. The Gamble House in Pasadena was designed by the architects Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene, and was built in 1908. The large house, which has been described as "the apotheosis of the American Arts and Crafts Movement," combines a number of stylistic influences to produce a truly indigenous vernacular architecture (Steele 38). The house also puts into practice many of the theoretical concepts of early twentieth-century architecture: the integration of interior and exterior space; design for the client's particular requirements; use of natural light; open-plan organization of flowing interior space; and, an organic relationship between house and site. As the crowning achievement of Greene and Greene's very personal style, Gamble House also displays their devotion to craftsmanship as practice and principle. Charles Greene, in particular, held to the concept of "total design," and "no detail was too small for their attention" (Bosley 6). The Gambles allowed the architects a great deal of latitude in designing the details of the house and their aesthetic is, therefore, apparent in everything from the light switches to the living room rugs. The house is renowned for the high level of craftsmanship in all its parts, but, even more remarkable, is the manner in which this craftsmanship in the details, becomes the guiding principle for the construction of the entire house. As Jordy put it, theirs is, "a craftsmanship of elaboration, where the simple element appears in its coming-together in other elements equally basic to make the complex whole" (Jordy 233).
All the texts and photographs attempt to describe the architectural achievement of the Gamble House. But while theoretical explanations are fairly convincing, it is only when a visitor actually experiences the house, that these clarifications acquire real force. The Greenes' achievement in this house has to be felt to be understood. The necessity of experiencin...