Founded in 1996, Docomomo US/Northern California is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization dedicated to documenting and conserving the Modern Movement's buildings, sites, and neighborhoods.
Founded in 1996, Docomomo US/Northern California is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) membership organization dedicated to documenting and conserving the Modern Movement's buildings, sites, and neighborhoods.
The 19th International Docomomo Conference in Los Angeles explored how modernism is anything but a placeless “white box,” foregrounding climate-responsive design, regional identity, and the conservation of experimental modern architecture. Through panels on “Modernism in the Sun,” case studies like Marcel Breuer’s precast facades and Sim Van der Ryn’s Gregory Bateson Building, and tours of works by Paul R. Williams, Charles Moore, and other California innovators, the conference highlighted “Multiple Moderns” shaped by local histories, materials, and communities—and the complex challenges of preserving them for the future.
Discover how Docomomo US/NOCA made 2025 a landmark year for modern architecture advocacy in Northern California, from defending Vaillancourt Fountain and shaping preservation policy to hosting tours, talks, and grants that engaged new audiences in the legacy of modernism.
Tour Day is the only national program of its kind, devoted to the appreciation of modern architecture in the United States. Tours and events focused on Modern Movement buildings and landscapes are hosted throughout October by Docomomo US chapters, partners, and local preservation advocates across the country.
The Northern California (NOCA) Chapter of Docomomo US is pleased to announce Luke Leuschner as the recipient of the 2025 Docomomo US/NOCA Symposium Travel Grant.
On November 8th, we were graced with beautiful East Bay sun during a perfect Bay Area autumn. The tour was led by Camila Baum board member of the Northern California chapter. There were five stops on this walking tour, we learned about Roger's early life, family life, career; and intersections of racial segregation and municipal zoning within the city of Berkeley. Thank you to all who attended, we loved sharing the life and legacy of Roger Lee, FAIA.
Join Docomomo US/Northern California for a 90-minute walking tour of architect John Carl Warnecke’s 1963 College of San Mateo’s College Heights campus, led by Josh Weinberg, author of a recent feature article on the school.
At SFMOMA through Summer 2026
Writing can function as language as well as a visual and tactile form. Josef Albers taught this at Black Mountain College, where Ray Johnson studied from 1945 to 1948. In his “typofacture” exercise, students drew marks that mimicked printed or handwritten text, inspired by surface textures like walls or garden patterns. This idea—that text carries the imprint of its making—deeply influenced Johnson, whose later works often blend language and image.
Bringing the outdoors in is essential to midcentury modern architecture, as author Beth Dunlop shows in her book Gardens for Modern Houses: Design Inspiration for Home Landscapes (Rizzoli, 2025). Join SAH/SCC for an inside look at the importance of modern landscape designs with the author.
Frank Gehry has exploded the landscape of modern architecture, transforming it from a conventional science into a sublime and majestic form of art. Rebelling against the status quo, Gehry's struggle to create the impossible has resulted in such contemporary masterpieces as the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and the stunning Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain.
September marks the 50th anniversary of Christo and Jeanne-Claude's Running Fence project. The installation stretched 24.5 miles across 59 properties in Sonoma and Marin Counties, before descending to the Pacific Ocean. To celebrate the anniversary, the Museum of Sonoma County will host an exhibition, Christo and Jeanne-Claude: Running Fence at 50 Years, on view from June 27 through Nov. 8, 2026.
![Warnecke’s 1963 New Formalist Vision: College of San Mateo [Waking Tour]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c806e5734c4e2faa1db54c9/268f9bbf-82e5-405c-9a67-8dc3644a90ca/College+of+San+Mateo+-+Josh+Weinberg-3.jpg.png)
