Landmark Designation Report: The Cowell House, 171 San Marcos Avenue (Draft)

This Landmark Designation Report was prepared for the San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission, a seven‐member body that makes recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding the designation of landmark buildings and districts. From overview: "Built in 1933 in the Forest Hill neighborhood, the Cowell House is the first known Modern residential building in San Francisco. It was designed by master architects Irving and Gertrude Morrow a few years after the couple designed the architectural design components of the Golden Gate Bridge. The detached, redwood-clad building reflects an early fusion of the International Style, Streamline Moderne, and Second Bay Tradition. It embodies the woodsy aesthetic that came to characterize the Modern interpretation of the region-specific Second Bay Tradition. The Cowell House is the first of a few dozen architect-designed Modern residential buildings constructed in the years leading up to WWII. The building is significant for its architectural expression and for its association with master architects Morrow + Morrow. The building is also significant for its association with the accomplished Cowell family, in particular, Henry Cowell, an avant-garde jazz pianist and composer. The interior of the house was designed with acoustics and performances in mind. An open-plan living room lined with paperboard cabinets absorbs sound and enhances the acoustics." Funding was provided in part by a 2010 Preserve America grant to the City of San Francisco (grant number 06-10-AP-5034) for the Market and Octavia Historic Resource Preservation Project. The grant was administered by the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Preserve America is a federal initiative that encourages and supports community efforts to preserve and enjoy our priceless cultural and natural heritage. The goals of the program include a greater shared knowledge about the nation's past, strengthened regional identities and local pride, increased local participation in preserving the country's cultural and natural heritage assets, and support for the economic vitality of our communities.

Landmark Designation Report: The Cowell House, 171 San Marcos Avenue (Draft)

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