Remembering the Legendary Howard Backen
Howard Backen, Photographer: Sam Wolson
Grassi & Associates were deeply saddened to learn of the esteemed architect Howard Backen's passing on July 22 at the age of 88. The builders collaborated with his firm, Backen & Backen, on many projects, from private estates to boutique wineries. Backen's restrained agrarian style shaped Wine Country aesthetics. Grassi built their first winery with the architect, "For years, we resisted working in the commercial building arena and only wanted to be known as custom home builders. A client we were building a home for persuaded us to build their winery; it didn't hurt that Howard Backen and Nicole Hollis were on both projects," Mark Grassi recalled.
Private estate, Architect: Howard J. Backen, Interior Designer: Nicole Hollis, Builder: Grassi & Associates, Photographer: Erhard Pfeiffer
Before Hollis opened her eponymous company, she was a Senior Interior Designer at Backen & Gillam Architects. She and many in the design and building communities regard Backen as a mentor and visionary. The Montana native who grew up in rural Roseburg, Oregon, decided to be an architect early, influenced by his uncle's drawings and sketches for construction projects. Backen attended the University of Oregon, earning a B.Arch. There, he learned to integrate architecture into the topography, allowing buildings to harmonize with the landscape. He moved to San Francisco and worked for the prestigious firm Wurster, Bernardi & Emmons, followed by stints with Warren Callister and Romaldo Giurgola.
Howard Backen and Mark Grassi celebrating the opening of The Hilt. Photographer: Josh Wells, Sun Valley Photo
Backen joined UO classmates Robert Arrigoni and Bruce Ross, founding Backen, Arrigoni, and Ross in 1966. While at BAR, he developed Delancey Street, Sundance Institute, and Skywalker Ranch. A friendship with vintner Bill Harlan precipitated Backen's move to Napa and the start of his career designing wineries. He opened Backen & Gillam Architects in 1996 with James Gillam. Backen took Western vernacular farm architecture and translated it into the Wine Country. His designs are elegantly rustic, employing simple timber, stone, and concrete materials. One of the last projects Grassi was privileged to work on with Backen was The Hilt Estate in Santa Barbara, where the tasting room utilized reclaimed wood from the ranch's 1914 barn.
