This blueprint is an early floor plan for the first floor of the building. The unique shape of the eastern wing makes this building immediately recognizable, and the varied heights of the different components of the building give a visual reference to the different functions of the departments. The building houses the offices of the departments of Anthropology, Asian-American Studies, Classics, Drama and Dance, History, Philosophy, and Religious Studies, as well as the Interdisciplinary Humanities Center. The design of HSSB incorporates some of the common elements of the overall campus design such as sheltered courtyards, covered loggias, and classrooms that open directly to the outside. Zimmer, Gunsul, Frasca Architects are an international architectural firm which specializes in commercial and education projects. In addition to HSSB, they also designed the Marine Science Building (2004), and the Bren School of Environmental Studies building (2002).
University of California, Santa Barbara Campus Building records, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. University of California Regents.
The Bren School of Environmental Studies is one of the premier environmental science schools in the country, and the only graduate school of environmental management in the UC system. The building itself is also exceptional. The first dedicated research and laboratory facility to achieve the highest LEED status as a new building, it was re-certified Platinum in the existing buildings category in 2009 and again in 2017. It is the only building to receive multiple platinum awards. The central courtyard offers informal meeting spaces, while the open, exterior stairwell provides architectural interest. Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership is an international architectural firm that specializes in commercial and education projects. In addition to the Bren School, they also designed the Marine Science Building (2004) and the Humanities and Social Sciences building (1994).
Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership, architects
William Levy Alexander: Poole Boone house and studio (Wilton, Conn.)
Photo of the exterior of the Poole Boone house and studio from a side view with landscaping in the foreground.
William Levy Alexander papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design, & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design, & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
William Levy Alexander: Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences (San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico)
Photograph of the exterior of the resort.
William Levy Alexander, photographer and architect
Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design, and Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico
William Levy Alexander: House in Space (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Photograph of a man sitting at the balcony at the House in Space, located on Viewmont Dr. in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
William Levy Alexander, architect; Wide World Photos Los Angeles Bureau, photographer
William Levy Alexander: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photo of the exterior of the David Greggory house from the back.
William Levy Alexander, architect; Robert C. Cleveland, photographer
Photo of the guest and sitting room in the David Greggory house.
Photograph of the dining table and buffet in the dining room of the David Greggory house in Encino, California.
Photo of the living room and fireplace in the David Greggory house.
Photograph of the living room in the David Greggory house on Rancho Street in Encino, California.
William Levy Alexander: William Levy Alexander house (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Photograph of the living and dining room area in the house William Levy Alexander built for himself on Holly Dr. in Laguna Beach, California.
William Levy Alexander, architect; Michael Farr, photographer
Photo of the living room in the William Levy Alexander house on Holly Dr. in Laguna Beach, California.
Photograph of the patio at the William Levy Alexander house on Holly Dr. in Laguna Beach, with views of the mountains and ocean in the background.
Photo of the carport at the David Greggory house in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
William Levy Alexander, architect; Julius Shulman, photographer
Photograph of the outside courtyard of the David Greggory house in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
Photo of the fireplace in the David Greggory house, located in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
Photograph of the cabinets and stove in the kitchen of the David Greggory house.
Photograph of the kitchen cabinets and sink in the David Greggory house.
Photo of the hallway in the David Greggory house.
Photo of bookshelves in the David Greggory house in Encino, California.
Photograph of the kitchen in the David Greggory house on Rancho Street in Encino, California.
Photo of the dining table with a view of the balcony in the House in Space by William Levy Alexander, located in Los Angeles, California.
Photograph of the exterior of the House in Space during construction. William Levy Alexander designed this house for himself on Viewmont Dr. in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
Photograph of a worker working on the House in Space project in Los Angeles, California. William Levy Alexander built this house for himself using cantilever construction techniques.
Photograph of the exterior and landscape of Alexander's House in Space that he built for himself, located at Viewmont Dr. in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
Photograph of the dining area in the House in Space by William Levy Alexander, located in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
William Levy Alexander, architect; Julius Schulman, photographer
Photograph of a door handle in the David Greggory house.
William Levy Alexander, architect; Alex dePaola, photographer
Photograph of a cart designed by William Levy Alexander.
Photograph of William Levy Alexander's House in Space during construction. This house was an early example of the cantilever construction method in the Southern California area.
