This exhibit excavates the forgotten legacy of architects Alfred Clauss (1906–1998) and Jane West Clauss (1907–2003). Together, through the years 1939 and 1945, drawing on their respective experiences with modernist pioneers Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, they created the first modern design deed-restricted subdivision in America—Little Switzerland in Knoxville, Tennessee—establishing themselves as key figures in regional modernism. Through original artifacts—including photographs, drawings, posters, and furniture—detailed graphic maps and timelines, and immersive technologies the exhibition traces their architectural “DNA,” and explores how their move to Knoxville, Tennessee inspired them to experiment with blending modernist ideas with local traditions, sowing seeds of a distinct regional modernism that marries universal design principles with a deep sense of place. The exhibit also reveals how the Clausses’ remarkable network—including mentors, collaborators, and friends such as Philip Johnson, Louis Skidmore, Louis Kahn, Richard Neutra, and Howe and Lescaze—overshadowed their own contributions, leaving their pioneering work largely forgotten in the architectural discourse of today.

John L. Sanders is a founding partner of Sanders Pace Architecture, created in 2002 primarily for focus on adaptive reuse and restorative design opportunities within Knoxville’s downtown central business district and its immediate surrounding neighborhoods. His passion for design can be seen on the challenging projects that he has worked on within those areas, often returning blighted properties into vibrant reuses. Sanders is an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and has served on the State board and planning committees and as local chapter president. Sanders is a graduate of the University of Tennessee where he has served as an adjunct lecturer. Sanders was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in 2018 in recognition of his contributions to the profession. Together with Brandon Pace, he received the AIA East Tennessee Gold Medal in 2024. He also received the Knox Heritage Preservationist of the Year award in 2024 with Sanders Pace Architecture. He has also been restoring the houses at Little Switzerland and bringing forth into a new light the work of Alfred Clauss and Jane West Clauss. Sanders is the curatorial director of the forthcoming exhibition of the Clauss’s work and is leading its design and research.

Born in Santiago de Chile, Benjamin Pollak is an architect and designer trained at the Rice University’s School of Architecture in Houston, Texas. After graduating from Rice University, he worked for seven years in offices in Beijing, Shanghai, New York, and Princeton. He also graduated from the master’s of architecture post-professional program at Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD). He is driven by the combination of design and architectural history, materiality, and buildings as collections of knowledge. He joined Sanders Pace Architecture to continue a line of inquiry on the importance of site and place in architecture as a possible architecture project. He is currently a lecturer at the University of Tennessee Knoxville College of Architecture and Design.

Richard-Allen Foster is a lecturer at the University of Tennessee’s College of Architecture and Design and the founder of FOSTERiNG CREATiVE, a consultancy focused on integrating technology, architecture, and storytelling through innovative design strategies. With over 23 years of design leadership experience, Foster has developed a diverse portfolio ranging from master planning to innovative design solutions, often integrating emerging technologies like augmented and virtual reality. His passion for design is reflected in projects that challenge conventional boundaries and explore new methodologies for public interaction. Foster is an active member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), has served in various leadership roles, and continues to contribute to the profession through teaching and community involvement. His approach to design emphasizes thoughtful integration of digital and physical spaces, aiming to inspire meaningful connections and new perspectives in the built environment.