It is often said that architecture is an old person’s profession. It takes years to master the art and craft of building design — one reason our profession remains so compelling. There is always more to learn.
Teachers and mentors throughout this lifelong pursuit have been essential. Here, we pay homage to Howard Backen, with whom we — along with our former partner Ken Catton — had the privilege of working at Backen, Arrigoni & Ross. Howard passed away on July 23rd at the age of 88.
Howard always said he would never retire, and he remained a creative force until the very end. Backen, Arrigoni & Ross was a design-focused firm that worked diligently to not only create great designs but also build projects that honored the aspirations of its clients. Howard's mission, and his unique and inventive take on California regionalist architecture, continued with unparalleled success through a remarkable body of work as he founded and built his new firm — now known as Backen and Backen.
Howard brought to his projects a sense of joy — of living well — in a distinctly Californian way. Along with Ken, we worked closely with Howard during the 1990s when he was collaborating with Larry Mindel, bringing the food and culture of Italy to California through his thoughtful, expressive designs for the Il Fornaio restaurants. Howard's innate sense of classic style, grounded in a distinctly regional vernacular, blended the best of Italian design with Californian aesthetics to create magical places. Each restaurant was unique, providing us, as young architects, with wonderful opportunities to gain experience, experiment with new ideas, and learn from the best.
Il Fornaio Sacramento
Il Fornaio Sacramento
Il Fornaio Costa Mesa
Il Fornaio Costa Mesa
Ken worked with Howard on The Sebastiani’s Viansa Winery, a project that also married Italian and Californian traditions, foreshadowing Howard’s later career in Napa.
The Sebastiani’s Viansa Winery
The Sebastiani’s Viansa Winery
The work for Il Fornaio also led to the projects we did for Gary Friedman when he was leading Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma.
Pottery Barn Chestnut Street SF
Pottery Barn Chestnut Street SF
Williams Sonoma Beverly Hills
Williams Sonoma Beverly Hills
Pottery Barn SOHO NY
Pottery Barn SOHO NY
Pottery Barn Michigan Ave. Chicago
Pottery Barn Michigan Ave. Chicago
Each project was approached with intensity and conviction. Howard’s mantra was always to find the big idea, clarify and simplify, while also appreciating the richness of materials and spaces.
We are forever grateful for the time spent and our collaborations with Howard Backen. He made an indelible mark on us, and the world of architecture will miss him dearly.