Photograph of the exterior resort, showing two levels of rooms, the loggia, the tower, and the dining and lounge rooms.
William Levy Alexander, architect; Al Teztloff, photographer
Photograph of the detail of the tower and part of the loggia to the right, as seen from the approach from the land side.
William Levy Alexander, architect; Al Tetzloff, photographer
Aerial photograph of the resort taken from the cape.
William Levy Alexander, architect; Al Tetzlaff, photographer
Photograph of the interior of the loggia from the tower side in the Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences, located in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico)
Photograph of the interior of the loggia looking towards the tower side in the Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico.
Photograph of the dining area in the Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences, located in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico.
Photograph of the tower detail and spiral staircase in the Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico.
Aerial photo of the house by architect William Levy Alexander for himself on Holly Dr. in Laguna Beach, California. "House ->" points to the house in the upper left corner.
William Levy Alexander: Halliburton house (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Aerial photo of the Halliburton House on Ceanothus Drive in Laguna Beach, California.
Photograph of the retaining wall at the Halliburton house on Ceanothus Drive in Laguna Beach, California.
Sketch and floor plan view of the Richard Halliburton house on Ceanothus Drive in Laguna Beach, California.
Photo of the swimming pool and lawn at the David Greggory house in Encino, California.
William Alexander Levy: David Greggory house (Encino, Calif.)
Photograph of the living room and window with view outside in the David Greggory house.
Photograph of the interior of the David Greggory house with a tiger rug on the floor.
Photograph of the table in the kitchen of the David Greggory house in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
Photograph of the list of client requirements for the David Greggory house in Encino, California
Photograph of the living room with furniture in the David Greggory house by William Levy Alexander, located on Rancho Street in Encino, California.
Photograph of the exterior of the Poole Boone house and studio by William Levy Alexander, located in Wilton, Connecticut.
William Levy Alexander: Halliburton House (Laguna Beach, Calif.)
Photograph of the living room and balcony in the Halliburton House in Laguna Beach, California.
Photograph of the living room and entrance foyer in the Halliburton House, located in Laguna Beach, California.
William Levy Alexander papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design, and Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
Photograph of the Halliburton House looking towards the ocean in Laguna Beach, California.
Photograph of architect William Levy Alexander at a drawing table.
William Levy Alexander: Design for a Firesafe Concrete House
Plan for firesafe concrete house, including birds-eye perspective, plans, elevations, and details.
Photograph of the exterior of the Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences.
Aerial photograph of the Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico
Photograph of the chapel and fountain at the Las Cruces Palmilla Resort and Residences in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, Mexico.
William Levy Alexander: John T. and Katherine McTernan house (Los Feliz, Calif.)
Photograph of the study and guest room in the Ambrose Avenue house belonging to John T. and Katherine McTernan in Los Feliz, California.
William Levy Alexander: John T. and Katherine McTernan House (Los Feliz, Calif.)
Photograph of the study in the house by architect William Levy Alexander for clients John T. and Katherine McTernan. The house is located on Ambrose Avenue in Los Feliz, California.
Photograph of bedroom #1 in the Halliburton House, located in Laguna Beach, California.
William Levy Alexander, architect George Haight, photographer
Photograph of the Halliburton House from the driveway with people on the balcony.
William Levy Alexander, architect Carl F. Zeigler, photographer
Photo of architect William Levy Alexander in a store.
Photograph of architect William Levy Alexander with his portrait sculpture.
Photo taken in 1978 of William Levy Alexander, on the right, with Eric Lloyd Wright (grandson of architect Frank Lloyd Wright), on the left.
Photograph of the interior of the house built for John T. and Katherine McTernan, located on Ambrose Avenue in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.
William Alexander Levy papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design, & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
Smith, Whitney (1911-2002): Case Study House #12
Case Study House #12 was an un-built project from architect Whitney Smith. This house, similar in some ways to his previous house project (CSH #5), was designed by Smith to house horticulturists. As such, a lath house was attached to the house, and the X shape of the house allowed all rooms to have access to the garden areas surrounding the house. This design, while particular in this instance to gardeners, could also be adapted and modified to include different rooms for an array of hobbies and home-based professions. The recognition that large scale tract housing filled a need, but was not an exact fit for every family is exemplified in this design.
