American Architects: Greene & Greene

The new Manual Training High School of Washington University, St Louis, with its emphasis on craft and the influence of Ruskin and Morris, was their critical educational experience (1886-8). They left MIT School of Architecture (1888-91) with a Certificate of Partial Course because they felt stifled.

Two years' apprenticeship in Boston provided familiarity with the "shingle style". Although their partnership began in Pasadena, California, in 1894, their exceptional work was between 1903 and 1909, with the emphasis on the craftsmanship of wood jointry, articulated surfaces, oriental sensitivities and the refinement of the bungalow at all scales. It was a relaxed and tactile regional architecture that celebrated the emerging nature-related lifestyle of Southern California.

Each brother practised independently after 1922; Charles moved to Carmel in 1916, leaving Henry in Pasadena. Greene & Greene as a team had complementary and supporting skills that make individual credits difficult.

Charles had the vivid imagination and the decorative eye to provide the oriental lift to taper a beam; Henry had the natural sense of order and the conceptual vision. Separately their artistic care was equally highly recognized.

"The idea was to eliminate everything unnecessary, to make the whole as direct and as simple as possible but always with the beautiful in mind as the final goal", said Henry.

Their finest houses are generous and informal with sleeping porches, portes-cochere and garden patios, matched by refinement in custom furniture.

By Greene & Greene (all in Pasadena, California): Bandmi House, 1903; Blacker House, 1907; Gamble House, 1908; Culbertson House, 1911.

By Charles: James House, Carmel Highlands, California, 1918-23.

Esther McCoy, Five California Architects, New York, 1960, 1977.

Janann Strand, A Greene and Greene Guide, Pasadena, 1974.

Randell L. Makinson, Greene and Greene: Volume I: Architecture as Fine Art; Volume 2: Furniture and Related Designs, Salt Lake City, 1977-9.