Mary Lund Davis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mary Lund Davis
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| Born |
Mary Lund
February 13, 1922 |
| Died | June 13, 2008 (aged 86) Rancho Mirago, California
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Spouse(s) | George L. Davis, Jr. |
| Children | Katherine, Gail |
Mary Lund Davis (1922–2008) was an important architect from the Pacific Northwest in the 20th century. She was one of the few women to finish her architecture studies at the University of Washington in the 1940s.
Early Life and Learning
Mary Lund was born on February 13, 1922. Her parents were Niels Hansen and Frieda Lund. She grew up in Sacramento, California. Her father was a builder, and she started helping him design houses when she was very young.
As a child, Mary learned how to sail. She became a skilled sailor and won many races. This included the 1960 Adams Cup sailboat race in Chicago, Illinois.
Mary went to the University of Washington. She earned a degree in architecture in 1945. This made her the first woman to graduate from the UW's School of Architecture after World War II. She remembered drawing plans with blackout curtains on the windows during those years.
While studying, she worked at several architecture firms. These included Moore & Massar, Chiarelli & Kirk, and Thomas, Grainger & Thomas. These experiences helped her develop her own modern design style.
Mary was the first woman to become a licensed architect in Washington state after World War II. In 1950, she married George L. Davis, Jr. He had been one of her classmates at UW. After marrying, she used her married name, Mary Lund Davis. The couple had two daughters, Katherine and Gail.
Her Work as an Architect
Davis designed both homes and small business buildings. She sometimes worked with her husband and other architects.
In 1954, she designed an 800-square-foot cabin for herself. It was located in Fircrest. The cabin used special panels that were made in a factory. It also had a strong post-and-beam frame. This design won the 1966 A.I.A.-Sunset Western Home Award.
In 1962, she designed the Tacoma Millwork Supply Company Office. She worked with Alan Bucholz on this project. She also designed a house for her father-in-law. Local experts thought this house looked like it was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright.
From 1969 to 1970, Davis designed a large, hexagonal house for herself. It was on Wollochet Bay near Gig Harbor. This house had beautiful gardens that mixed English and Japanese styles. Inside, the house had sliding panels that could be hidden. These panels worked as room dividers and storage units. Davis based her design on 120-degree angles, triangles, and circles.
Davis's husband took over a wood-milling business from his father. This led the couple to try many ideas with furniture design. Davis was especially good at designing cabinets and storage spaces. In the 1950s, she created plans for mid-century modern furniture that people could build themselves. These plans were shared in booklets across the country. In the late 1950s, Mary and George were among the first designers to use new plastic layers (laminates) in kitchen cabinets and counters.
Davis also served on important boards. She was a board member for the Pilchuck Glass School. She was also a trustee (a special kind of board member) for Washington's Governor’s Mansion Foundation and the Tacoma Art Museum.
Davis's husband passed away in 1995. Mary Lund Davis died on June 13, 2008, in Rancho Mirage, California.
The University of Washington Libraries has photos of some of Davis's buildings and models. These images are part of a collection by famous architectural photographers, Phyllis Dearborn and Robert Massar.
See also
In Spanish: Mary Lund Davis para niños
