Categorized by habitat—canyon, desert, urban, woodland—19 homes capitalize on the multi-disciplinary aspects of Marmol Radziner, with most houses displaying architecture, interiors, landscape, and construction by the firm. After an interview with the two principals by writer Katya Tylevich, the large-scale book unfolds with immersive photography in an elegant design (overseen by noted book designer Lorraine Wilde) that includes many end-to-end spreads. Whether shot from the outside or in, elements of nature are imbued in each view. The book’s project descriptions further pull the reader into an understated intimacy, as they are written in the first-person voice of the architects. For example, describing the relationship between building and environs in the desert: “Our landscaping followed [the] philosophy: make the nature feel as though we were never there.” Or, when describing a Pacific Palisades house: “Inside and out, we prioritized views of the hills and canyon, placing home life within the context of the landscape.” In fact, that last statement could be included in each of the featured homes, as they all deftly integrate natural and built elements.
Princeton Architectural Press, 2019, 312 pages, hardcover, $65.