Join us for Lessons from Lotusland, our ongoing series of virtual lectures.
While Lotusland is world-renowned for its spectacular gardens, its architectural pedigree is a story less often told. In this fascinating free online talk, A Tale of Two Architects at Lotusland, Principal Architect Anthony Grumbine will explore the creative minds of two of California’s most significant early 20th-century architects—George Washington Smith and Reginald Johnson—who shaped the estate’s architectural backdrop in the 1920s.
Through original blueprints, design sketches, and early concepts—including some for buildings that were never constructed—you’ll gain insight into their building methods, design strategies, and the craftsmanship of the Spanish Colonial Revival style. Anthony will also compare other notable projects by these two masters to place Lotusland’s architecture in the broader context of Santa Barbara’s historic Golden Age.
This program will not only illuminate the social and historic influences that guided their work but will also take you inside the organizational and ornamental decisions that helped transform Lotusland into one of the region’s most remarkable estates. And yes—you’ll even discover what a George Washington Smith doghouse design looked like.
