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19 of 19 found the following review helpful:
 A subtle salute to the heritage in homes of A. Hays Town Jun 24, 1999
Town, a South Louisiana native and student of the South, offers a subtle salute to the region's heritage in the 25 homes featured in "The Louisiana Houses of A. Hays Town." Photographs by Philip Gould capture the subtle design and recurring patterns in Hays' design. The text by Cyril E. Vetter and a tribute by Andres Duany is reverential...It is tempting to pause over Gould's photographs of Town's work, treat them like Ken Burns treats Civil War photographs and follow the lines. An alley of crepe myrtles frames the brick archway entrance to a richly detailed courtyard...A weathered fence serves as foreground detail for a shot of a deep, brick-floored porch...These are elements of Town's style. His residences wear it well.
12 of 12 found the following review helpful:
Long-awaited addition to books about Southern architecture Jun 24, 1999
"The Louisiana Houses of A. Hays Town," published by Louisiana State University Press, documents 25 of the hundreds of houses designed by Town in a career that spanned the major part of the century ...Up until now Town's residential work has not been assembled into one accessible publication, making "The Louisiana Houses" a long-awaited addition to books about Southern architecture...Gould's photographs, polished, honest and generous, give the book its rare and artistic importance...Malcolm Heard, an architecture professor at Tulane, says Town figured out how to combine the familiarity of the past and the flexibility of the present, striking out on his own path at a time when most architects were following more modernist pursuits.
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
You'll savor this book. Jun 24, 1999
This book's beautiful photography takes me back to the 1980s, when I visited A. Hays Town in Baton Rouge for a Southern Living article...The large format makes it easy to pore over photographs and absorb details. The book also provides a valuable source of ideas for landscaping, garden ornaments, and interior design. Whether you're planning your dream home or just enjoy regional architecture, you'll savor this book.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
Hays Town should be rated one of the best of architects Jan 08, 2001
By Chris A. Desselles
"cdesselles"
The magnificent use of recycled materials and varied textures has had a profound effect on residential architecture in Louisiana and Mississpi. I know as a local resident that any home that he has had a personal touch in building is a true showcase. Many younger architects are now trying to copy or learn from his style. Unfortunately, there are as yet no equals to his expertise. This book is a lovely treatise of some of his best work. It is, however, incomplete. How sad. We will miss him.
12 of 14 found the following review helpful:
 Beautiful photographs of timeless architecture Dec 18, 2001
By Michael J. Mazza
"The Louisiana Houses of A. Hays Town" combines text by Cyril E. Vetter with photographs by Philip Gould. Together, they celebrate the classic houses designed by Town. The book is full of superb photos of both interiors and exteriors. The book ends with a short essay by Andres Duany, in which he declares, "The long, long career of A. Hays Town is like a bridge that brings forth the traditional architecture of Louisiana to the present generation of builders."Many picturesque elements recur throughout the book: classical statuary, brick floors, exteriors with a look of natural weathering, 2-level exterior galleries, etc. Some particularly memorable images include the following: Hamilton House's interior courtyard overlooked by a second floor balcony; Westerman House's charming lily pond, made from an old sugar kettle; the rustic wood posts on the porch of the Bonnecaze House; the elegant white pillars of the Godchaux House; and more. My only disappointment is that floor plans for the homes are not included; they would have, in my opinion, given readers a better sense of these houses. Still, if you love great American architecture, I recommend this book.
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