Drive-Yourself Craftsman House Tour
November 11, 2018 |
Learn About The Asian Influence in Craftsman Architecture
One factor that distinguishes Pasadena bungalows and Arts and Crafts houses from English Arts and Crafts or Midwestern (Prairie School/Frank Lloyd Wright) Arts and Crafts is the influence of Asian architecture. The distinguishing characteristics of Craftsman houses, such as connection with nature, rusticity, use of wood, fine craftsmanship, and expressed structure are also present in traditional Chinese and Japanese architecture.
Pasadena has some of the best examples of both Asian architecture and gardens in America, and of Asian-influenced Arts and Crafts homes too. Pasadena Heritage's Craftsman Week this fall will examine these connections more fully.
Pasadena is home to several Asian architectural highlights, including the century-old Huntington Japanese garden; Huntington's recently built traditional Chinese Suzhou style garden, the largest traditional Chinese garden outside of China; and the Pacific Asia museum, originally built in 1924, in large part by Chinese craftsman, in the style of a north China urban townhouse with an interior garden.
Traditional Asian elements are reflected both in Greene and Greene's ultimate bungalows and many, many vernacular bungalows, as seen in Bungalow heaven and throughout Pasadena. From the robust structure of the Blacker house, the Greenes' take on traditional Japanese temple architecture, to the Culbertson House across the street reflecting the north China urban townhouse with an interior garden style, to the expressed wooden post and beam construction of houses in Bungalow Heaven, Asian architectural elements abound in Craftsman homes.
The high point of the original Craftsman Movement was from 1905 to 1920. After World War II though, there was a concerted effort to adapt modernist principles to Southern California living conditions, and Craftsman principles were once again incorporated: integration with nature, blurring of the transition between inside and outside, wooden, post and beam, construction, expressed structure, open floor plans, sliding doors, etc. Modern houses are, in some ways, a revival of Arts and Crafts design with modern technologies. They also clearly show the impact of Chinese and Japanese temple architecture. The best exemplar of this approach in Pasadena is the work of the prolific local firm of Buff and Hensman in the 1950's and 1960's.
Pasadena Heritage will be exploring these Asian influences on Craftsman architecture during Craftsman Weekend this November 9th to 11th with a bus tour, neighborhood walking tours, and lectures. Craftsman Weekend will also include other bus and walking tours, presentations, receptions, and the Antiques and Contemporary Decorative Arts & Furnishing Sale.
$10 off Sunday Craftsman House Tour tickets for a limited time only!Sunday, November 119:00 am - 4:00 pm
$65 nonmember / $55 member
The Sunday Craftsman House Tour is Craftsman Weekend's signature event, featuring fine examples of the beautiful Craftsman architecture that makes Pasadena the destination for Arts & Crafts enthusiasts from across the country.
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Website:
www.pasadenaheritage.org/craftsmanweekend |
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Location Information |
Pasadena, CA |
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Contact Information |
Email:
preservation@pasadenaheritage.org |
Phone:
626-441-6333 |
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