Publisher's Synopsis
Jim Wade (James O'Shea Wade), a devotee of Greek and Roman history, now an independent editor and member of the Independent Editor's Group (IEG - see www.books.com), after retiring as Vice-president and Executive Editor at Crown/Random House, describes his view of the book in terms of space, time and architecture: "This book is not about the legendary parties, imaginary bacchanalias, bunnies, nudity, scandalous spicy tales or Playboy magazine. Instead, it is a highly readable story, of a remarkably unique client/architect relationship ... like many across the pages of history. What was accomplished in a very short time frame gave Hugh Hefner, a brilliant, creative, intense and highly motivated man a series of "designed and built environments" that satisfied his needs and reflected his sensibility. A demanding taskmaster, he wanted us to translate his dreams and visions into reality. The paradox for most humans is: we don't always know what we want until we see it. Hefner was an exception." Hugh Hefner provided, in the pre-digital, analog era, an unprecedented, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our team of architects, engineers, artisans, sculptors, landscape planners and lighting designers, dedicated to creating architecture and landscape design in harmony with nature. "I would like this place to be something that nobody else has, and everybody can dream of having: a fantasy land, a dream land, just like my philosophy about my Playboy Magazine. And when it is finished it should look as though it has been here forever. And remember, whatever you show me is the minimum I expect at the end. You have no other restrictions!" Hugh M. Hefner to Ron & Suzanne Dirsmith - standing in the entry driveway of his West Coast Mansion he had just purchased as he departed for Chicago in January, 1971. Imagine returning to Chicago after two years immersed in the study of classical European architecture and design only to be retained by Hugh Hefner, the epitome of American pop culture, to create his new Playboy world headquarters in Chicago's venerable Palmolive Building. Then imagine that Hefner buys a spectacular Los Angeles estate and asks you to transform an elegant 32-room English Tudor mansion into a luxurious home to be known throughout the world as Playboy Mansion West, with a four-month deadline to build the famed Pool and Grotto complex. You have the basis for a unique and unusual memoir, Inside Hefner's Pleasure-Domes: Designing Xanadu for an American Icon - Architecture and Dreams in Hugh Hefner's Empire, written by the architect designer couple, Ron and Suzanne Dirsmith, into whose laps the opportunity of a lifetime fell. Over twenty-five years, while Hefner and his Playboy Enterprises were blazing a path for its fantasy-based version of American pop culture and revolutionizing its sexual mores, the Dirsmiths were privileged to design and supervise the creation of the new built environments in which Hefner worked and lived, including the Playboy world headquarters in Chicago, the Playboy Mansion, as well as re-designing Hefner's famed "Big Bunny" DC-950 and fabled new private master bedroom suite and work environments. The Dirsmiths tell a fascinating story, presenting an intimate portrait of the elusive, unknown Hugh M. Hefner, whose real life portrayed the image of his Playboy empire. Hefner was a visionary workaholic whose workday often exceeded 48 hours. He paid fastidious attention to every single detail in his magazine and properties. Fully illustrated with never before seen photographs and detailed drawings, Inside Hefner's Pleasure-Domes lifts the veil on the Hefner mystique. It encourages one to fantasize about what might go on behind his closed doors, a book to be enjoyed equally by those interested in getting to know one of the living giants of American pop culture and by those interested in the complex planning undertaken to create such iconic environments ... Hefner's magical Shangri-La.
