Duke Tate

Ken Tate

The Alchemy of Architecture: Memories and Insights from Ken Tate by Ken and Duke Tate is celebrated architect Ken Tate's creative memoir about his life. Beginning with his days growing up in Columbus, Mississippi where he was surrounded by beautiful Greek Revival houses, the book journeys through Ken's upbringing as a creative adolescent to his early days at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta where he started his architectural collegiate career. There Ken struggled to keep up with the hard-edged modernism being taught in school and longed to design beautiful houses with soul. His quest led him on to Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, where he found what he was looking for in two creative professors, Jim Jones and Lewis Lanter, who mentored him. That tutelage led him to write his architectural thesis Architecture in Search of a Soul. Following graduation from Auburn, Ken journeyed to work for eccentric talent Bruce Goff in Texas and afterwards for Sambo Mockbee in Jackson, Mississippi. He established his own firm, Ken Tate Architect, in 1984 in Jackson, Mississippi, which began a lifelong career of designing houses in an alchemical way where an inner essence was breathed into them. Full of rich detail and texture, the book follows Ken's 35-year career from Jackson to New Orleans and on to Palm Beach where the firm has opened their second office. Covering his approach to design, how architecture relates to cinema and photography, advice, reflections and even epiphanies, the book is a must read for any fan of the profession. The book features many black and white photos taken over Ken's life and career.

The Alchemy of Architecture: Memories and Insights from Ken Tate

The Alchemy of Architecture: Memoirs and Insights from Ken Tate is celebrated architect Ken Tate's creative memoir about his life in houses. Beginning with his days growing up in Columbus Mississippi where he was surrounded by beautiful Greek Revival houses, the book journeys through Ken's upbringing as a creative adolescent to his early days at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta where he started his collegiate architectural career. There Ken struggled to keep up with the hard-edged modernism that was being taught in school and longed to design beautiful buildings with soul. Thus, his quest began leading him to Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama where he found what he was looking for in two professors, Jim Jones and Lewis Lanter, who began mentoring him. That tutelage led him to write his thesis Architecture in Search of a Soul. Following graduation from Auburn, Ken journeyed to work for the eccentric talent Bruce Goff in Texas and afterwards for Sambo Mockbee in Jackson, Mississippi. He established his own firm, Ken Tate Architect, in 1984 in Jackson, Mississippi which began a lifelong career for designing houses in an alchemical way where truth, beauty and an inner essence was distilled into them. Full of rich detail and texture, the book follows Ken's 35-year career of soul from Jackson to New Orleans and onto Palm Beach where the firm has opened their second office. Covering his approach to design, how architecture relates to cinema and photography, advice, reflections and even epiphanies, the book is a must read for any fan of the profession. Features many black and white photos taken over Ken's life and career.

Memories and Insights from Ken Tate

The Alchemy of Architecture

Janice Tate

These stories not only share the wisdom but also heartwarming examples show how Country Wisdom was put into practice in the Good Ole Days.

Good Old Days Country Wisdom

Includes anecdotes and memories of visits to grandparents by various contributors.

Going to Grandma's House

Real-life stories will take you back to the time when families stood shoulder to shoulder, working against Depression, dearth and drought to build a better life together.

Good Old Days Remembers Working on the Farm

Oscar Riera Ojeda

The Images Publishing Group

Brenda Ware Jones

This collection of houses illustrates a splendid diversity of stylistic approaches and range of creative possibilities. An obvious love of the traditions of architecture is evident in each one - no mater what the historical precedent or geographic location.

Selected Houses

Ken Tate Architect

"Remember the days when you were snuggled safe in your mother's lap as she read a poem or sang a song? Remember the poem you memorized for that school program, or the song you learned back in the Good Old Days? This volume of 'Mother's Favorite Verses' will take you back to those days of love and innocence."--Page 4 of cover.

Good Old Days Remembers

Mother's Favorite Verses

When things go wrong as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are highAnd you want to smile, but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest, if you must, but don't you quit.Times were tough, but we made it through.These were times when people depended on one another, when they learned to take nothing for granted, and to recognize those things that were more important than the luxuries money could buy.

We Survived and Thrived

Susan Sully

Award-winning architect Ken Tate is widely recognized for his intuitive approach to traditional architecture. His houses come from a place of soul, as well as a deep understanding of human nature and the history of architecture. In this book, nine dwelli

The Houses of Ken Tate

A Classical Journey

Plato asserted that the world is a visible living entity containing all other living entities, which by their nature are all related. This idea of the anima mundi-a universal spirit of life-has infused world thought from the beginning of human life. Because he speaks the language of buildings, Ken Tate perceives this animating spirit in every aspect of the house: materials drawn from nature, forms and rhythms with timeless grace, the ever-changing play of light and shadow, and the audible voice of the house. Yes, the voice, which beckons to him even before the first drawing is made, which chooses him as the instrument to find its way into three-dimensions. This voice also communicates with those who dwell in a house-and they commune with it in return. Together, they carry its story forward. This story accompanied by Ken's photos illustrates this boundless spirit of life as it shapes the history of a single house, the people who inhabit it, and the architect who channeled its essence.

A Story with Pictures

The House of Shadows and Light

Back in the Good Old Days, we were never bored. First, it was not allowed; second, we chose not to be. If we said that we were bored, our Mom gave us work to do.

Ken Tate

About

Books

Join the club