Finding Beauty in Unexpected Places - Fullerton

Pollak Library at CSU Fullerton. Photo ©Darren Bradley

Yes, Fullerton... I've lived in Southern California off and on for more than 30 years. But up until last year, I never considered Fullerton to be anything more than a place to drive through on my way to LA (despite apparently being distantly related to the city's namesake and founder, George Fullerton). Turns out I was dead wrong about the city. It's worth a stop. There's actually a lot of cool stuff in Fullerton, not least of which is the amazing campus of Cal State University, Fullerton. 

UC Irvine: A Singular Brutalist Vision

The university's main library, the Langson Library, was designed by William Pereira Associates, in collaboration with Jones & Emmons and Blurock Ellerbroek Associates. Note how this building like others sits on a concrete platform whose supports are meant to be in the shadows, giving the building an appearance of floating. Photo ©Darren Bradley. 

It may seem a bit incongruous - when driving through the somewhat bland Orange County suburbs of Irvine - to come across towering, brutalist concrete sculptural forms scattered amongst the trees, but that was exactly what architect William Pereira designed in his master plan for that campus in 1963. 

Robin Boyd Time Capsule in Canberra

Photo ©Darren Bradley

I finally had the opportunity to visit one of the most interesting and beautiful homes in Canberra. This home, designed by renowned Melbourne architect Robin Boyd in 1963, demonstrates Boyd’s willingness to experiment with new ideas, and even borrow a few from others. In this case, Southern California seems to have been the inspiration…

Melbourne Revisited

The Total Carpark by Bernard Joyce for Bogle & Banfield (1965). Photo ©Darren Bradley

I've already posted several times about my previous time in Melbourne. To be honest, I never really found it to be a very target-rich environment from an architectural photography perspective. While there's certainly a lot going on there in architecture, there are not a lot of mid-century modernist landmarks around the central business district. And the more recent architecture tends towards a flashy post-modern... Also, the weather was terrible every other time I was there. But anyway, on my most recent trip, I had beautiful sunny skies and most importantly - wonderful hosts and great company, who showed me some of the things I'd missed before. I have to say now that I love Melbourne. 

Robin Boyd Residence II

Photo ©Darren Bradley

I had the good fortune to spend a few hours last week at the Boyd House II in Melbourne. The Boyd House is one of Australia's most celebrated modernist homes by one of Australia's most celebrated modernist architects. I loved it. 

Orange County Eichlers

Fairhills Eichler Plan OJ-1605 by A. Quincy Jones & Frederick Emmons (1964). Photo ©Darren Bradley

"Eichler" has become a household word these days, used to describe just about any modernist tract house. Sort of the way "Eames" is used on eBay as a catch-all for any object remotely modern that looks like it may have been made sometime in the 50s or 60s. But actually, there are very few Eichler developments in Southern California. That was more of a Northern California thing, and there are many tracts around the Bay Area. In SoCal, there are only four: three in Orange County and one  two in the Valley. 

El Rancho Vista Estates

Photo ©Darren Bradley

When I first visited El Rancho Vista Estates in 1999, it was a sad experience, and more than a bit frightening. I was even concerned about getting out of my car. Its turnaround today, to one of the most beautiful and intact modernist neighborhoods in the Coachella Valley, is a shining example of how preservation can work for a community. 

A Brutalist Enclave in a Sydney Suburb

UTS Kuring-gai. Photo ©Darren Bradley

The architect stated that the natural landscape was so beautiful, it should not have been built on. But he did it anyway. And I'm very glad he did. 

Climate Change: Mid-century modern La Jolla

Period photo by Charles Schneider of the Russell Forester Residence. Much of the furniture and objects seen in the photo can be viewed in person at the exhibition. 

La Jolla (pronounced "La Hoya" for the non locals and non-hispanically inclined) is a small, exclusive resort town just north of downtown San Diego. As far as architecture goes, it's long been known for its late 19th and early 20th century traditional, craftsman-style beach cottages. But La Jolla was also fertile ground for modernism beginning even in the 1920s. The post-war period was an especially prolific time in La Jolla, and a small group of architects, artists, and craftsmen made a significant impact on the community with their contributions. These contributions have been largely overlooked until now. 

The Lillie Residence

Carmen and Todd in their dining room. Lillie Residence by Lloyd Ruocco. Photo ©Darren Bradley

Architect Lloyd Ruocco left an enduring mark on San Diego, through his unobtrusive architecture that seems to disappear into the surrounding environment. There are many examples throughout the county - and especially in the east around Mt. Helix. The Lillie Residence is the nicest example of Ruocco's work that I've ever seen.