Master of the Midcentury, The Architecture of William F. Cody

LECTURE + BOOK SIGNING + RECEPTION

November 9, 6:00pm

MATCH - 3400 Main St., Houston, TX

• 6:00 Cocktail & Hors d'oeuvres
• 7:00 Lecture
• Reception and Book Signing to follow

Master of the Midcentury
The Architecture of William F. Cody, Monacelli 2021

AIA Credit: 1.5 LU

The authors will present and discuss their new authoritative resource of Cody's work, a richly illustrated book with photographs, original renderings and drawings of extant and now lost structures. His daughter will share memories of her father, and Cody's work in Texas will also be discussed.

Presenter /Author

• Catherine Cody is the third daughter of William F. Cody; in 2006 she became steward of her father's papers. She has a background in residential design and interior design.
• Jo Lauria is a curator, writer and educator who received her curatorial training at Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She is a specialist in the fields of design, craft, and decorative arts, with a particular emphasis on objects and environments that define the California lifestyle and culture.
• Don Choi, PHD is an architectural historian and professor at California Polytechnic State University where he teaches courses in architectural history and theory. He has a connection to Houston as his MArch is from Rice University.

Presenter

• David Bucek, FAIA, Stern and Bucek Architects, serves on the boards of Houston Mod and Architecture Center Houston Foundation. He is Chair of the Houston Archeological and Historical Commission.

About Cody

Of the architects who made Palm Springs a crucible of midcentury American modernism, William F. Cody (1916-1978) was one of the most prolific, diverse and iconic. Directing a practice ranging from residences to commercial centers and industrial complexes to master plans, Cody's designs are so recognizable that they provide a visual shorthand for what is widely hailed as "Desert Modern." Cody's projects defined the emerging West Coast lifestyle that combined luxury, leisure, and experimental design. He pushed the boundaries of engineering, with beams and roof slabs so thin that buildings seemed to defy gravity. He was also a gifted artist, taught by his mother and producing notable work even as a child.