For lovers of mid-century modern design, architecture in California provides a treasure trove of stunning projects to discover. And not only in Palm Springs, but throughout the Sunshine State. Other architectural styles are also beautifully represented here, including brutalism and modern-rustic designs. On this page, you can learn more about architecture in California through projects completed by award-winning architects and designers. Like New York, this state has a distinct style, but one that is always expressed in imaginative designs.
These examples showcase the variety and ingenuity of architecture in California. Projects vary widely. Here, you can find family homes and vacation retreats as well as public buildings, commercial spaces, and – naturally – wineries. Built in spectacular locations, houses in California immerse their residents into natural landscapes. Sandy coastal areas, pine tree forests, desert settings, snow-capped mountains, and the rolling hills of Sonoma County are some of the spaces these houses call home. Their architecture, however, always complements their surroundings.
Unsurprisingly, many examples of architecture in California showcase a range of mid-century modern influences. Clean lines, flat or angled roofs, angular forms and minimalist designs enhance the beauty of simple, natural materials like Douglas fir, American oak and walnut, steel, or stone. Some projects are actually thoughtful restorations of mid-century modern architecture. Others draw inspiration from vernacular styles. On this page, you can discover a series of modern farmhouses that celebrate traditional forms in a contemporary design. Other projects stand out with their creativity. For example, an abandoned sewing shop that dates back to the 1940s. Transformed into an eco-friendly building, it features an Emeco showroom and exhibition space on the ground floor, and bedrooms for visiting staff and designers on the upper level. Or a sprawling property with a vineyard, winery, and guest accommodation in the heart of Sonoma County.
