Information on architecture in California, including styles and history
Julia Morgan, like Louise Blanchard Bethune, was a trailblazer whose life and work impacted my own. There is a new book out on her life and work, Julia Morgan: An Intimate Biography of the Trailblazing Architect. Her most iconic work is Hearst Castle. The book’s author, Victoria Kastner, is Hearst Castle’s official historian but her
If you’ve done any house-hunting in the Bay Area, you might have heard the terms Art Deco, Arts and Crafts Style, Bungalow, Modern, Contemporary, Mid-Century Modern, Cape Cod Style, Colonial and Victorian – to name a few of the architectural styles. The problem is, some of these terms are used interchangeably, when they are distinct.
Are you looking at your home in a new light, after spending so much time in it? You wouldn’t be alone if you are. The remodeling trend of 2020 is not slowing down in 2021. Many of the projects have focused on making a home more livable. Kitchen remodeling is high on the list. How
This post first ran in 2019. These homes represent California architecture at its best. Each takes a different path to harmonizing with the environment, but each respects its natural surroundings and uses the landscape as an essential part of its structure – in the case of Frey House II, quite literally.
This post first appeared in 2019. California architecture includes some unique industrial and office spaces. From the simple lines and elegance of the Salk Institute to the over-the-top glamor of the CAA Building, a wide variety of styles reflect the diversity and beauty of the Golden State.
This post first appeared in 2019. From the 19th-century Mission San Diego de Acalá to the ultra-modern space of Oakland's Cathedral of Christ the Light, these worship spaces are very different examples of California architecture. The common theme that unites them is the way they use their environments and direct the eye with
This post first ran in 2019. These buildings are some of my favorite pieces of California architecture. These art spaces exemplify the variety of buildings that can work in our diverse environment. It is astonishing that they all exist within the boundaries of a single city: Los Angeles.
This post originally ran in 2019. The hospitality industry has been an essential part of California's economy for more than a hundred years, and hospitality spaces have been a defining element of California architecture. These three buildings are among my favorites, encompassing a variety of styles, each of which beautifully reflects California's unique
This post previously ran in 2019. California architecture is as diverse as its population. It encompasses a wide variety of styles, from the Victorian "painted ladies" of San Francisco to the environmentally oriented designs of California Regional Modernism. I've traveled up and down the state since moving here from New York, and I've
The hospitality industry has been an essential part of California's economy for more than a hundred years, and hospitality spaces have been a defining element of California architecture. These three buildings are among my favorites, encompassing a variety of styles, each of which beautifully reflects California's unique relaxed-yet-elegant aesthetic.
