california crazy: new book surveys roadside vernacular architecture

from donut-topped drive-ins to owl-shaped ice cream parlors, california’s roadside structures are synonymous with the west coast. expressive, bold, and often absurd, these directly symbolic buildings and motifs define life on the road in the golden state. at the dawn of the automobile age, decades before robert venturi discussed ‘ducks’ and ‘decorated sheds’, the unstoppable rise of the automobile changed the face of the wild west. starting in the 1920s, vendors began competing for business with attention-grabbing buildings offering snacks, souvenirs, and services in the most direct way possible.

all images © jim heimann collection/courtesy taschen

although the unique roadside structures were originally dismissed as ‘monstrosities’ by the day’s architectural establishment, the past 40 years has seen them achieve a new sense of integrity. now, the architectural anomalies are rightfully celebrated as part of a new book from taschen. titled ‘california crazy’, the heavily illustrated publication examines this rogue architectural style with a thorough documentation of the state’s eccentric constructions.

toed inn, 140 west channel road, santa monica, ca. 1931

the freshly revised compendium of buildings presents new discoveries and several pictorial essays, which explore how these buildings, and the power of personal expression, became synonymous with the west coast. ‘california crazy’ features studies exploring the influences that fostered the nascent architectural movement, including david gebhard’s essay — ‘a lasting architecture’ — which defined this vernacular style almost 40 years ago.

deschwanden’s shoe repair, 931 chester avenue, bakersfield, ca. 1985

the ‘california crazy’ concept is also expanded to include domestic architecture, eccentric signage, and the automobile as a fanciful object. ‘combine a freethinking populace with a desire to reinvent itself, and a climate was created that served as the perfect incubator for the outrageous and amazing,’ says jim heimann, the book’s editor and the executive editor for taschen america. ‘california crazy. american pop architecture’ is available via taschen’s website.

la salsa man, pacific coast highway, malibu 1988