Every year, on the first Saturday in October, AIA Santa Barbara hosts ArchitecTours, a self guided tour and celebration of local architecture and local identity.

AIA Santa Barbara Presents 2019 ArchitecTours: The Art of Architecture

Saturday, October 5
10.00 am – 4.00 pm Self-Guided Tour
4.00 pm – 6.00 pm Tour Party

The American Institute of Architects Santa Barbara is proud to announce their 11th-anniversary ArchitecTours event. The theme this year is The Art of Architecture.

Whether architecture is a form of art or not has often been a topic of conversation within the architecture world. As anyone involved in the architectural discipline knows, there is an abundance of varying definitions of the word “architecture,” so whether its primary purpose is to achieve beauty or to organize space is up for discussion. Jay A. Pritzker, the founder of the Pritzker Prize, has said that “architecture is intended to transcend the simple need for shelter and security by becoming an expression of artistry.” Noted architect Frank Gehry recently said, “The art of architecture is what humanizes it, brings it to people and relates it to our lives. It’s not just bricks and mortar; it is potentially uplifting, inviting and intellectually stimulating.” This is part of what makes the field of architecture both challenging and exciting.

You will receive a tour brochure and/ or app with maps, photos, and info detailing all the projects. Meet architects and design professionals and discover how design impacts art and art impacts design.