Cliff May, Proposed Monterey Ranch residence for Riviera Ranch, …
Cliff May, Proposed Monterey Ranch residence for Riviera Ranch, 1939
Cliff May, One room house, 1935
Cliff May and Chris Choate, Cliff May residence no. 4, "Sky…
Cliff May and Chris Choate, Cliff May residence no. 4, "Skylight House," 1949
Cliff May and Chris Choate, Cliff May Homes leaflet, 1955
Cliff May, Smith house, 1935 Photograph by W.P. Woodcock
Cliff May, Kitchen, 1954 Drawing by Gene Shrewsbury from Los An…
Cliff May, Kitchen, 1954 Drawing by Gene Shrewsbury from Los Angeles Times, Home magazine, June 6, 1954
Cliff May, Hutton house, 1955 Drawing by Jack Lester
Cliff May,Philbin house, 1959 Rendering by F.W. Jamison
John Byers, McCrea house, 1933
Kem Weber, A "Kem Weber System" House, 1942  …
Kem Weber, A "Kem Weber System" House, 1942
Lutah Maria Riggs, Colville house, 1957
Robert Stacy-Judd, Guest house in the Indian Village at Soboba H…
Robert Stacy-Judd, Guest house in the Indian Village at Soboba Hot Springs, 1928
Cliff May, Pace Setter House House Beautiful magazine cover, Fe…
Cliff May, Pace Setter House House Beautiful magazine cover, February 1948
Cliff May, House Beautiful demonstration home, 1945
First National Finance Corporation offers Hacienda by Cliff May:…
First National Finance Corporation offers Hacienda by Cliff May: artwork for advertisement, 1938
Paul Sterling Hoag, Residence for Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Bayne and so…
Paul Sterling Hoag, Residence for Mr. and Mrs. R.A. Bayne and son, 1951
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 19…
Cliff May, Development of ranch houses in Long Beach, Calif., 1953-54
Part of a Southern California cultural initiative called Pacific Standard Time, “Carefree California: Cliff May and the Romance of the Ranch House” examines the evolution of the ranch house from a practical regional form to a widespread style. The show also focuses on the influence that designer Cliff May had on popularizing the form. May is credited with creating the California minimalist ranch with his system-built houses that he designed, marketed, and sold in the postwar era. Eventually, May designed luxury versions of his ranch houses and throughout his career produced more than 1,000 custom homes.
The exhibition and its accompanying book use materials from May’s archives, along with resources from more than 20 other California architects, to investigate how the ranch house form and function fit California lifestyles through open interior spaces, profuse fenestration, and ample indoor-outdoor integration. Hundreds of original models, drawings, photographs, magazines, site plans, sales pamphlets, and film clips will be on display. “Carefree California: Cliff May and the Romance of the Ranch House” continues through June 17 at the University of California, Santa Barbara’s Art, Design & Architecture Museum.
