About Balcony Press
BALCONY PRESS was established in 1994 to publish art, architecture and design books emphasizing the cultural and historical aspects of design particularly in the Western United States. Publisher Ann Gray, herself an architect, has practiced architecture professionally for over 20 years. Her intimate knowledge of the arts allow her to select projects with a sense of what is important. The books have achieved vigorous sales, received critical acclaim from the media and appreciation from readers looking for topics not normally covered by the publishing industry at large. Balcony prides itself in forming close collaborations between authors, editors, graphic artists and the printer to create a successful and beautiful end product. Balcony’s goal is to maximize quality whenever possible so that our books become long term selling classics.
The American Institute of Architects has awarded Publisher Ann Gray and Balcony Press the 1999 Institute Honor for Collaborative Achievement saying, “Through her stewardship of Balcony Press her publications create a celebration of the vernacular and heritage, build bridges to community, and “make one see,” capturing the jewels of architectural Americana, from the eclectic to the awe-inspiring.”
ANN GRAY, FAIA, FRICS founded Balcony Press in 1994 to showcase the history, design, and culture of Southern California which is typically under the radar of the New York publishing industry. Balcony’s first book, Los Angeles: The End of the Rainbow, has been called “The missing book on Los Angeles” by critic Joseph Giovannini.
Ann is a licensed architect and practiced architecture in Los Angeles for 15 years, the last eight as Paramount Pictures’ studio architect. The architectural work under her tenure was recognized by TIME, Progressive Architecture and Interiors magazines. Ms. Gray has lectured and/or juried at UCLA, USC, Harvard Graduate School of Design, Woodbury University, and Art Center College of Design. She is a former Trustee of the California Preservation Foundation. In addition to publishing, Ann has a consulting business advising property owners on the strategic use of their assets. In 2015, she was elected to the Governing Council of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
