Edward Durell Stone: American Modernist

Edward Durell Stone was one of the first American architects to experiment with European modernism in the early 1930s, most notably in his design of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. He later rejected the austerity of International Style modernism at the apex of its popularity, in favor of a warmer style rooted in the American architectural tradition. Stone’s aesthetic choices led to hostility from architectural critics, but at the same time generated enormous popular acclaim. Stone’s youngest son and biographer, Hicks Stone, himself a practicing architect, will discuss the breadth of his father's life and career. The lecture coincides with the debut of his book, Edward Durell Stone: A Son’s Untold Story of a Legendary Architect (Rizzoli, 2011). A book signing will follow the presentation. This program is co-presented with the Northern California Chapter of DOCOMOMO.