Irving J. Gill, Architect

by Bruce Kamerling

Irving J. Gill (1870-1936) is now considered to be one of the most significant of early modern architects. Trained in the office of Louis Sullivan in Chicago, Gill moved to San Diego in 1893 to begin his career. Through a radical simplification of the Mission Style, Gill developed one of the few original and highly individual styles of architecture in America.

As early as 1907, Gill began to produce anti-ornament cubist designs. Gills innovative construction methods included using tilt-up walls beginning in 1913. He also had a strong interest in constructing safe low-income housing. Until now, there has never been a book devoted exclusively to this important architect.

Irving J. Gill, Architect is the result of twenty years of research by author Bruce Kamerling. Kamerling served as Curator of Collections for the San Diego Historical Society from 1980 to 1995 and directed the restoration of Gill's George Marston house as a public museum. A highlight of this book is the 180 illustrations covering over 100 Gill projects from his first building done in 1893 to his last project completed after his death. The majority of these pictures are historical photographs showing the buildings in their original state. This is particularly valuable since many of the structures have now been demolished or remodeled beyond recognition. Additionally, the book contains biographical information about Gill and his various partners, reprints of Gill's two known published articles, the most complete list of known Gill projects, and a bibliography of contemporary and recent publications relating to Gill's work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
140 pages, 196 photographs, softbound, $24.95. ISBN 0-918740-16-9
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mail order form for publications available. For more information about these and other San Diego Historical Society publications, or to receive a free copy of our Publications Catalog, please call (619) 232-6203, ext. 114.