John Yeon Architecture: Building in the Pacific Northwest

About this book

This book marks the rediscovery of a vital voice in midcentury debates on modernism in architecturePublished in conjunction with the exhibition Quest for Beauty: John Yeons Eye for Art Architecture and the Oregon Landscape at the Portland Art Museum (working title) opening May 13 2017Exceptionally beautiful archival photography by masters of the era including Maynard Parker Roger Sturtevant and Ezra StollerJohn Yeon (1910-1994) is a pioneering figure in architecture who paved the way for the Northwest Regional style of modernism. Known for a series of exceptionally beautiful houses - including the Watzek House a National Historic Landmark - Yeons architecture was celebrated for its subtle relationship to site and place and its sensitive deployment of local materials. His far-reaching innovations in construction and early sustainable design and his stylistic freedom anticipated several later movements ranging from ecological modernism to postmodern eclecticism. Yet Yeons scope of activities stretched far beyond architecture: he was also a planner conservationist art collector historic preservationist urban activist and perhaps most of all a connoisseur. John Yeon Architecture the first in-depth monograph on Yeon presents more than 25 built and unbuilt projects for houses gardens small public buildings and exhibitions. Four perceptive essays explore Yeons life and career: his characteristic design style his position in the development of Northwest modernism and his influential role in the stylistic debates of the 1940s and 1950s.John Yeon will be the subject of an exhibition at the Portland Art Museum opening May 13 2017. It will focus on his art collection (promised to the PAM) but also on his architecture and other activities. This book and the book below are the only books accompanying the exhibition. PAM director Brian Ferriso has written the preface to the book and Randy Gragg (editor of the book) is one of the curators of the exhibition.