Julia Morgan: The DK Studio Architect Spotlight

Our Austin Architects Discuss Julia Morgan’s Role and Influence in the Field of Architecture

The DK Studio Architect Spotlight is a series featuring our favorite architects throughout history, highlighting their lives, work, famous buildings, and influence in the field. For our first entry in this series, we are spotlighting architect Julia Morgan. As the first woman to graduate from the Beaux-Arts school and obtain an architecture license in California, she inspires our woman-led team of architects in Austin, TX. So now, let’s dive into the life and work of Julia Morgan!

The Life of Architect Julia Morgan

“My buildings will be my legacy... they will speak for me long after I'm gone.”

January 20, 1872 – February 2, 1957

Julia Morgan was one of the top barrier-breaking women architects in history. Her interest in architecture began on a family trip to New York, where she met her older cousin’s husband, Pierre Le Brun, a successful architect in the city. After returning home to Oakland, Morgan kept in touch with Le Brun, and he encouraged her to pursue higher education. After graduating from Oakland High School in 1890, she enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, and studied engineering. Since there was no architecture program at the school, this was as close as she could get. However, her background in engineering would prove beneficial in launching her career. Morgan was the only woman in most of her classes but was confident in fighting for her place in the school. She even helped form a YWCA chapter as an undergraduate student, making it possible for women to use the gymnasium. This experience marked the beginning of her role in creating accessible places for women throughout her career. She graduated from Berkeley in 1894 as the first woman with a degree in civil engineering from the school.

After graduation, she applied to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, the world’s most prestigious architecture school at the time. It took her three tries to get in, but at 26, she was the first woman to pass the school’s rigorous entrance exams. She completed the five-year program in only three years and was the first woman awarded a certificate in architecture from the school. In 1904, she became the first woman in California to receive an architecture license and open her own firm.

With a background in engineering, Morgan designed buildings that could stand up to the earthquake-prone landscape of California. After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, her bell tower design at Mills College was one of the few structures left standing. During the city’s reconstruction, developers took note of her reinforced designs, and she was commissioned to renovate the Fairmont Hotel. This high-profile project launched her successful career, and she went on to design over 700 buildings and homes throughout California. In 1951, Morgan retired, and she died six years later. Before her death, she destroyed most of her designs so they couldn’t be copied by others.

Despite Morgan’s success and familial wealth, she lived modestly and retreated from the spotlight. She objected to self-promotion and avoided interviews, parties, and networking events. It is reported that she would work up to 18 hour days, juggling dozens of projects simultaneously on minimal sleep and food. She never married and had no known public relationships.

Characteristics of Julia Morgan’s Architecture

Pioneered Client-led Design

Morgan pioneered the idea of client-led design. She built a reputation for prioritizing client needs and designing solutions centered around their lifestyles. At the time, most architects dictated design styles and plans to their clients, leaving little room for personalization.

Featured a Variety of Styles

Since Morgan helped her clients find the right architectural styles for themselves, her work featured various designs, including Greek Revival, Mission, and Craftsman.

Embraced Arts and Crafts Detailing

Morgan embraced Arts and Crafts details, which are seen in many Craftsman-style homes across California. She sourced artisans to outfit her designs with custom woodwork, built-ins, and sculptural features.

Drew Inspiration from the Landscape

Morgan’s designs drew inspiration from the California landscape. Her buildings often incorporated horizontal lines, local materials, and earthy color palettes.

Defined the California Aesthetic

Designing over 700 buildings throughout the state, Morgan defined the California aesthetic. She used reinforced concrete that could withstand the impact of earthquakes and combined elements of the Craftsman, Mission, and Spanish Colonial styles that capture the spirit of the region.

Famous Buildings Designed by Julia Morgan

Hearst Castle

Morgan is most famous for Hearst Castle in San Simeon, the palatial estate of newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. The landmark design includes 65 rooms, 127 acres of gardens, beautiful terraces, indoor and outdoor pools, and even a private zoo. Morgan worked on the project from 1919 to 1947, and construction only stopped because of Hearst’s declining health. Hearst Castle combines many elements of European-inspired design, including the Casa Grande building inspired by the Church of Santa María la Mayor in Spain and a Greek-revival pool.

Vallejo House

While Morgan designed luxury estates for the ultra-rich, she also created hundreds of residences for families throughout California, including Vallejo House. This home was built in 1909 in the First Bay Tradition, an Arts and Crafts-inspired style that features local materials, exterior shingles, and connections to nature. Vallejo House most recently sold for under $1 million in 2016 and provides a cozy retreat for a modern California family today.

YWCA Projects

Morgan believed in creating spaces for women during a time when there were very few. She designed over 30 YWCA buildings throughout California and the U.S., giving women across the country beautiful spaces to exercise, learn, and connect. Her first YWCA project was the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, CA. Then, she designed the San Francisco—Chinatown, O'ahu, San Jose, and Oakland YWCA clubs. Today, many of these buildings have been repurposed, but a few remain in operation, like the O’ahu YWCA, one of Morgan’s top 10 favorite projects.

Julia Morgan’s Influence and Role in Architecture

As the first woman to graduate with a degree in civil engineering from UC Berkeley, gain admission to the Beaux-Arts architecture school, and obtain an architecture license in California, Morgan paved the way for women in architecture. She overcame the biases and expectations of women during the time and earned her place as one of the top architects in history. Decades after her death, she was honored with the 2014 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal. This awarding was the first time the organization gave its highest honor to a woman. Today, architecture remains a male-dominated field, but Morgan’s influence continues to inspire new generations of female architects.