Takashi Yanai, Jim Jennings, and Benjamin Kasdan, 2019 President of AIA California.The 2019 Maybeck Award was presented at the 25th Monterey Design Conference, a gathering held biennially at the Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, California. Takashi Yanai, FAIA, partner in Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects, presented the award. The following is the text of his remarks.
As you all know, the Maybeck Award is the highest honor AIA CA bestows upon an individual. As chair of the Awards Committee this year, it was my pleasure to be in the room as the jury deliberated on this year’s recipient. And I’m equally honored to present this year’s Maybeck Award winner to you here at MDC.
This year is a little unusual, in that the recipient has not been informed in advance. And so we all get to participate in this little surprise.
So let me begin with some jury comments:
“The quality of the work is consistently strong throughout a long, illustrious career.”
“He combines art and structure in such an elegant way … and then there’s the professionalism … the consummate and complete architect that any sole practitioner aspires to be.”
“I think he still draws by hand!”
“An old-school modernist. Has he moved the profession forward? Absolutely! An inspiration to many.”
“I doubt you can practice in California without having tremendous respect for this transcendent work.”
… and, finally,
“He is very modest.”
And this last statement is true. In fact, our recipient this year is the kind of person who might not pursue this honor on his own and was in fact nominated without his knowledge.
The late Bill Krisel, who is not the recipient but is one of our MDC tribal elders, architect of hundreds of classic mid-century modern houses all over California, was always a great friend and tough critic. I met him at MDC probably a dozen years ago, and we became fast friends. He was the master of the gracious compliment paired with a backhanded slap that let you know exactly where you stood. I remember, after a particular project of ours was published, Bill called me: “Takashi, this is Bill Krisel. Saw your project in the magazine, really beautiful. Congratulations!” I’m feeling pretty good … but then Bill goes, “Takashi, I was also on your website the other day and saw your latest. What happened with that one?”
Well, some years back, this year’s Maybeck winner was commissioned to renovate and add to one of Bill Krisel’s houses in Palm Springs. Bill sits next to me in the Asilomar dining hall right out there. He says, “Takashi, do you know this guy? Is he going to screw up my house?”
“Um, relax. I don’t think so.”
A few weeks later Bill calls me. “Well Takashi, I met this kid. His ideas weren’t so bad. I looked up his work, too. It’s pretty good.” I waited for the other shoe to drop … but it never did … and that says a lot.
There’s a Japanese word, senpai. It refers to an elder or a big brother, a mentor or source of inspiration, whether they realize it or not. This particular senpai is a master of proportion, light, and space. There is a command of materiality, detail, and craft, an artistry and quiet strength that speaks to the ideals of modernism.
I remember when he was gracious enough to host a dinner for the AIA Committee on Design at his house in the desert. Attendees were transported by this perfect teahouse, a transcendent architecture under the changing colors of sky and surrounded by the San Jacinto Mountains. Not many words were spoken. He was a like a modern Zen master, chardonnay in hand, a perfect host practicing with a kind of mastery, grace, and modesty that we all should aspire to.
By now, I’m guessing our Maybeck Award winner has an inkling, so I think it’s time to bring him up on stage. I would like us all to give a round of applause for Jim Jennings.
For more on Jim’s work, visit www.jimjenningsarchitecture.com.
