Renowned for his distinctive designs for residences, hotels, spas and golf clubs, primarily in California and Arizona, architect William F. Cody (1916–1978) also designed projects outside the US. Two of Cody’s projects designed in 1955 were to be built in Havana, Cuba. Although not actualized, the presentation will present Cody’s design for the Villa Real Golf Club and Hotel of which was ready to begin construction but was halted with the onset of the impending revolution. Also, Cody designed a 14-story mix-use office building featured in Art and Architecture Magazine, September 1955, for the same clients. Cody and Havana architect Raul Portela, the project architect for Villa Real, were planning for an office on the top floor. Not much is publicly known about these projects, so attendees will be some of the few to see drawings, plans, and details from the William F. Cody archives.

Catherine Cody, the youngest daughter of William F. Cody, and Professor Don Choi, professor of architecture at California Polytechnic State University, who together with Jo Lauria co-authored the seminal book about Cody, titled Master of the Mid-century, The Architecture of William F. Cody, will share insights, photos, drawings and more, telling the story of Cody’s total design plan for these Cuba projects within the context of his state-side projects during this same time.

While examining the two Havana Cuba projects in detail, the presenters will also include other examples of Cody’s mid-1950s designs to show how these designs fit in the context of the contemporary architecture of the time. A book signing follows the presentation.