Architects Frank Escher and Ravi Gunewardena will discuss with students how working in preservation has enhanced their own practice and the important voice contemporary architects have in historic preservation. Iconic works by 20th century architects which the duo have restored include John Lautner’s Chemosphere (1960), the Eames House (1949), Gregory Ain’s Greene Residence (1962), Paul R. William’s Residence (1952), and the recently completed Lovell Health House by Richard Neutra (1929). Immersing themselves in the works of each of these architects from the past is always an enriching experience -- deciphering varying principles, philosophies and attitudes relating to the making of space. The histories of the individual projects and the contemporary social movements that shaped them are compelling. Escher and Gunewardena will examine how practitioners and students can explore these histories, yet develop work of their own, rooted in the present.
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