Smith & Williams records, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
Smith, Whitney (1911-2002): Case Study House #5
Case Study House #5 by Whitney Smith was an un-built project-- also known as the Loggia House. The central feature of this 1800 square foot house was the living room which could be expanded or contracted with the use of sliding glass walls and sliding screens. The walls of the house were to be constructed of adobe brick, framed in steel to make the walls light, insulated, and strong. The materials and design of the house were specifically created to showcase the indoor-outdoor living potential of the Southern California climate.
Smith and Williams: Roulac house (San Marino, Calif.)
Philip Roulac, a builder and contractor, became a frequent client of and collaborator with Smith and Williams. He built most of the houses that Smith and Williams designed in San Marino. When Roulac purchased land that included the 1934 pump house, Smith and Williams incorporated the older structure into the design of his house.
Whitney Smith, architect Smith and Williams, architects Julius Shulman, photographer
© J. Paul Getty Trust. Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles (2004.R.10) Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. University of California Regents.
Smith and Williams: Smith house (Pasadena, Calif.)
Smith’s own house began as a garage on a piece of land that had been part of a larger residential property. He wrote about the house in a letter to an editor at the Ladies Home Journal in 1948: “The garden walls and landscaping positively define the total limits of view so that. . . the actual view is about 75 feet, interrupted only by vertical columns and planting. . . .Space means nothing unless defined. Openness means little unless there also is closure.”
Smith and Williams: Dunn house (Pasadena, Calif.)
This house may be the strongest example of Smith’s and Williams’s belief in the architect as a solver of problems. Smith convinced the Dunns not to tear down their Greene and Greene-designed James Culbertson house. The Dunns wanted a smaller, less formal house with more light and fewer stairs. Smith and Williams took off the second floor and opened up the first level to the site. As a native son of Pasadena, Smith knew Greene and Greene’s buildings well. His 1941-1942 letters to Charles S. Greene convey his admiration for and the influence of their work.
Whitney Smith, architect Smith and Williams, architects Julius Shulman, photographer William Rudolph, associate architect
Smith and Williams: Zwell house (Pasadena, Calif.)
For the long, narrow, 1300 square foot house for Leo Zwell, Smith designed a straight line of rooms, with each one having a full wall of glass facing onto the brick terrace. A "light trough" or linear skylight provided natural light to the living/dining room ceiling.
Whitney Smith, architect Maynard Parker, photographer Garrett Eckbo, landscape architect
Maynard L. Parker, photographer. Courtesy of The Huntington Library, San Marino, Calif. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owner. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user. University of California Regents.
Smith and Williams: Bradley house (Pasadena, Calif.)
The Harold Bradley house in Pasadena makes maximum use of a small lot, by yielding a small area to the driveway and garage, and reserving the focal point for a garden terrace. The terrace provides garden views and access for all the major rooms of the house through glass doors and windows. Though placed at the front of the house, privacy was created by effective use of a translucent plastic wall and the natural topography of the site-- the house sits on a slight rise above the street. Wide roof overhangs, up to eight feet, provide shelter to the south and west facing rooms.
Whitney Smith, architect Fred Dapprich, photographer
The White Energy Integration System (WEIS) was designed as an alternative energy power plant, which pulled air upwards and powered turbines to generate energy. The large structure (496 feet tall and 880,000 square feet of land) would also have contained a sewage treatment plant which also contributed by-products that were converted into energy. Unfortunately after detailed study by scientists in the federal government, it was concluded that the design would not produce the promised amount of energy, and the tower was never built.
Walter S. White papers, Architecture and Design Collection; Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
Architecture and Design Collection; Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara.
Walter White: Turner house (Calhan, Colo.)
The Wayne Turner house in Calhan, Colorado is one of White's passive-solar houses with Heat Exchanger Windows. The houses were designed to trap heat inside during the cold winter months, and shade the house from the sun in the hot summer moths. The Heat Exchanger Windows reflected the light and heat away in the summer, and drew in the warmth of the sun in the winter.
Walter White: Johnson house (Palm Desert, Calif.)
The Paulette Herbert Johnson house in Palm Desert was one of White's last houses in the desert before he moved to Colorado Springs. The house was originally designed with a hypar (hyperbolic paraboloid) roof, but was constructed with a flat roof, for unknown reasons.
Walter White: Johnson house (Indio, Calif.)
The Philip Johnson house in Indio, was a large house with a Y-shaped plan. This splayed plan allowed for each room to have views in many directions.
