the built in furniture. It is great to see that Europe architecture migrated and that within Europe today, the look that Frey designed for his own homes is very much appreciated and admired and inspires. If a picture is worth a thousand words, this book is invaluable.

Desert Dreams:
Albert Frey's work is among the best fifties modernism has to offer. Unfortunately there is not as much literature about him as for instance on Neutra. 'Albert Frey Houses 1+2' tries to fill in the gap and focuses on the two desert houses Frey has built and extended over the years. The designs and changes are documented by colour photographs, instead of drawings. This approach unveils the tactility and vivid colours of Frey's work, but neglects the spatial qualities of his plans. Because most people have been introduced to his architecture by black and white pictures, this book now shows that the designs are much more complex and lively than expected. Pictures of personal items and private photographs are printed among the architecture and reveal Frey's sources of inspiration. The last few pages are dedicated to an interview, and are very inspiring. Frey turns out to be a very clever and sensitive person, who in many ways has been way ahead of his time. Drawback of this 'picture'-book is that it only serves as an introduction to Albert Frey's work. Because the focus of the book is on only two of his houses, and its approach is mainly visual, it leaves the reader behind with an urge to find out more about this gentle architect and his buildings.