Meeting Room

Our meeting room, the Dodge Chapel Auditorium, was designed in 1915 by Julia Morgan and remains an outstanding example of California Arts & Crafts architecture. The goal of the Arts & Crafts movement was to establish a harmony between the architect and craftsman in support of well-designed, expertly crafted, affordable furnishings. Buildings were constructed of local materials and designed to blend in with the landscape. These structures and their furnishings were simple and elegant, and left unpainted to reveal the natural beauty of the wood. As the machine came to be used as a viable tool for craftspeople, machine-made textiles, ceramics and metalwork joined the media being reformed by the Arts & Crafts movement.

Julia Morgan was true to the California Arts & Crafts style when she designed Asilomar. Here the buildings were designed from the inside out, with the main character and expression found in the interiors. Open spaces and natural light dominated, with the craftsmanship of the structures becoming the art of the building.  The use of local wood and stone was fundamental. Weaving patterns together out of lines, colors and textures, the result was a lovely rhythm and harmony. Repetition of form was created throughout each building, echoing its character. A fireplace was often the centerpiece of a room, as Morgan felt that it represented the soul of the structure.

The Arts & Crafts movement also promoted the idea of a social reform based on the restorative powers of the “simple life” of art and craftsmanship.  This led to workshops, which were held in rural surroundings where arts and crafts were promoted as being the key to that “simple life.”

The Chapel has around 200 auditorium-style seats with folding armrest supports for a laptop or iPad.  Breakout rooms on either side will be used for event sign-in, reception, and space for live demos.