I repeat: The most influential residential architect of the 20th century — and unless you are a longtime reader of this blog (and why aren’t you, pray tell?) you probably never heard of him...Bottom line: Royal Barry Wills’ ethic dominated the housing landscape then — and I’d say, even now. — Retro Renovation
Since at least 2008, Pam Kueber (of the The Mid-Century Modest Manifesto) has been singing the praises of American architect Royal Barry Wills.
First-time learning his name, already a fan, what is your take?
Thank you for the shout out, Nam. Over the past 10 years since I first wrote about Royal Barry Wills, I have seen more recognition given to his work. The small houses are, in particular, treasures -- so beautifully scaled and livable. There is one block in Pittsfield, Mass., just two miles or so from where I live in Lenox, Mass., that seems to have 10 or so RBW designs in a row. One day, I am going to go knocking on the doors and ask to take photos.
I very highly recommend his book, Houses Have Funny Bones. I think that architects will really appreciate it, as RBW tells very funny stories about designing and building houses and all the people he interacts with along the way. He was not only a very talented and hardworking architect -- he was a wonderful writer!
"Tree Houses" is also a gem, for the whimsy alone.
Many thanks, Pam
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I happen to have an original copy of Better Houses for Budgeteers that I picked up from my grandfather's library when he downsized about a decade ago. It's an absolute treasure. So much practical knowledge, most of which was wiped from the public consciousness in the decades of conspicuous consumption that separated my grandparents generation from mine.
We're currently using it as a guide for our own upcoming renovations, incidentally on a 1930 bungalow that could easily have been in Wills' original portfolio.
Thank you for the shout out, Nam. Over the past 10 years since I first wrote about Royal Barry Wills, I have seen more recognition given to his work. The small houses are, in particular, treasures -- so beautifully scaled and livable. There is one block in Pittsfield, Mass., just two miles or so from where I live in Lenox, Mass., that seems to have 10 or so RBW designs in a row. One day, I am going to go knocking on the doors and ask to take photos.
I very highly recommend his book, Houses Have Funny Bones. I think that architects will really appreciate it, as RBW tells very funny stories about designing and building houses and all the people he interacts with along the way. He was not only a very talented and hardworking architect -- he was a wonderful writer!
"Tree Houses" is also a gem, for the whimsy alone.
Many thanks, Pam
Very interesting. My guess is this guy's work contributed to the ubiquity of the cape cod house type in the post war suburbs when most other styles disappeared.
Online here:
https://archive.org/details/Ro...
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