Tag: architecture

Cool photo memories from March 2019.

What was going on in San Diego five years ago?

Back in 2019, during the month of March, the City of San Diego was just beginning to celebrate its 250th anniversary. Also in March there was the annual San Diego Architectural Foundation Open House event. And there was another fun Seaport Village Busker Fest. And the Comic-Con Museum’s very first exhibition. And another big Mariachi Festival in the South Bay. And Asian culture celebrated at the San Diego Museum of Art. And other exhibitions around town, and cool street art to be found, and, and, and…

I’ve collected 18 links for you to explore. They will take you to blog posts from five years ago this month. You can enjoy hundreds of photographs!

Click the following links for lots of colorful photographs…

Cool photos of San Diego’s 2019 Busker Fest!

Art raises awareness about bird trafficking.

Beaumont’s naval Art of the Sea in San Diego.

See the Comic-Con Museum’s first exhibition!

More cool street art in Normal Heights!

Photos of the colorful 2019 Mariachi Festival!

Fun mosaic sculptures at IB’s Peoples Park!

Asian arts come to life on museum’s front steps!

Banner celebrates San Diego’s 250th Anniversary!

Art exhibition interprets Music in the Key of Blue.

New muralist in San Diego makes her debut!

Murals inspire, motivate students in schools!

Inside the historic Portuguese U.P.S.E.S. Chapel.

A look inside the Portuguese Historical Center.

Baggage, a silvery orb, and contemporary art.

Photos inside the historic Ohr Shalom building.

Quilters look to the stars for inspiration!

Learning one’s letters in Old Town San Diego.

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I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

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Swiss clock tower rises above San Diego!

This might surprise you, but the high clock tower that rises above San Diego’s downtown 12th and Imperial Transit Center came from Switzerland!

A detailed explanation of the 233 feet high tower clock and its history can be found here. This is part of the description:

The Swiss Bank corporation which worked with the County of San Diego and the Metropolitan Transit Development Board, arranged for the donation of the clock from “Ebel Watchmaker Co.” of Switzerland… The tower was built in 1988 and the clock installed later that year. The clock has four dials, with red Roman numerals, a white face and 6-foot long red hands. The mechanism was shipped unassembled to San Diego from Switzerland in a jumbo jet. It took 12 days for Swiss technicians to put the system together…

There’s no elevator in the tower, so assembly of the clock was a difficult task that required manually carrying boxes full of mechanism parts up the equivalent of fifteen stories!

I believe the impressive clock still operates. The clock was installed with electronic speakers for chimes–but I don’t believe I’ve ever heard them.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!

The amazing Rock House in Normal Heights!

If you’ve driven down Adams Avenue in Normal Heights, just west of Interstate 15, there’s an excellent chance you’ve seen the amazing Rock House. Walking past it recently, I wondered about its history and construction.

The Rock House, with its distinctive cobblestone façade, was built in 1926 in the Mission Revival Style. It was designated a historic landmark almost a century later, in 2016.

This City of San Diego Report to the Historical Resources Board document provides detailed information about the Rock House, including: The cobblestones used to cover the house are native to the region and were most likely found in a nearby canyon. Homes constructed of cobblestone are rare in California and required a skilled craftsman to construct. The stones are loosely laid in courses and give the appearance of quoins at the building’s corners. An interior fireplace is also constructed of cobblestones and is included in this designation.

The way the rounded cobblestones protrude from the symmetrical exterior is very pleasing to my eye. The house appears a bit like a castle carved from a sheer rocky cliff or river bank. Like something fantastic from a fairy tale.

One real estate website that I found includes photographs of the home’s interior. See those here.

Next time you drive down Adams Avenue and spy the unique Rock House, you’ll know a little more about it!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!

The Oxford and history at Hotel del Coronado.

Those who approach the Hotel del Coronado from the south will see a handsome yellow building that stands beside Orange Avenue. The old building is called The Oxford, and it was built in 1887 near the ferry landing on the other side of Coronado!

The Oxford was Coronado’s first hotel. In 1911 the building was relocated a couple blocks east of the Hotel del Coronado, where the post office is today. It was used to provide housing for the hotel’s female employees.

