In his new book, Poetry of Place: The New Architecture and Interiors of McAlpine, published by Rizzoli, architect Bobby McAlpine transports readers through time and around the globe, translating influences and creating fresh takes on classic styles. The renowned architect has written two other books (The Home Within Us, 2010; Art of the House, 2014), and in this volume, he says he “picks up the conversations that I began in my last one.” The houses featured are grand with windows so expansive that the walls feel almost transparent. Building materials of stone and wood have ageless appeal, and the lines of each design are as lyrical as the prose that describes each project.
Instead of compiling a practical guide to his architectural work, McAlpine tells stories of the inspiration behind each house and then crafts a history of how the design unfolds. Each project begins with a one-word title—Elation, Luminous, Adventure, for example—that evokes the salient thought behind the architecture.
McAlpine’s projects reflect a balanced tension between ancient and original. “I find that extremes love each other,” the architect says. “It’s all about creating the right kind of fusion—almost like cooking—to make something magical.” He tailors each house to his clients’ stories, lives, and loves, as well as their aspirations. “These days,” he says, “clients do a lot of due diligence in selecting their architect. They interview and walk in a lot of circles to settle on the person who will create the right place.”
When asked to describe a common element or thread that comes through in his clients’ desires, McAlpine surprises. “You might think people want things bigger and brighter,” he says. “Yet we always find that the intimate spaces are the most vital. That’s where you have the conversations and the moments that you remember.” And it’s that intimacy that comes through in Poetry of Place.
Find more style reviews in our newest issues of Southern Home magazine.
