Edla Muir facts for kids

Edla Muir (born January 23, 1906 – died November 5, 1971) was an American architect. She was famous for designing many homes in Southern California.

Early Life and Education

Edla Muir was born in 1906 in San Francisco, California. Her father, Joseph Muir, was a doctor who specialized in throats and also worked as a diplomat. Her mother, Ethel Fitch Muir, was a singer who performed in operas. Edla's first name came from her father's first wife, who had passed away before her parents got married. Edla's parents divorced in 1916.

When she was a schoolgirl, Edla spent her weekends and summers working for an architect named John Byers in Santa Monica. After she finished Inglewood High School in 1923, she started working full-time in Byers' office. In 1927, she won a cash prize for her designs from a company called Rondith Corporation.

Designing Modern Homes

Edla Muir focused on creating modern private homes. She designed many houses for clients in rich areas of Southern California, like Malibu and Pacific Palisades. Some of her famous clients included actress Shirley Temple and actors Robert Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck.

She earned her architecture license in 1934. She continued to work at John Byers' office until 1942. After World War II ended, she opened her own architecture office. She worked as an independent architect for the rest of her life.

Her home designs were shown in popular magazines like Sunset magazine and Architectural Digest. These magazines featured her work as great examples of modern California homes. She also designed some public and business buildings. For example, she designed a supermarket and the City Hall in Ellensburg, Washington. She also designed an office building in Mexico City. In 1952, her design for the Zona Hall residence in West Los Angeles won a special award from the American Institute of Architects.

Edla Muir also designed her own family's home. It was a very interesting building located on the side of a cliff in Mandeville Canyon.

Personal Life and Legacy

Edla Muir married Clyde Lambie and they had one son. She passed away in November 1971 when she was 65 years old.

In 1982, the Organization of Women Architects honored Edla Muir. They recognized her and Lutah Maria Riggs as important women who helped start the field of architecture. This honor was part of a publication celebrating the group's tenth anniversary. Edla Muir was also featured in an exhibit in 1989 at the Pacific Design Center. This exhibit highlighted the work of women architects.

Edla Muir's important papers and designs are kept in a special collection. They are at the University Museum, University of California, Santa Barbara.

See also

In Spanish: Edla Muir Lambie para niños