Of Barns and Palaces

Largely self-taught as an architect, John Yeon (1910–1994) designed some of the most beautiful and influential structures in the Pacific Northwest, among them the Watzek House of 1937, which received national acclaim as a new paradigm of modern regional architecture. Several of Yeon’s buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places or have National Landmark status. At the same time, he built an important legacy as a tireless advocate for parks and for the protection of sweeping natural landscapes of the region, including the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. This book is devoted primarily to his residential architecture and his unique approach to their design. Yeon’s own descriptions enrich the Illustrated with Yeon’s own drawings and contemporary photographs, there are many new drawings and diagrams made for this book.