Eldon Davis
Eldon Davis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | February 2, 1917 Anacortes, Washington United States |
| Died | April 22, 2011(aged 94) West Hills, California United States |
| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Practice | Armet & Davis |
| Buildings | |
Eldon Carlyle Davis(February 2, 1917 – April 22, 2011) was anAmericanarchitect,considered largely responsible for the creation ofGoogie architecture,a form ofmodern architectureoriginating inSouthern California.Googie architecture is largely influenced by Southern California'scar cultureand theSpace Ageof the mid-20th century.[1]Davis was a founding partner of theArmet & Davisarchitectural firmwhich championed Googie architecture, including the original Norms Restaurant, a Googiecoffee shopdesigned by Davis.[1]For his work, theLos Angeles Timescalled Davis, "the father of theCaliforniacoffee shop. "[1]
Biography[edit]
Eldon Davis was born inAnacortes,Washingtonin 1917.[2]He originally worked at afish cannerywhile attending theUniversity of Southern California.[1]He created a new design for the fish cannery as an architectural student, a design that was later built.[1]Davis earned a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Southern California in 1942.[1]
Davis and his business partner, architectLouis Armet,expected to work inindustrial architecturefollowing their graduation from USC.[1]However, their plans changed thanks to the post-war construction boom inSouthern CaliforniafollowingWorld War II.[1]They began designing structures geared towards a growing population, including nurseries,churches,country clubs,banks and evenbowling alleys.[1]
In 1947, Davis and Armet opened their architectural firm,Armet & Davis.[1]Together, the architects used their firm and its designs to championGoogie architecture,especially in California.[1]The firm exists today as Armet Davis Newlove Architecture and is headquartered in Santa Monica, California.
One of the best preserved examples of Davis's work is thePann'scoffee shop and itsneon signinWestchester, Los Angeles.[1]Davis also designed the early prototypes for localBig BoyandDenny'srestaurants in Los Angeles.[1]The older buildings on the Fullerton campus ofHope International Universityalso display Davis's classic Googie style.[3]
Eldon Davis died of complications fromspinal meningitis,at a hospital inWest Hills, Los Angeles,on April 22, 2011, at the age of 94.[1]He was survived by his second wife, Luana; a daughter, Karen; three sons, Dan, Mark and Wyatt; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, Audrey and Connor.[1]His first wife of more than thirty years died in the 1970s.[1]
References[edit]
- ^abcdefghijklmnopNelson, Valerie J. (26 April 2011)."Eldon Davis dies at 94; architect designed 'Googie' coffee shops".Los Angeles Times.
- ^"Davis, Eldon".Pacific Coast Architecture Database.Retrieved14 July2013.
- ^"HIUs 'Googie' Architect of the Past, Eldon Davis, Passed Away".Hope International University.Archived fromthe originalon 19 January 2013.Retrieved14 July2013.
External links[edit]
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