Walter White: Kissing Camels guest cottages (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
White designed eighteen guest cottages for the Kissing Camels Golf Club. These one story one- and two- bedroom cottages utilized many of the hallmarks of the California Desert Modern design-- breezeblock entryways, floor to ceiling glass walls, and generous outdoor terraces.
Walter White: Garden of the Gods Golf Club (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Palm Desert developers Al and Margaret Hill purchased land overlooking the Garden of the Gods park, outside of Colorado Springs, and created a private club. White designed the two-story guest rooms-- a complex of three buildings with forty guest rooms overlooking the golf club and mountains.
Walter White: White House (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
The large house White designed for his family at the Kissing Camels Estates outside of Colorado Springs, was the first large house White built for himself. With sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains, the house contained two bedrooms, a study connected to the living room with a roof-height circular fireplace, and an ample porte-cochere.
Walter White: Bates house (Palm Springs, Calif.)
The house White designed for Miles Bates in Palm Springs was never built, but would have been a much larger residence than the one built for Bates in Palm Desert. The plan for the house included an experiment in overlapping circles and half circles, with outdoor terraces and upward-sweeping roofs which delivered views of the San Jacinto Mountains.
Walter White: Kanrich house (Palm Springs, Calif.)
The unbuilt George Kanrich house at the Tamarisk Country Club is a luxurious curved house facing a circular pool. The concave side of the house faced the driveway and contained the utilities and service sections of the house. The convex side faced out onto the pool and the roofline curved upwards so that the inhabitants could enjoy a view of the mountains.
This early design by White has been called his "ideal home design." The long, narrow house plan shows a solid wall facing the street, with an open, glass-enclosed side facing a private backyard. Both the plan and elevation highlight the influence of both Frank Lloyd Wright and Rudolph Schindler on White.
Walter White: Prefabricated Mountain Cabins (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Walter White designed a number of Prefabricated Mountain Cabins through the years with the first one being The Yellowstone in 1965. The design started out as a small weekend home, with eventual designs encompassing permanent mountain residences. By utilizing steel beams and cedar planking, the cabins were strong, sturdy, and inexpensive to build and maintain.
Walter White: La Quinta units (La Quinta, Calif.)
Walter White designed and built the four houses which are considered the La Quinta Units (or Bungalows) on land adjacent to the Breedlove house, which he built for his mother-in-law. The four T-shaped houses were designed as middle-class dwellings for permanent residents of La Quinta. The uniquely shaped roof with wide overhangs, privacy walls surrounding the garden, and air conditioning highlighted some of the more desirable features of the houses.
Walter White: Smith solar house (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
For the Carroll and Dr. Marlene Smith house in the Black Forest area near Colorado Springs, White designed the house to utilize passive solar architecture in a domestic setting. The house is curved, to take advantage of the view, and contains many of his patented Heat Exchanger Windows.
Walter White: White cabin (Los Angeles, Calif.)
After World War II, Walter White designed small cabin-like houses for returning service members in the Hollywood Hills, along Valevista Trail. White and his family lived in one of the cabins for a short time.
Walter White: Valley Lumber Company (Palm Desert, Calif.)
For the Valley Lumber Company in Palm Desert, White designed an addition to the store and office building.
Walter White: Calor Gas Service office building
For office buildings for the Calor Gas Service company, White used simple corrugated metal sheets, which he folded around corners and edges of the buildings. White designed buildings in Merced and Susanville for the company, as well as designing graphics and the interior of a company airplane.
Walter White: Stafford house (Escondido, Calif.)
For the Newt and Lillian Stafford house in Escondido, the clients built the original frame house, and White designed a shed-like roof, which was shaped like a butterfly's profile. With the angled roof, some of the interior walls did not reach up to the roof, but gave the appearance of the roof floating above the interior.
Walter White: Durham house (Palm Desert, Calif.)
The floor plan for the William Durham house in Palm Desert highlights the thoughtful planning behind a Walter White design. The plan shows, through a series of arrows, the view lines from each section of the house, as well as the specific angles of the sun at different point in time during the year. This careful siting allowed for maximum views with a minimum of direct summer sun on the main living areas of the house.
Walter White: Pritzlaff house (Palm Desert, Calif.)
