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Description
In this oral history, architect, builder, and Mill Valley native Al Klyce recounts his life. Born in 1931, Al is the grandson of one of Mill Valley's early pioneers, Harvey Klyce, who came from Tennessee and settled in the area in 1895. Al discusses his schooling in Mill Valley and recollects some of the old businesses in town when he was growing up. Al recounts how as young man he considered going into the ministry after being inspired by Gordon Foster, the minister of the Community Church, but then changed his mind after being introduced to Zen Buddhism by Alan Watts in 1951. Al subsequently moved to Japan to study carpentry, and stayed there for two years. In Osaka, Al met his wife Shoko, and after moving back to Mill Valley they raised three kids together. Al discusses some of the houses he has designed and built over the course of his career, including his own house where this oral history was conducted, and shares the ideas of space and principles of design that have informed his work. Al concludes his oral history by praising Mill Valley where all three of his and Shoko's children live with their own families, the greater clan getting together frequently.
Identifier
A0B5F352-A881-472B-BE05-885384371149 2018.004.001
Subject
Architects Architecture Buddhism Building Community Church Design Foster, Gordon Japan Klyce, Al Klyce, Alfred Klyce, Harvey Klyce, Harvey A Klyce, Shoko La Coppa La Ginestra MV history - Early Mill Valley to 1915 MV history - Interwar years Oral history - Local business Philosophy Religion Travel Watts, Alan
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