In 1983 the building was saved from demolition and in 1986 it was moved again to this spot on the hotel property. In 2021 it was carefully restored. The Oxford today is home to the Hotel del Coronado administrative offices.

An old photo on display in the hotel’s Ice House Museum shows the building being moved in 1986. The large structure was temporarily divided into two halves, and obstructions had to be removed from the streets during its move!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Fantastic 3D art inside San Ysidro Library!

Are those holograms? No! The archway just inside the San Ysidro Library’s front door features a cool 3D effect produced by its two lenticular print columns.

This amazing public art, titled Pasaje, debuted in 2019 when the new branch library opened. The artists are brothers Jamex de la Torre and Einar de la Torre.

The San Diego Civic Art Collection website explains: The interior artwork, Pasaje, consists of an archway which serves as both a literal and symbolic entrance to the library. The columns of the archway are wrapped with colorful, illuminated lenticular prints drawing on themes related to San Ysidro, architecture, and the library as a source of knowledge. These densely layered and highly dynamic lenticular images produce the illusion of depth and change when viewed from different angles. Sitting atop the columns is a cantera stone lintel inspired by both Spanish colonial and Mesoamerican architectural motifs.

The San Ysidro Library website further explains: The arch columns feature back-lit lenticular transparencies that exhibit two images in flip format, one showing historical pictures of San Ysidro and the other showing a plethora of images that symbolize curious illustrations in the exploration of books.

Your own eyes have to experience this fantastic optical art!

I found it hard to take good, focused photographs, because the seemingly layered images fade in and out with every slight movement the camera makes. (If you’ve ridden the main elevator at the San Diego Central Library, you’ve probably marveled at similar lenticular artwork by the same artists!)

Hopefully these photos entice you to visit the library in person!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Unique roof of the Verna House in Old Town.

Does the roof of the 19th century Verna House in the above photo seem unusual? Perhaps that’s because it’s a uniquely sloped mansard roof, one of very few built on the Pacific Coast in the Victorian era.

The quaint little house stands at 2476 San Diego Avenue in Old Town. Today it serves as the Whaley House Museum Shop, where visitors can purchase museum admission, books and assorted gifts. Like the nearby Whaley House itself, the shop in the Verna House is operated by Historic Tours of America, the folks behind San Diego’s popular Old Town Trolley Tours.

I knew nothing about this house and its history until I spotted the above plaque while walking down San Diego Avenue several days ago. The plaque was placed on the house’s exterior earlier this year. It reads:

The 1870’s French-Mansard style home was named after San Diego restaurateur Cesare Verna and his wife Maddalena Daniele. In 1965, after the death of Maddalena, the house was moved from 319 West Ash Street near Downtown and placed next to the Whaley House to be saved from demolition. Today the Verna House is a vital part of the Whaley House Grounds and county park, and is a shining example of San Diego’s rich architectural history.

Twenty years ago, when the Verna House was maintained by the Save Our Heritage Organisation, the old structure was restored. Here’s an interesting article that provides description and photographs.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter)!

Inside the homes of famous and local artists!

Have you ever wanted to peek into the homes of well-known artists? Now is your chance!

The La Jolla Historical Society has an intriguing exhibition now running at its Wisteria Cottage Gallery. The Artist At Home provides a glimpse into the domestic life of artists–many of whom are world-famous, and many who live in the Southern California and Baja region.

The exhibition has a bit of fun recreating how the home of an artist might appear. But by far the most interesting thing you will see are the numerous photographs of artists in their living spaces and home studios, often at work.

The architecture is frequently unique, designed by creators who continuously create. Works in progress are scattered in rooms among furnishing. It’s apparent that for many artists life and work are indistinguishable. Living is devoted to creating.

Learn more about the exhibition The Artist At Home, including the location and hours, by clicking here.

Niki de Saint Phalle and her assistant Tim Herr at the Princess St. studio. La Jolla, California. 2000.

Studio of James Hubbell. Santa Ysabel, California. 2012.

Norman Rockwell.

Georgia O’Keeffe.

Andrew Wyeth.

Studio of Irène de Watteville. Solana Beach, California. 2023.

