Inside La Jolla Modernism Week: Stunning Iconic Homes on Display
By David Miller
The curated route for the current season moves from the dense urban fabric of the Village out toward the ridges of Mount Soledad. One of the undisputed focal points of the tour is the 1952 Forester Residence, a masterclass in post-and-beam construction. Restored meticulously by its current owners over a 36-month timeline, the single-story home demonstrates Forester’s genius with modular proportions. Glass curtain walls slide away completely at the corner joints, eliminating structural barriers between the interior living quarters and a central courtyard pool.
Further up the slopes, attendees gain entrance to a lesser-known residential gem by Sim Bruce Richards constructed in 1958. Dominated by angled timber framing and custom cedar built-ins, the property eschews generic drywall in favor of warm, untreated wood surfaces that have weathered evenly over nearly seven decades. Original geometric art glass windows capture coastal fog as it crests the hillside, generating dynamic natural lighting that shifts continuously throughout the day.
The tour also highlights significant adaptive preservation. At several stops, second- and third-generation owners share details on replacing rusted vintage structural steel with marine-grade stainless hardware, all while preserving the thin structural profiles that defining mid-century modern design. It is a technical feat that prevents catastrophic foundation shifting without triggering aggressive, character-destroying modern code rebuilds.
David Miller brings 15 years of experience in global economics, personal finance strategy, and market dynamics. He specializes in turning complex economic trends into actionable insights for everyday readers.
