La Jolla is home to many different styles of architecture — from small cottages to ocean-view mansions — but an La Jolla Historical Society fundraiser will focus on just one.
The Modernism Home Tour will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, and feature a series of houses to be revealed the day of the event.
The tour offers guests “the opportunity to step inside these gorgeous private residences of really, really wonderful examples of Modernist architecture right here in The Village and the surrounding neighborhoods,” according to Historical Society Executive Director Lauren Lockhart.
Last year, when the Historical Society held its first Modernism Home Tour, the event sold out. Looking to make it an annual occurrence, volunteers set out to do more research on local Modernist houses.
“We discovered that La Jolla is actually one of the birthplaces of Modernism in the United States and maybe even the world,” said event chairwoman Joan Gand. “We were pretty excited to find that out, and a number of people were inspired by the first tour to say, ‘Hey, where did all this come from?’”
Local interest in Modernist architecture expanded in the early 1990s, “when people started rediscovering the styles of the ’50s and ’60s and realized we had something great there,” Gand said. “We had something that was actually … an American style of architecture and design. It wasn’t based on European castles and things like that. It was more based on log cabins with the post-and-beam construction, and Spanish Mission style was also an influence on it.
“And it all started here with Irving Gill, [who] was a very early Modernist. In 1909 … he built his first Modernist building here, which was way earlier than most parts of the country.”
Hallmarks of Modernist architecture, Gand said, include “the simplicity of it. It’s a form of architecture where they looked at all the previous architecture that we had and [thought] we really don’t need all this decoration and ornament if it doesn’t add to the function of the building. So it was also based on the function of the building and how it works and actually making it more low-maintenance, easier to take care of. … They found that by stripping down the architecture to simplicity, it was actually really wonderful to live in. It makes you feel good because there’s just no extraneous objects to catch your eye. … Often, they’re long and low rectangular designs.”
With Modernism’s surging popularity following World War II due to its cost-effectiveness and ability to use otherwise difficult lots, it had the added appeal of a connection to nature.
“Having the architecture feel thoroughly integrated into the landscape is a hallmark of Modernism, and it’s really well-illustrated in … this year’s tour,” Lockhart said.
The Historical Society intends not to repeat houses on the annual tours for as long as possible, she added.
The tour, inspired by another major Historical Society fundraiser, the Secret Garden Tour, will offer both a self-guided option and a Platinum Tour that includes lunch, bus transportation and an extra house to view. The self-guided tour will feature six houses; the Platinum Tour includes seven.
“The bonus house is located in a place where it could not normally be on the tour because there is zero parking,” Gand said. “But in this case, you can leave the driving to us and we’ll take you on the bus.
“A lot of the Modernism [architecture] here is kind of hidden down little streets, at the top of a hill or through very narrow roads, and we want to take you there, but we can’t always do it with just the typical tour.”
Volunteer opportunities are available for those who would like to be docents to guide guests at each of the houses.
For tickets and to find out more about the event, visit lajollahistory.org/la-jolla-modernism-home-tour.
