Modernism crashed into the American consciousness right after the Second World War, although it had existed in the minds and works of American and German-born architects for almost 40 years prior. While it offered a new design paradigm that would transform the urban landscape from New York to New Delhi, modernism was a slow burn for residential architects. The sharp edges and simple geometries were a hard sell for the American design psyche. A group of innovative architects in the USA took Bauhaus modernism and gave it a vernacular face. They borrowed forms from the simple utilitarian buildings found in rural environments and created a new strain of modernism. Russell Abraham dubs this style 'rural modernism' — a modern aesthetic with a vernacular palette. The result of several ingenious ideas blended together to create a contemporary, sustainable and highly liveable architecture, these houses respect the past while looking forward to the future. Orienting windows to capture heat in winter and provide sun protection in summer is standard, while other sustainable design features include solar-thermal systems, subterranean heat sinks, geothermal trenches and rainwater collection systems — all of which are incorporated to make the most of the natural resources available in rural settings.

From Southern California's beach towns, to the rolling hills surrounding San Francisco Bay, and to the lush vineyards of Napa and Sonoma, this book examines residential design in both urban and rural settings. Russell Abrahams' striking architectural images and insightful writing give unique human face to the architects and their works. The table is set and the doors are open. Come in and feast on the architectural bounty, which is California style. Architects featured in this title include Dean Nota, Stephen Kanner, Swatt Miers, Jim Jennings, Scott Johnson, Kim Coleman, Craig Steely, Steven Shortridge, William Flesher, and Ray Kappe.