Julia Morgan’s residential work marks her as one of America’s most important architects of the 20th century, for three reasons. First, she was the most prolific sole practitioner in American history, completing over 720 commissions, nearly 200 more than her nearest competitor, Frank Lloyd Wright. Second, she was one of the two leading practitioners, along with her mentor Bernard Maybeck, of the innovative, nature-based design philosophy known as the First Bay Tradition, and thus she was a pioneer in what today is called “green design”. Third, she Julia Morgan, FAIA | 2014 AIA Gold Medal Recipient | 86
had an unusual ability to create a pleasing synthesis of elements from various architectural modes, such as Prairie School and First Bay Tradition, to create unique works of art, much as the painter Raphael did when he synthesized techniques from both Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo to create his own unique works of art. Therefore, Julia Morgan deserves to be placed among the top ranks of American architecture.