Historic Context Statement, San Francisco Modern Architecture and Landscape Design, 1935-1970 (Final Draft)

Brown, Mary

From introduction: "The San Francisco Planning Department developed the San Francisco Modern Architecture and Landscape Design 1935‐1970 Historic Context Statement (Modern context statement) in order to provide the framework for consistent, informed evaluations of San Francisco’s Modern design buildings and landscapes. The Modern context statement links specific property types to identified themes, geographic patterns, and time periods. It identifies character‐defining features of Modern architectural and landscape design and documents significance, criteria considerations and integrity thresholds. This detailed information specific to property types will provide future surveyors with a consistent framework within which to contextually identify, interpret and evaluate individual properties and historic districts. Buildings and landscapes of Modern design provide a direct link to past values, tastes, and ideologies. Such resources are often overlooked or under‐appreciated by the public and/or decision‐makers due to changing tastes and aesthetics related to architectural styles. In San Francisco, a wide spectrum of styles are included under the umbrella term of “Modernism” including early Streamline Moderne storefronts, concrete Brutalist office towers, and the ubiquitous, cheaply constructed “Contractor Modern” houses found in tract developments. In addition, San Francisco features the work of master architects associated with the Bay Tradition school of regional Modern design as well as architects associated with early development of the International style. Many consider the San Francisco Bay Area to be the hearth of Modern landscape design and San Francisco features influential public and private landscapes designed by master landscape architects. Approximately 51,000 buildings – more than a third of San Francisco’s building stock – were constructed during the Modern Age. Property types include grocery stores and modernized storefronts; architect-designed single‐family houses; skyscrapers; post‐war residential tract developments and residential towers; automobile‐oriented properties such as motels and service stations; institutional infrastructure such as libraries, schools, fieldhouses, religious buildings, and firehouses; and prototypical Modern landscapes. Even though the Modern context statement focuses specifically on buildings designed in a Modern style (as opposed to Revival or derivative styles, also widely constructed from 1935‐1970), this nonetheless represents a tremendous number of properties and property types. A clear understanding of the significance of Modern design is required in order to develop an appropriate evaluative framework. The Period of Significance 1935‐1970 was chosen because it best represents the evolution and zenith of Modern design in San Francisco. The mid‐1930s witnessed a confluence of events significant to the development of Modern architecture in San Francisco. In January 1935, Architect and Engineer published a photo spread of the first Modern residential building constructed in San Francisco – the Cowell House designed by architects Morrow & Morrow in 1933. Pioneering International Style architect Richard Neutra designed the first of five buildings in San Francisco in 1935. The Golden Gate and Bay Bridges were nearing completion, opening up downtown San Francisco and solidifying its role as the region’s financial, corporate and industrial center." Funding was provided in part by a 2009 Historic Preservation Fund grant to the City and County of San Francisco (project number CA-09-49) administered by the California State Historic Preservation Office (grant number 06-09-21810) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. San Diego, California is a Certified Local Government.

Historic Context Statement, San Francisco Modern Architecture and Landscape Design, 1935-1970 (Final Draft)

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