Publisher's Synopsis
The 2017 Edition, published July 13, 2017 and those that follow in the series contain the never before accomplished chronological ongoing development history of well know "Masterwork" real estate projects visually and entirely from above the ground, an aerial perspective. Merriam-Webster defines Masterwork as 'a great work of art.' MacMillian defines Masterwork as "the best piece of work that a particular artist, writer, musician, etc. has ever produced." With the above definitions as the authors Masterwork criteria, the Irvine Company's Newport Center / Fashion Island in Newport Beach, Southern California was selected as the subject of the Premiere Edition of Real Estate Masterwork Series, Half Century Aerial Photograph Retrospective. Newport Beach is located in Orange County, California and is one of the most admired cities in the world. Architect Frank Gehry states "The book itself is a Masterwork" in the Foreword. In Pulitzer Prize-winning architectural critic Paul Goldberger's biography of the life and work of Gerhy, published in September of 2015, Goldberger observers that Gerhy is "undoubtedly the most famous architect of our time". The book contains 173 pages with 125 illustrations and pictures including black / white and color aerial photographs from July 16, 1953 through January 10, 2017. All pictures are dated and accompanied by a short commentary concerning the Masterwork development progress and, when appropriate, a brief comment concerning Irvine Company. Two acclaimed pictures of Newport Center / Fashion Island included in the previous Premiere Edition and again in the 2017 Edition were taken by author Fred Emmert on August 29, 2015, the night of the full moon. Only one acceptable aerial was anticipated that evening. However, after Fred took the first photograph at 7:32pm, instinct impressed him to go around one more time. Fred took the second photograph at 7:35pm. Neither of the authors can ever recall seeing Newport Center / Fashion Island depicted in such an intimate manner. Absolutely beautiful! The authors hope they have made a significant accomplishment towards the long term acknowledgement and remembrance of this Masterwork accomplishment - Newport Center / Fashion Island. As the result of planning and publishing this book, the authors respect and admiration for the Irvine Company executive team's accomplishment in building and developing Newport Center / Fashion Island has grown substantially. Newport Center / Fashion Island is a joy to Newport Beach residents and businesses as well as others throughout Southern California and visitors from around the world.
