Few architectural movements have traveled as widely—or been distilled as narrowly—as California Modernism. This conversation will revisit the familiar icons, Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, William Krisel, and John Lautner, while expanding the narrative to include lesser-known but deeply influential figures such as E. Stewart Williams, Helen Liu Fong, and Foster Rhodes Jackson.

Drawing on recent scholarship and research, the panel will examine how California Modernism was shaped not only by singular masters, but by a broader ecosystem of architects, clients, and regional conditions—including a climate-driven emphasis on experience, landscape, and livability. The resulting distinct, and often understated, sense of luxury extended the style’s reach across the Southwest, the United States, and beyond.

Panelists include: Alan Hess, Architect & Historian; Chris Kurrle, Partner, Feldman Architecture; Christine Vendredi Executive Director, Palm Springs Art Museum.

Moderated by ARCHITECT Editor-in-Chief Paul Makovsky, the discussion endeavors to reframe California Modernism as a living, evolving legacy—one whose work is often understood today as more luxurious in form and function than when it was first conceived.

architectmagazine.com