Architects to headline La Jolla lecture series

Press Release

The La Jolla Historical Society will hold a “Meet the Speakers” VIP Reception on Jan. 9 for its upcoming lecture series featuring 10 of San Diego’s most influential architects who have contributed to the fabric of the region’s architectural character through a keen eye and an innate sense of passion for the uniqueness of local history.

Board member Angeles Liera conceived the series and worked with the speakers to focus their topics, said John Bolthouse, the society’s executive director.

Beginning in February, the monthly lectures at the Wisteria Cottage will focus on topics such as the historic preservation battles of the old, while invoking fresh ideas and crisp lines to create new landmarks. The speakers will address such ideas as whether architecture shapes not only buildings, but environments, neighborhoods, cities and even the health of our minds.

The VIP event will be held at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Tickets are $25 for members/$35 non-members.

The individual lectures will be held at the Historical Society’s Wisteria Cottage, 780 Prospect St., unless otherwise notified, and will begin at 7 p.m. Seating is limited. Individual lectures are $10 for members and $15 for non-members, or for the series, $75 for members and $130 for non-members.

For more information, or to purchase tickets for the Jan. 9 event or the lecture series, visit www.lajollahistory.org or call (858) 459-5335, Ext 9.

Those making presentations are:

• Feb. 24: Keith York, board member, San Diego Architectural Foundation; Chair, San Diego Museum of Art’s “The Gallery” Committee, “Development of La Jolla from a Historical Perspective”: An exposé of what the La Jolla community context may turn out of be if we are not careful.

• March 24: Taal Safdie and Ricardo Rabines, AIA, Safdie Rabines Architects,

“Changing Established Patterns through Design Excellence”: An account of how rigorous study of surrounding natural and contexts and careful use of light, materials and form can foster “cultural” change in established institutions through architecture.

• April 28: Matthew Welsh, artist and designer, Matthew Welsh Associates, “Working with La Jolla’s History”: How an artist can have a keen eye to restore historic houses and create places with scale, joy and beauty.

• May 25: Ione R. Stiegler, AIA, NCARB, IS Architecture, “Adobes: From Prehistory to the Present”: La Jolla’s role in the construction of adobe structures over our recent past and present.

• June 2: Robert Mosher, FAIA, co-founder of Mosher Drew Architects, “A Conversation with Robert Mosher”: An informal look back over the last 60- plus years, recalling the high points of his career as a practicing architect in La Jolla (facilitated by Keith York).

• July 21: Spencer Lake, AIA, Spencer Lake Architect, “Wright here… Wright Now?”: Frank Lloyd Wright Influences in La Jolla, from Irving J. Gill to J. Spencer Lake (A lecture dedicated to Liz Marshall).

• Aug. 26 David Marshall, AIA, Heritage Architecture and Planning, “Does History Have a Future in La Jolla”: Perspectives on just how conscientious and protective La Jollans are about their architectural heritage.

• Sept. 22 Rob Quigley, FAIA, Rob Wellington Quigley, Architecture, Planning and Preservation, “Can Architecture Shape Our Lives?”: How architecture can shape not only buildings but environments, neighborhoods, cities, and even bring health to our minds

• Oct. 27: Laura DuCharme Conboy, AIA, LEED AP DuCharme Architecture

“Can Good Architecture Be Regulated?”: A discussion about the regulations that govern architectural work and whether they help or hinder design excellence

• Dec. 15: James Alcorn, AIA Emeritus, Alcorn & Benton Architects, “Saving Historical Buildings with a New Life”: How architects fulfill creative passions by working over historic buildings and forgoing the opportunity of having the building be their own.