Deco By The Bay

Auth: University of California, Berkeley, Includes 150 color photographs, 9 walking tours.

Auth: University of California, Berkeley, Includes 150 color photographs, 9 walking tours.

The famed period of architecture, design, and style known as Art Deco began in the mid1920s and lasted for a good 20 years. The movement left an indelible stamp all around the Bay Area but nowhere more so than in styleconscious San Francisco. The city's 1925 Diamond Jubilee, coinciding with the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes in France, ushered in the Art Deco age to the city by the bay. The Roaring Twenties created a need for thousands of new commercial and residential buildings, and many of these, such as Timothy Pflueger's Pacific Telephone and Telegraph building, were Art Deco masterpieces that embodied the new "moderne" styling sweeping the country. Using a variety of building materials, including terracotta, Vitrolux, and neon, many of the city's graceful and dramatic buildings turned heads 70 years ago just as they do today.

The Castro Theatre, the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Headquarters, 450 Sutter Medico-Dental Buildingthesemasterpieces of San Francisco's Art Deco heritage are the work of one man: Timothy Pflueger. An immigrant's sonwith only a grade-school education, Pflueger began practicing architecture after San Francisco's 1906 earthquake. While his contemporaries looked to Beaux-Arts traditions to rebuild the city, he brought exotic Mayan, Asian, and Egyptian forms to buildings ranging from simple cocktail lounges to the city's first skyscrapers. Pflueger was one of the city's most prolificarchitects during his 40-year career. He designed two major downtown skyscrapers, two stock exchanges, several neighborhood theaters, movie palaces for four smaller cities (including the beloved Paramount in Oakland), some ofthe city's biggest schools, and at least 50 homes. His works include the San Francisco Stock Exchange, the ever-popularTop of the Mark, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, and the San Francisco World's Fair. It is a testament to his talentthat many of his buildings still stand and many have been named landmarks. Therese Poletti tells the fascinating story of Pflueger's life and work in Art Deco San Francisco. In lively detail, she relates how Pflueger built extravagant compositions in metal, concrete, and glass. She also tells the story behind the architecture: Pflueger's commissioning and support of muralist Diego Rivera, his association with photographer Ansel Adams and sculptor Ralph Stackpole, and his childhood friendship turned to adulthood sponsorship with San Francisco Mayor James "Sunny" Rolph Jr. Beautiful archival photography mixes with stunning new photography in this collection of a truly Californian, but ultimately American, story.

London Art Deco" presents a stunning visual catalogue of Londons Art Deco legacy from the florid 1920s to the streamlined 1930s. In more than 200 color images, and featuring cinemas, theatres, hotels, department stores, Underground stations, factories, corporate and residential buildings, this title shows the way the style influenced architects and designers.Hudson Hills Press

The new Rough Guide to New Zealandis the definitive guide to the world's adventure capital. Now in full-colour throughout, it contains dozens of tempting colour photos illustrating the country's iconic landmarks and its stupendously diverse scenery. Detailed accounts of every attraction along with crystal-clear maps and plans will show you the very best New Zealand has to offer- from white-sand beaches and vast kauri trees in the north to the hairline fiords and penguin colonies in the south. With expert guidance you won't put a foot wrong when experiencing Maori culture or simply striking out on multi-day hikes. At every point this guide steers you to little-known sights such as secluded hot pools or Wellington's best caf�s. Insider tips, planning itineraries and author picks give you the inside scoop on the best accommodation across every price range, how to track down Marlborough's tastiest Sauvignon blancs and where the most delectable Maori hangi can be found. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to New Zealand.