Selected Bibliography
Books and Monographs
Head, Jeffrey. No Nails, No Lumber: The Bubble Houses of Wallace Neff. Princeton Architectural Press, 2011. – A detailed exploration of Neff’s patented Airform construction, complete with archival photographs, unpublished illustrations, and ephemera documenting his bubble houses.
Kanner, Diane. Wallace Neff and the Grand Houses of the Golden State. The Monacelli Press, 2005.
While focusing on Neff’s upscale commissions, this book also discusses his innovative Airform projects as part of his broader work in regional architecture.
Neff, Wallace; with texts by various authors. Wallace Neff, 1895–1982: The Romance of Regional Architecture. Huntington Library Press, 1989. –This publication provides historical context for Neff’s career, including his experiments with Airform construction as a response to housing challenges.
Journal Articles and Newspaper Features
“The Rise and Fall of Wallace Neff’s Bubble Houses.” Los Angeles Times, 30 Dec. 2011.
An article that reviews the legacy, construction methods, and ultimate reception of Neff’s Airform houses, including notable examples like the Pasadena “bubble house.”
Los Angeles Times Home Magazine, April 1947
“Airform House for a Desert Colony.” Architectural Record, July 1944, pp. 81–83. – A contemporary article that explains Neff’s construction process using an inflated balloon and gunite to form the dome-shaped shell.
“These are Southern California’s Most Wildly Futuristic Houses.” Los Angeles Magazine, October 2016
Los Angeles Magazine, April 1999
Archival and Online Resources
Wallace Neff Collection, Huntington Library, Online Archive of California.
This extensive collection includes Neff’s professional papers and drawings, with a significant portion devoted to his Airform (bubble) construction projects.oac.cdlib.org
“Airform ‘Bubble House’.” Los Angeles Conservancy.
A digital feature that offers historical background and photos of the last remaining Airform house in Pasadena, underscoring its design and preservation status. laconservancy.org
“Bubble Houses (Litchfield Park, Arizona).” Wikipedia.
An online article describing the four Airform houses built in Arizona by Neff and their historical context as wartime housing solutions. en.wikipedia.org
“Bubble Houses (Hobe Sound, Florida).” Wikipedia.
This entry covers a later application of the Airform technique in Florida, detailing the design, construction, and current status of the bubble houses there. en.wikipedia.org
“Airform Buildings.” The Paul Revere Williams Project.
An online gallery and historical overview that includes discussions of Neff’s Airform work as part of his collaborative efforts with fellow architect Paul Revere Williams on affordable housing projects. paulrwilliamsproject.org