“Being an artist is a lifestyle… There is no major distinction between home and studio life.” Einar and Jamex De La Torre.

Studio of Johnny “Bear” Contreras. San Pasqual Reservation. 2023.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Alvarado House of Del Mar Historical Society.

The Del Mar Historical Society operates a museum inside the 1885 Alvarado House, a small structure that in 1989 was relocated and placed inside the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Every year, visitors to the San Diego County Fair have the opportunity to look inside the old beach cottage and view its exhibits.

The house was originally lived in by Don Diego de Jesus Alvarado, who owned Rancho de los Peñasquitos. According to a handout that a friendly society volunteer offered me, Don Diego de Jesus Alvarado purchased the house in 1885 from Jacob Taylor, Del Mar’s original developer, and moved to Del Mar where he ran a livery stable.

The furnishings inside the Alvarado House represents the period between 1885 and 1910. Visitors can walk through the parlor, the family/dining room, and view a bedroom and the kitchen.

Exhibits covering many walls document the rich history of the Del Mar Fair. A special display recalls Don Diego, the fair’s official greeter that was played by actor Tommy Hernandez.

In addition, dozens of celebrity photographs document how the Del Mar Racetrack, founded by Bing Crosby, attracted numerous big stars from Hollywood.

According to their website: A major goal of the Del Mar Historical Society is to bring the Alvarado House back into Del Mar. We are searching for the ideal location, and the recently-acquired Del Mar Shores School property may be that place. The goal includes a museum for the display of Del Mar artifacts, an atmospheric-controlled storage room, and a meeting room.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Historical photos of Sessions Building in Old Town.

The architecturally exquisite Sessions Building in Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is now home to Toby’s Candle & Soap Shop. Originally, however, it was owned by Milton P. Sessions. Beginning in 1929, he operated a flower and ceramic shop out of this building, which was designed by his friend, renowned architect Richard Requa.

Does the Sessions name sound familiar? That’s because Milton was the nephew of the famous Kate Sessions, who is often referred to as the Mother of Balboa Park. She helped him as a young man get his start as a nurseryman.

Should you walk into Toby’s Candles, you can view a couple of old black and white photos framed on the wall left of the front counter. They show what the Sessions Studio looked like almost a century ago.

The La Jolla Historical Society wrote this excellent article on Facebook five years ago about Milton P. Sessions. Among his notable accomplishments, he provided the landscaping for the Roads of the Pacific at the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in Balboa Park. I blogged about the “forgotten” Roads of the Pacific recently here.

When you visit Toby’s, make sure to watch the skilled artisans making fancy candles! You might see something like this!

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

Sensuous Environment at the San Diego History Center.

A new exhibit recently opened at the San Diego History Center in Balboa Park. It’s titled The Sensuous Environment – Sim Bruce Richards, Architect.

San Diego architect Sim Bruce Richards is best known for designing houses that appeal not only to the eyes, but to other human senses as well. The museum exhibit, with its many photographs and drawings, celebrates the unique vision of an architect whose creations feel both rustic and modern. It’s an aesthetic that appeals to an essential human connection with nature.

His houses are truly homes. They are warm and welcoming. They contain natural, textured materials that are pleasant to the senses, like stone, adobe, and beautiful woods, including mahogany, redwood and aromatic cedar. Fireplaces are centerpieces where life gathers. Natural outdoor light shines through large windows. As one display explains: Richards took inspiration from his Cherokee heritage, his apprenticeship with Frank Lloyd Wright, and fondness for the work of San Diegan Irving Gill and other early twentieth century architects…

Reading the fascinating displays, I learned he often collaborated with noted San Diego artist James Hubbell.

Richards also designed commercial and church buildings using the same aesthetic. Did you know the Morley Field Tennis Club building in Balboa Park was one of his projects?

Beautifully inviting furniture that he designed is also part of the exhibit.

The Sensuous Environment – Sim Bruce Richards, Architect presents material from the archives of the San Diego History Center and UC Santa Barbara’s Art, Architecture and Design Museum.

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Thanks for visiting Cool San Diego Sights!

I post new blogs pretty often. If you like discovering new things, bookmark coolsandiegosights.com and swing on by occasionally!

I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!