Founded in 1996, Docomomo Northern California is a chapter of Docomomo US—a non-profit organization dedicated to documenting and conserving the Modern Movement's buildings, sites, and neighborhoods.
A Reflection on the 2024 National Symposium Miami - concrete, graffiti, climate change, and preservation.
Willis built her practice in San Francisco and made many notable contributions to the city., including Vine Terrace Apartments and the San Francisco Ballet Building.
Discover the unexpected intersection of skateboarding and Late Modernist architecture in Theodore Barrow’s reflection on the Docomomo US National Symposium. Explore how skateboarders interact with iconic Modernist spaces, challenging preservation norms and offering new perspectives on architectural history. Barrow examines the paradoxical appeal of these structures and their potential for adaptive reuse in urban environments
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Paffard Keatinge-Clay, architect of several Modernist buildings in California from the 1960s and 70s, including sculptural Brutalist addition to SFAI, the SFSU Student Union, and Kaiser French Campus.
Discover the best books on Northern California Modernism with Docomomo NOCA’s curated list. From Eichler homes to San Francisco’s urban design, these essential reads explore iconic architects, hidden gems, and the region’s unique architectural style. Perfect for architecture enthusiasts and those looking to deepen their knowledge of Bay Area design.
Skateboarding art historian and Docomomo Northern California Board Member, Ted Barrow walks visitors through the exhibition, Skateboarding San Francisco: Concrete, Community, Continuity, showing how the City’s unique terrain has become iconic to skateboarding. Combining archival photos from the library’s own History Center with historic skate photos, videos and material artifacts, Barrow shares the impact of skateboarding in San Francisco and its reach across the globe.
Explore the groundbreaking “American School” architects at SF’s Center for Architecture + Design. Discover how Goff & Greene’s protégés, like Agnoli & Muennig, shaped Bay Area design with radical, contextual, and uniquely American visions. Runs Feb 20 - Aug 8, 2025.
Foster + Partners has completed a $400M renovation of Architect William Pereira’s Transamerica Pyramid, revitalizing its interiors, Redwood Park, and surrounding district. This transformation blends historic preservation with modern design, creating a vibrant hub for business, community, and creativity in the heart of the city.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest events and programming from Docomomo-US Northern California.
Co-organized by Historic Preservation Education Foundation and the Boston Architectural College, the conference program will include three tracks of presentations on advocacy challenges and preservation strategies, history and context and technical conservation issues and solutions for post-World War II resources, to take place on Thursday, March 20 and Friday, March 21, 2025.
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) is set to host Ruth Asawa: Retrospective, a comprehensive exhibition honoring the groundbreaking work of artist Ruth Asawa. Opening to the general public on March 11, 2025, with member tickets already available, the exhibition promises an in-depth exploration of Asawa’s expansive artistic output, featuring over 300 artworks.
![Do Not Try to Remember: The American School of Architecture in the Bay Area [Center for Architecture + Design]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c806e5734c4e2faa1db54c9/773c98b6-bfdc-4bf2-b7b6-1ae71dbad65d/Barbour+Courtyard.png)
![The Vertical City [Transamerica Building]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c806e5734c4e2faa1db54c9/1740255781631-ODXLEI3ZQB6UQ2RY8JW7/Transamerica+Pyramid.png)
![Ruth Asawa: Retrospective [SF-MOMA]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c806e5734c4e2faa1db54c9/1740256719404-RKOU258X77OO2KO1ST7Z/25137611399_b03e1e3fc5_q.jpg)