Killingsworth, Edward A., 1917-2004

Biographical Note

Born in Taft California in 1917, Edward Abell Killingsworth designed elegant, open, modernist houses throughout Southern California, and luxury hotels in Hawaii Indonesia and South Korea. Originally a painter, he pursued his early career at the University of Southern California Los Angeles California. During World War II he was awarded the Bronze Star for his work supervising the production of aerial photography of vital to the invasion of Europe.

After the war,Killingsworth became a draftsman for Kenneth S. wing in Long Beach from 1946 to 1953. He then became a partner in Killingsworth, Brady, and Smith where he won an American Institute of Architects honor award in 1955 and became a fellow in the American Institute of Architects in 1962. This partnership then evolved into Killingsworth, Brady and Associates, and later Killingsworth, Stricker, Lindgren, Wilson and Associates Inc. all out of Long Beach California.

Killingsworth is probably best known for his case study House # 25, the Frank house in Naples California, which became known as the most successful of all case study houses. Killingsworth designed six case study projects in all four of which were completed three in La Jolla and #25 in Naples.

Killingsworth rarely promoted himself and most of his career flourished due to positive word-of-mouth. His houses were simple and rigorous characterized by an extreme gracefulness and glass structures which invited nature inside his creations.

From the guide to the Edward A. Killingsworth Collection, 1900-2004, (Architecture & Design Collection)