Hosted by the ICAA Southern California Chapter
On the morning of June 29, 1925, a powerful earthquake struck Santa Barbara, leveling buildings and permanently altering the city’s trajectory. In the wake of devastation, something remarkable happened: a unified civic vision emerged.
What followed was one of the most ambitious and artistically driven urban recoveries in American history.
Join architect Anthony Grumbine for a special lecture on the centennial of the Santa Barbara earthquake, an event that allowed the city of Santa Barbara to redefine itself. Rather than simply rebuild, Santa Barbara’s leaders, architects, artists, and planners saw a rare opportunity to reimagine the city’s future through the lens of Spanish Colonial Revival design. Before the quake, Santa Barbara’s architecture reflected a mix of Victorian, and early 1900’s styles. Drawing inspiration from California’s mission history, this unifying aesthetic—with its white stucco walls, red tile roofs, and arched corridors—transformed Santa Barbara into a national model of cohesive urban design.
Long before the term “resilient design” entered the lexicon, Santa Barbara demonstrated that rebuilding could be a vehicle for beauty, unity, and cultural pride. Out of tragedy came a legacy of leadership, creativity, and an enduring belief in the power of architecture to heal, inspire, and bring a community together.
Join us for a thoughtful evening talk on this historical architectural moment, one that holds lessons for community rebuilding efforts today.
This event is hosted by an ICAA Chapter. Please check the Chapter website or contact the Chapter directly for the most up-to-date details including dates, times, and pricing.