During his 50-year career, Morgan has built not only schools but also bungalows, office buildings in the city center, the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, libraries, clock towers, and most importantly, the 110,000-strong Hurst Castle. square feet. It is undeniable that Morgan deserves a biography, and so does Victoria Kastner. “Julia Morgan: An Intimate Biography of a Leading Architect” The Self is the first volume that delves into Julia’s personal life and her career. “
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As a historian of Hurst Castle, Castner examined Morgan’s drawings as well as family letters and business correspondence, providing us with a book – part biography, part coffee table decorations – that quickly propelled us into his life. and career. an extraordinary person. Female. If she’s never felt “honest,” it’s partly because Julia Morgan is tough and partly because Castner doesn’t want to try.
Born in 1872, Morgan was raised in a wealthy family in Auckland, California, some of the most vivid chapters in the book consist of Morgan’s mother’s disparaging quotes and letters to her father. In one of her, Eliza Morgan punishes her husband for sending letters “too weak and exciting, I would never have accepted them”. “… I want to remind you that you must be a man.” Worried about having diphtheria the following year, he ordered, “If you don’t see me anymore, come have children and marry a good wife who won’t be too young.” Was there anything in the parenting relationship that forced Morgan to choose a marriage career? Kastner does not speculate, even when the material is almost in demand.
Morgan graduated with a degree in civil engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, one of the first women to do so. She was the first of many of the first. She moved to Paris in 1896 and became the first woman to complete an architecture program at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts. In 1904, she became the state’s first licensed female architect in California. “The job opportunities for this little lady were incredible,” recalls one of the employees of the architecture firm she founded. In fact, this young woman picked up the pen in the 1890s and didn’t put it down until her memory was erased in the 1940s.
According to Kastner, he didn’t have a love life. There was also very little interpersonal drama and almost no emotional turmoil as you might find in many biographies of prominent women. When Morgan got involved with the project, she wore coarse clothing, didn’t drink, and ate crackers for dinner. The “intimate” life of a sexually restrained, emotionally controlled, cautious and hardworking person is not something that makes you turn the pages late at night.
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The work itself is another story and Kastner’s book is richly illustrated with exquisite Morgan paintings and beautifully finished creations, from the humble Mediterranean style of the YWCA to the Neptune Basin at Hearst Castle, where he harmonized the ancient Romans with the Roman wonders. . – Gallon pool. Morgan has been criticized for not having a distinctive style, a charge rightly rejected by Kastner.
According to Castner, Morgan has managed to bring functionality, poise and a commitment to beauty to the wishes of his customers, whether it’s the extravagant William Randolph Hurst or the casual home builder. And he was democratic because he cared about his projects as he did, treating the smaller project with the same attention to detail as the larger project. He believed that good architecture could enrich us and should be accessible to everyone.
While designing the YWCA in San Francisco, Morgan introduced private dining rooms and kitchens for the residents so they could entertain their friends. As Kastner wrote, “When asked:“ These are the girls with the minimum wage; Why are you ruining them? “That’s the only reason,” Morgan replied. “
As I read, I thought about my high school. In 1917, a beautiful building was built for the education of stupid children. Why are they destroying us? That was the only reason.
Jennifer Reese is the author of “Make Bread, Get Butter”.
Intimate biography of the leading architect
chronic. 240 p. $ 32.50
Source: Washington Post
Roy Brown is a renowned economist and author at The Nation View. He has a deep understanding of the global economy and its intricacies. He writes about a wide range of economic topics, including monetary policy, fiscal policy, international trade, and labor markets.