Materializing the immaterial: the architecture of Wallace Cunningham

This generously illustrated book assesses the architectural vision of Wallace Cunningham, the innovative and intuitive Southern California architect whose buildings reveal light and embody motion and spirituality. From small mountain cabins to urban townhouses, from waterfront residences to museums, Cunningham’s structures respond poetically and functionally to the land-and to the cityscapes in which they are set. His works reflect the architect’s belief that “buildings are not just visual…buildings need to radiate emotion.” The book traces Cunningham’s development from his youth in the architecturally rich city of Buffalo through his apprenticeship at Taliesen, where he absorbed Frank Lloyd Wright’s theory of organic architecture, to his current practice in San Diego. Eighteen case studies of his projects, both built and unbuilt, illustrate how the architect opens his structures to sky, landscape, and views, and how he uses light to define and animate space. The book also includes a comprehensive record of Cunningham's works, publications, and exhibits.