The Language of Architecture: Decoding Built Messages with architectural preservationist Elisabeth Cannell

Wednesday, February 4, 2026
7:00 PM, Carpenter Hall at Sunset Center, Carmel
Community Night with the Library
The Carmel Public Library Foundation presents

The Language of Architecture: Decoding Built Messages, with architectural preservationist Elisabeth Cannell

This program introduces the language of architecture: how structures impart culture, identity, and values through form, materials, and design. Just as spoken and written language shapes our understanding of the world, architecture communicates, overtly and covertly, influencing how we feel, move, and connect with it. By decoding this language, we uncover the stories our built environment tells—and the meaning it carries. The program will start with particularly “legible” examples and how to read them. It will then move toward the local with a look at interpreting the architectural language of the Carmel region and its design and construction legacy, including the iconic Harrison Memorial Library, a rich example of architectural storytelling rooted in regional identity and craftsmanship.