Irving Gill, father of modern architecture
A new symposium seeks to bolster the case that a San Diego architect foreshadowed Modernist design
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Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, Gropius…. and Gill? A new symposium taking place in San Diego on October 20th, “Irving J. Gill and the Chicago School,” presents new scholarship connecting American architect Irving Gill’s experience in Chicago with his later designs for “buildings of amazing modernity” in early 20th century California, as well as the broader Modernist movement.
While much of the clean-lined modern design of the 20th century has been attributed to European innovations and influences, this event traces the lineage of modernism back to Chicago, making the case for Gill as a pioneering modernist architect who connected and realized early innovations and ideas.
Gill, who was born near Syracuse, New York, in 1870, briefly worked in Chicago during the early years of his career, then settled near San Diego, was well-known during his lifetime for his streamlined forms and flat roofs, but fell out of favor after his death in 1936. While he’s been credited as a pioneer before, this event seeks to make more explicit connections, with new scholarship connecting the Chicago School with this precursor to Southern California cool.
Architect James Guthrie, who spearheaded the upcoming symposium, organized by the Irving J. Gill Foundation, discussed Gill’s history, why he’s under-recognized, and makes a case for him as a pioneering modern architect.
