Freestyle, the New Architecture and Interior Design from Los Angeles

The architectural and design styles explored here sprang up in the late 1970s, largely influenced by the renovation of an old house by architect Frank Gehry that used corrugated metal and chain-link fence as elements of design, not temporary construction materials. From that house has emerged a style that seems less a school of design than a state of mindwhimsical, bright, perhaps slightly anarchistic. It is called ""new wave'' and is tempered by a Punk aesthetic. It combines with the Memphis style and is unmistakably Californian. Among the best examples of this style are the Petal House, an older home whose roof was renovated and ``exploded'' outward to resemble open flower petals, making way for a Jacuzzi, and a series of cubical studios topped by pyramids. A clean, admirable text that is free of ``art babble'' complements the beautiful color photography reminiscent of the House & Garden style (author-photographer Street-Porter is a regular contributor). Although this is a strikingly attractive book, it is somewhat incongruous that such an unconventional subject is covered in such an ordinary format. First serial to Metropolitan Home and California Magazine. (October)