Experience the artistry of Ruth Asawa beyond the museum with Docomomo US/Northern California’s new self-guided tour. Discover Asawa’s iconic fountains and public sculptures throughout the San Francisco Bay Area using our interactive map. Perfect for art lovers inspired by the SFMOMA retrospective, this tour invites you to walk in Asawa’s footsteps and see the city through her creative vision.

Join the effort to preserve San Francisco's iconic Embarcadero Plaza and Vaillancourt Fountain, a Modernist landmark of art, architecture, and free speech. Learn about its history, threats, and how you can advocate for its future

Explore the newly launched Beverley D Thorne archive on Docomomo Northern California’s website. Discover the life and works of this pioneering ‘Man of Steel,’ including his famous Dave Brubeck House, Case Study House #26, and innovative steel-framed designs. Dive into California Modernism’s rich history through this comprehensive collection.

Explore Docomomo-US Northern California’s 2024 highlights, including walking tours, home visits, and advocacy efforts celebrating the Bay Area’s modern architecture and design.

A Reflection on the 2024 National Symposium Miami - concrete, graffiti, climate change, and preservation.

The Northern California (NOCA) Chapter of Docomomo US is pleased to announce Jingyi Luo as the recipient of the 2024 Docomomo US/NOCA Symposium Travel Grant.

The deadline for applications is Sunday, April 7, 2024.

More Modernism than ever in 2023! After a few challenging years during the Covid-19 pandemic and readjusting to new realities, 2023 was possibly our busiest year yet! This year we ran nine walking tours, two building tours, and our annual travel grant program, and presented at the Docomomo National Symposium, advocated for the legacy of Paffard Keatinge-Clay, and just hosted our second annual holiday party!

Willis built her practice in San Francisco and made many notable contributions to the city., including Vine Terrace Apartments and the San Francisco Ballet Building.

Discover the unexpected intersection of skateboarding and Late Modernist architecture in Theodore Barrow’s reflection on the Docomomo US National Symposium. Explore how skateboarders interact with iconic Modernist spaces, challenging preservation norms and offering new perspectives on architectural history. Barrow examines the paradoxical appeal of these structures and their potential for adaptive reuse in urban environments

Check out our complete profile of Paffard Keatinge-Clay’s Bay Area projects.

The Northern California (NOCA) Chapter of Docomomo US is pleased to announce Ted Barrow as the recipient of the 2023 Docomomo US/NOCA Symposium Grant.

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Paffard Keatinge-Clay, architect of several Modernist buildings in California from the 1960s and 70s, including sculptural Brutalist addition to SFAI, the SFSU Student Union, and Kaiser French Campus.

Now accepting applications for the Docomomo US/NOCA National Symposium Grant for a student/emerging professional to attend the Docomomo US National Symposium in New Haven, CT June 21-24, 2023. Application deadline is Sunday, April 16.

Join us in welcoming Chad DeWitt and Ethen Wood to the Docomomo US/Northern California board!

Watch a recording of the “Modernism in San Francisco Chinatown” presentation given at the Docomomo US National Symposium.

Our very own Docomomo US/NOCA board member Cord Struckmann stars in this episode of USModernist Radio--the always entertaining and educational podcast devoted to Modern architecture.

We can't thank our hosts at the Case Study House #26 and all of our members enough for making this event possible!

For Tour Day 2022, Docomomo US/Northern California explored the strange, dizzying, and wonderful urbanism of John Portman's Embarcadero Center.

Thank you for support and signing the petition to save the Modernist former San Jose City Hall! With your help, we were able to avoid imminent demolition.