Docomomo-NoCa Celebrates Architect Roger Lee, Pioneer of Bay Area Modernism

Docomomo US/Northern California has launched a new online resource highlighting the life and work of Roger Y. Lee, AIA (1920–1981), one of the most prolific yet underrecognized figures of Bay Area Modernism. A Chinese-American architect who overcame systemic racial barriers of his time, Lee created more than 100 residences and a wide range of civic, commercial, and religious projects across the West Coast.

The new resource documents his award-winning contributions to the Second Bay Region Tradition, with detailed project profiles, photographs, and publications. From innovative tract housing to elegantly sited hillside residences, Lee’s designs reveal his mastery of small-lot living, space efficiency, and seamless indoor-outdoor connections—qualities that remain highly relevant today.

Visit the new page at docomomo-noca.org/rogerlee to explore his legacy and learn more about his pivotal role in shaping Northern California’s modernist landscape.