The first Herbert Pritzlaff house was designed by Cliff May, in 1947-1948, and was one of the earliest houses in the Palm Desert / Shadow Mountain region. The home burned to the ground in 1949, and White designed and built the replacement.
Walter White: Safari USA offices (Palm Springs, Calif.)
The office building for Safari USA, a boat building company, utilized steel beams and corrugated sheet metal to provide visual interest and help shade portions of the building from the desert sun.
Walter White: Coachella Valley Farm (Indio, Calif.)
The Coachella Valley Farms development was initially designed to be the largest small-farm development in the world. With each homestead located on their own long and narrow two acre plots, the houses (with backyard pool) were near the road, with the majority of the plot dedicated to farming. and stables for livestock at the far end. The development was not successful, and eventually the area was renamed Bermuda Dunes and became a country club.
Walter White: Breedlove house (La Quinta, Calif,)
In 1944, White built a 'Desert Dwelling' for his mother-in-law, Esther Breedlove in La Quinta. This small house is one of the earliest examples of White's work in the desert, and shows how his style was shaped by the environment. White used stand alone masonry walls (to move independently in case of earthquake), interspersed with wood or glass doors and windows, a low hipped roof, and header beams were bolted together to prevent warping. Eventually, White expanded the house with a wing consisting of two bedrooms and connecting bathroom, and he moved in with his family.
Walter White: Metro Homes (Palm Desert, Calif.)
White worked with the Metro Homes company to design small homes for subdivisions throughout California. In Palm Desert, the Metro Homes (also known as "Palm Desert Homes") were one- or two- bedroom homes (either oblong or T-shaped) with and without attached carports. The Palm Desert Corporation, the large landowner, did not allow only one architect and developer to design houses for an entire neighborhood, so only a small number of lots were built.
Walter White: Alexander house (Palm Springs, Calif.)
The house for Dr. Franz Alexander and his wife was a rural retreat for the European psychoanalyst. With a long, rectangular shape and a unique roof shaped by curved steel beams with wooden planks, the house is sited to take advantage of the view of the mountains. The house is elevated off the ground (with garage underneath) and the main living areas open onto a deck, which overlooks the circular pool and backyard.
Walter S. White papers, Architecture and Design Collection; Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara
Architecture and Design Collection; Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara
Walter White: McManus guest cottages (Palm Springs, Calif.)
The plans for unbuilt duplex and triplex units wee commissioned by Pearl McCallum McManus. She inherited a large amount of land in and around Palm Springs and was a major proponent for the development of tourism in the area. McManus and her husband founded a real estate and development company, which hired many well-known architects, including Lloyd Wright, Paul Revere Williams, and A.Quincy Jones to design buildings in Palm Springs.
Walter White: First Assembly of God church (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
Walter White began designing homes in Colorado in the mid-60s, but it wasn't until 1968, when he received his Colorado architect license, that he was able to work on larger civic and commercial projects. The First Assembly of God Church in Colorado Springs was one of those commissions. The church had construction issues with the original design, and so the final plans changed from the original drawings.
Walter White: Stewart house (Palm Desert, Calif.)
The house in Palm Desert for E.W, Stewart is one of the best examples of White's large residential commissions. The interior of the house is clearly divided into public and private zones, with a massive circular fireplace at the center of the living room / dining room combination.
Walter White: Willcockson house (Indio, Calif.)
The Max E. Willcockson house in Indio is notable for White's first use of the hyperbolic-paraboloid roof. This dramatically sweeping feature appears from a distance to hover over the house (which was sited on a high sand dune to increase the drama). The orientation of the highest points of the roof (which was painted white to reflect the sun) are angled in such a way as to block the strongest and hottest rays of the sun, while also enjoying a view of the mountains.
Walter White: Milliken house (Palm Desert, Calif.)
The long, low house for Charles Milliken sat on a corner lot with an imposing front of stucco, masonry, and wood, while the back of the house featured much more open and airy glass walls to enjoy the view and outdoor living.
Walter White: Shadow Mountain Sun Lodges (Palm Desert, Calif.)
The Shadow Mountain Club was one of the first resorts in Palm Desert; the Sun Lodges were bungalows which could be purchased by individuals and then rented out when not in use. The land was owned by the corporation, making the Sun Lodges one of the first 'condominium' style developments in the area. These small houses fit the requirements of the local architecture review boards, and helped pave the way for future White commissions in the area.