![]() She situated the house on a knoll, with a lovely view towards the sunset and out over the valley. ![]() Rock from the mines was used for walls and pillars. Much of the materials she used were from the property, including cedar, fir and redwood. When Morgan was hired to design the North Star House, she did it in Arts & Crafts Style. Her custom reinforcing inside the walls of the house is apparent as we restore the North Star House. She was very advanced in using thick concrete plaster and metal lath on both sides of the interior walls - a technique which made the walls hard and durable. Structures that she built prior to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake survived the earthquake while other buildings suffered severe damage or destruction. For example, she was a pioneer in the use of reinforced concrete and created her own cement formula. Her architectural work had a strong engineering foundation. In a man’s profession, Morgan’s talent and professionalism eventually won over both fellow architects and potential clients - and many of them became lifelong friends. One of her employees, Walter Steilberg, who was reluctant to work for a woman, later wrote “Not only was she one of the most talented of West Coast architects, she was also far more accomplished in the area of building technology than any of the men I have known.” She also cared about them as individuals, paid well, and carried some through hard times. She mentored them and encouraged ongoing learning and growth. She set very high standards for herself and for all of her staff. She opened her own office in San Francisco in 1905. That is an astounding output, especially considering each project was unique and she gave personal attention to the design and construction of each one.Īfter working for architect John Galen Howard on construction of the UC Berkeley campus, Morgan decided she wanted to work for herself. ![]() In her career, Julia designed and built over 700 buildings, including private homes, schools, churches, YWCAs and much more, plus major building complexes such as Hearst Castle and Asilomar Conference Grounds. She became the first licensed female architect in California in 1904. It took her three years to be admitted to the school due in part to their reluctance to have female students. Julia Morgan received her Civil Engineering degree from UC Berkeley in 1894 and was the first woman to be admitted to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, the finest architectural school in Europe. She was totally focused on and passionate about her work. She had a strong affinity for the Bay Area. She spent her life living in the San Francisco Bay Area except for a childhood year in New York and her time in Paris. Julia Morgan was born in San Francisco, CA in 1872. Born 1872 – San Franscisco, CA Died 1957 – San Francisco, CA
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