“Playing with Form and Light”
November 17, 2012
San Diego designer Wallace Cunningham approaches a commission with a personal philosophy. As he explains it, “I begin by seizing one catalyst; it can be a distinctive feature of the site or an extraordinary desire of the client. My response to this is an instinctive expression, with unexpected manipulations of form and light. Natural light is a crucial element in my designs; I use it to define and animate space. Open the building to the sky and landscape, and it comes alive. Unconfined space gives your soul a place to go.”
Mr. Cunningham is currently designing houses in Beverly Hills, Carmel, Malibu, and Omaha; has some under construction in Carmel and Park City; and has completed projects in San Clemente, Tucson, and Monterrey, Mexico – all in addition to numerous buildings in metro San Diego.
After attending the Art Institute of Chicago and Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Mr. Cunningham established his practice here in 1979. He has thrice been named one of the Top 100 Designers by Architectural Digest. He has also been named one of the Top 30 Designers by Robb Report magazine and a Star of Design by the Pacific Design Center. In addition, he has received a design award and honorary professorship from the International Academy of Architecture.
Come to the Friends of San Diego Architecture meeting in November to see how the man who plays with form and light has made the west his playground.
(John Mann)