The first book by father-and-son team Stan and Jess Field reveals an inspirational collection of projects that balances the beauty of human creation and the purity of natural systems. The Fields bring a vision of architecture that is deeply connected to the land such that each of the buildings in this volume forms a symbiotic relationship with the distinctive landscape that inspired it. The living environments unfold as a series of closely choreographed spatial and sensory experiences. Each reflects the alchemy that occurs when buildings and their natural settings are intimately intertwined, as these buildings are. They not only capture—but also elevate—the ineffable feeling of living with the land.Conversations with the Land follows the architects’ journey of exploration across the places and events that influenced their creative process. From their native country of South Africa to their adopted home in Northern California, Stan and Jess learned how to pair architecture with natural terrain by examining its range and diversity.
This book captures the insights and moments of discovery gained from their encounters with the land. The Fields’ responsive approach and meticulous execution extends to every element of their architectural practice, from considering the way that a tree casts a shadow on a wall to carefully orchestrating a project to minimize the impact of construction on a site. The book includes a Q&A with Stan Field; an essay by Jess Field on his sources of inspiration; sketches and models that they use as design tools; and a portfolio of 10 exquisitely crafted houses shaped by the imprint of the natural world and beautifully documented by acclaimed photographers Joe Fletcher and Matthew Millman.
About the Author
STAN FIELDRIBA, INT'L ASSOC. AIA, SAIAStan was born in South Africa and received his Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Cape Town in 1967. He received his Masters in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia in 1968, studying under Louis I. Kahn. He has practiced in three countries where his work has been widely acclaimed. Stan was appointed Chief Architect to the City of Jerusalem in 1978, was a partner in Moshe Safdie Associates and later opened his own practice in Jerusalem. In 1990, following his appointment as visiting professor at the University of California at Berkeley, Stan relocated his residence and office to Palo Alto, California.His projects have included large scale planning projects, master plans, urban and town planning projects, institutional buildings, custom residences and residential developments, design guidelines, wineries, health and community center and, most recently, a synagogue complex in the heart of Silicon Valley.Stan has a remarkable story of success in garnering approvals and bringing together disparate interest groups, including projects on highly contested, environmentally sensitive sites. He has brought about unanimous consensus between environmental groups, developers, and governing bodies including the California Coastal Commission.Stan has lectured at numerous universities, including U.C. Berkeley and Stanford in California, Bezalel in Israel, University of Witwatersrand and University of Cape Town in South Africa. In 2012 Stan was honored to be selected as the 24th Sophia Gray Laureate and presented “For the Love of Architecture”, an Exhibition and Lecture tracing 40 years of his practice.Stan’s work is infused with his own infectious optimism and commitment to the ability of architecture to inspire and transform. His projects have been published extensively and have received national and international recognition.JESS FIELDAIA, LEED APJess was born in Johannesburg, where his father, Stan, introduced him to architecture at a young age. Stan would sit Jess on top of large-scale plans on the dining table, where they would pour over drawings together. Stan’s stories of hut construction in Swaziland, and Lou Kahn’s teachings at Penn formed Jess’ first impressions of architecture. Sketching from an early age, Jess developed a fluency in drawing and draftsmanship, later to be complemented by an equal level of skill and artistry with digital tools.Jess received his Masters of Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2006, where he graduated with honors, and won the Eisner Prize for the highest creative achievement. He worked in San Diego with Teddy Cruz, who visited an exhibition of Jess’ drawings, and was taken with the work. As project designer in Teddy’s office, he won a Progressive Architecture (P/A) award in 2003, the first of three more P/A awards that he would receive under his own practice. Jess worked with Tom Wiscombe in Los Angeles and Vienna on numerous projects including the award winning Seoul International Performing Arts Center in 2005. Jess has lectured at Berkeley, University of San Francisco, and University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and is a frequent visiting critic for student reviews and seminars.Jess’ approach to construction and design solutions are both artistic and practical, aiming to celebrate the natural opportunities offered by each site, together with clients’ specific needs. His designs have been characterized by rigorous attention to detail, sensuous expression of materials and craftsmanship, and a seamless integration of indoors and outdoors.Tami Hausman created Hausman LLC to help architecture and design professionals amplify their influence inside and outside the AEC industries. Tami takes a hands-on approach that begins by helping each client to strategize the best way forward. After that, she oversees a focused marketing and public relations outreach program that broadens and expands her clients’ visibility.For over 20 years, Tami Hausman has been an expert advisor to top firms who seek out her experience and insights. Her international roster of clients includes architects, engineers, construction firms, expeditors, interiors firms, real estate developers, project management firms, construction cost consultants, artists, and non-profit organizations. Using her wide network of contacts in the media, Tami positions her clients’ knowledge and expertise to best advantage and opens doors to targeted audiences that strengthen their position in the marketplace.In addition to her experience in marketing and public relations, Tami is an architectural historian who frequently writes and lectures about trends and topics in architecture and urban planning.Tami is active in a number of professional organizations, such as Docomomo (board member) and the Urban Design Forum (board member); her past affiliations include the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation (advisory board member), the American Institute of Architects (head of the public relations subcommittee of the Marketing and Public Relations Committee), the Society for Marketing Professionals New York Chapter, and the Design Trust for Public Space.Tami has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brown University in Semiotics-French and a Master of Arts and PhD in Art History from New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts. A Pittsburgh native (go Steelers!), she was born to live in New York City, but also enjoys traveling to the world’s great cities and beaches.Juhani Pallasmaa is a Finnish architect, exhibition designer, writer, teacher and practicing architect. As director of the Museum of Finnish Architecture from 1978 to 1983, he was germane in internationalising its activities and exhibiting the works of such architects as Tadao Ando, Alvaro Siza and Daniel Libeskind, who only later became renowned throughout the world. He runs his own architect’s office – Arkkitehtitoimisto Juhani Pallasmaa KY – in Helsinki, but to date his body of practical work remains comparatively small. • Pallasmaa became universally known through his lectures and books on architectural theory and his interest in phenomenology. In his widely read 1996 book The Eyes of the Skin. Architecture and the Senses he stresses the importance of experience in architectural production which today is neglected by most practitioners. During the course of his career, he has also served as State Artist Professor (1983-88); Director of the Museum of Finnish Architecture (1978- 83); Associate Professor at the Haile Selassie I University, Addis Abeba (1972-74); Director of the Exhibition Department at the Museum of Finnish Architecture (1968-72, 74-83); and Rector of the College of Crafts and Design(1970-72). He is currently the Ruth & Norman Moore Visiting Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, U.S. as well as the current Plym Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Champaign, Illinois, U.S.Joe Fletcher Born and raised in London, UK, Joe Fletcher studied painting at Chelsea College of Art & Design, receiving his BA in Fine Art, and later attended London’s Goldsmiths University, graduating with a MFA in photography. In 2003, he left soggy London for foggy San Francisco. His photos have since been featured in magazines such as Wallpaper, Architectural Digest and San Francisco, displaying his aesthetic and his appreciation for the art of architecture and the beauty of light. Fletcher is also the photographer of two books: Ranch Houses, Living the California Dream (Rizzoli) and Cliff May and the Modern Ranch House (Rizzoli). He now lives with his wife and two mischievous dachshund mutts in Oakland, CA.Matthew MillmanMatthew has been photographing architecture and interior design for over 20 years. Drawing his earliest influences from the long history of landscape photographers native to California, he continues to view photography through a fine arts lens. Matthew’s work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including The New York Times, Dwell, Architectural Digest, Interior Design, Elle Decor, Luxe, and Architectural Record.Matthew has photographed books such as Art House, West Coast Modern, Collected Cool, and Inner Spaces. Matthew’s personal work focuses on various subjects from architectural abstractions to a 10 year project of portraiture and reportage in Haiti.Oscar Riera Ojeda is an editor and designer based in the US, China, and Argentina. Born in 1966, in Buenos Aires, he moved to the United States in 1990. Since then, he has published over three hundred books, assembling a remarkable body of work notable for its thoroughness of content, timeless character, and sophisticated and innovative craftsmanship. • Oscar Riera Ojeda’s books have been published by many prestigious publishing houses across the world, including Birkhäuser, Byggförlaget, The Monacelli Press, Gustavo Gili, Thames & Hudson, Rizzoli, Damiani, Page One, ORO editions, Whitney Library of Design, and Taschen. • Oscar Riera Ojeda is also the creator of numerous architectural book series, including Ten Houses, Contemporary World Architects, The New American House and The New American Apartment, Architecture in Detail, and Single Building. • His work has received many international awards, in-depth reviews, and citations. He is a regular contributor and consultant for several publications in the field. • In 2001 Oscar Riera Ojeda founded ORO Editions, a company at which he was responsible for the completion of nearly one hundred titles. In 2008 he established his current publishing venture, Oscar Riera Ojeda Publishers, a firm with fifteen employees and locations across three continents.
