This book illuminates the stark contrast between architect Julia Morgan’s unassuming exteriors and elaborate interiors. In the early twentieth century, Julia Morgan was the first woman to build an architectural practice that rivaled those of her male peers. The subtle, quiet designs of her exteriors reflect the architect’s own desire for privacy. Morgan refused to enter competitions, write articles, or lecture about her work—she left such distracting tasks to “talking architects.” She lets loose inside, however, designing ornate and detailed interiors. Her architecture reveals the tensions of a woman who wanted both to fit in and stand out at a time when women were a minority in the field.

The design of the book uses the margins, marginalia, and a smaller, 20 page booklet sewn into the middle spread to play with themes of “outside” and “inside.” Gatefold covers conceal Julia Morgan’s biography underneath their flaps, preserving the architect’s desire for privacy.