The Distinct Modernism of San Diego

San Diego is home to numerous acclaimed modernist buildings. Among these celebrated landmarks are Louis Kahn’s Salk Institute (1962), the Case Study Houses in La Jolla as well as projects by William Pereira, R. M. Schindler, Richard Neutra, John Lloyd Wright and Craig Ellwood among others.

Rather than drawing more attention to these architects and their work, The Distinct Modernism of San Diego focuses on architects who were either born, raised, or spent their careers in San Diego – including Irving Gill, Lilian Rice, Richard Requa, Lloyd Ruocco, Sim Bruce Richards, Frederick Liebhardt, Cliff May and Kendrick Kellogg. This is the story of how a distinct modernism emerged here by- and for San Diegans.

Historians have long recognized the West Coast’s particular contribution to modern architecture. While much of the writing about California Modernism has invariably concentrated on certain key locales - namely, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Palm Springs - little attention has been paid to the San Diego region. This phenomenon is evident in the writings on the topic by David Gebhard and Esther McCoy (among others) who were Angelenos. Angelenos even claim Gill as a local practitioner despite his personal and professional life as a San Diegan.

The Distinct Modernism of San Diego describes a distinctly American modernism, that developed independently of Europe. It is often said that Californian Modernism was inspired by the arrival of Richard Neutra and R.M. Schindler in the 1920s. But they were young and not established in their careers when they drove from Los Angeles to San Diego to sit at the feet of Gill.