Here's something you might be interested in.
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San Diego’s architects finally understanding an ancient material
Editor's pick of stories Peter Jensen wrote for the Reader
Spanish Village, Balboa Park. The ultimate statement is San Diego’s own 1915 Panama-California Exposition, masterpieces in stucco and plaster ornamentation.
Stucco worked well for the Mayas, built much of Rome, and covers San Diego
Two factors helped bring the artistic use of stucco to a halt: modernism, with its emphasis on simple, unbroken planes, and the invention of the stucco “gun,” a machine process for blowing stucco onto walls. (December 1, 1994)
One favorite of bungalow historians is this one on Robinson Avenue one block east of 163. The greatest density of existing courts is bounded by Park Boulevard, Adams Avenue, Interstate 805, and University Avenue.
Are San Diego courtyard solutions too good to be true?
One disturbing element of the Mercado Apartments is its parking facilities. The two lots accommodate 100 cars each, and until shade trees (jacarandas and other flowering species) take over, will invite comparisons to a small Wal-Mart (June 28, 1994)
A small clone of Cabrillo Bridge exists in La Jolla on Al Bahr Drive, not far up the hill from Torrey Pines Road, via Exchange Place and Soledad Avenue.
Bridges of San Diego County: Cabrillo, Scripps pedestrian, San Luis Rey River, Lilac Road, Pine Valley
Pine Valley is famous among bridge engineers. The first pre-stressed concrete bridge in the U.S., built using a particular kind of cantilever technology, it appeared to defy gravity during construction. It is located near two earthquake faults. (September 15, 1994)
Ellen Browning Scripps Park. Bench seats, open sides, and public access create a place to commune with the city’s past.
Built to last: San Diego's 100-year buildings
Landscape architect Roger DeWeese cites Balboa Park’s landscape as San Diego’s most enduring feature. “Our society has been borrowing on the foresight of some real visionaries for three or four generations now,” (April 14, 1994)
Some major attractions in San Diego, even the zoo, have been notoriously hard to find.
San Diego's signs as public language
People wanted SLOW signs in their neighborhoods, on dangerous curves, intersections. But “slow is no longer a legal sign,” says Levy. “It’s too general. Now it must be why you’re supposed to go slow.” (June 23, 1994)
San Evaristo. Two barefoot men shovel the crystals into what look to be 50-pound sacks. The larger, stronger one then lifts each sack onto a scale, evens up the weight with a partial shovelful, and sets it aside to be laced closed.
On Mexican Highway 1 with my maniac father-in-law
Henry left this morning. He hooked up with a fellow we met on the morning radio net who was looking for a little company on his drive to La Paz. He’ll bring the truck back tonight. (March 10, 1994)
San Diego’s least successful tower aesthetically is Sea World’s 320-foot Skytower, a giant decorative toothpick with a transparent olive that moves up and down. No mystery. No soul.
San Diego"s towers: MTDB, zoo, SDSU, Solana Beach train depot, Tower Bowl
In San Diego’s towers we find our final denial of the endless plains and deserts that brought us to this Western shore. We embrace the power of mountains, the connection between man and the firmament. (Feb. 17, 1994)
Frances and John Lloyd Wright. At lunch Pat is always joined by her husband, retired superior court judge Louis Welsh, whose parents, Frances and John Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright), both now deceased, lived next door.
Pat Welsh, the Julia Child of Gardening
At lunch she is joined by her husband, Louis Welsh, whose parents, Frances and John Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright), both now deceased, lived next door. Pat and Lou eat in the garden if it’s sunny. (August 17, 1995)
The Sporting Club at the Aventine, Golden Triangle. "If you’re a member of that law firm, you must play on their team. It may be one of the reasons you were hired."
San Diego pick-up basketball - heroes, courts, legends
San Diego is one of the only basketball meccas where beach sand tracked onto the court is part of the game. At South Mission or Crown Point or in North County at Pillbox or Glen Park up in Cardiff. (April 6, 1995)
South Mission Beach
The secret life of San Diego's alleys
Today in Mission Hills’ neighborhoods a few blocks north and south of Fort Stockton Drive, Sunset Boulevard, and Juan Street, alleys have a different feeling than straight alleys in Pacific Beach. (August 17, 1995)
Linda Vista library
The look of San Diego branch libraries
“We narrowed the Mira Mesa branch down to a design we liked, one with a roof we thought was very attractive. But the community group didn’t like it: they thought it looked like a Quonset hut.” (May 18, 1995)
Jack in the Box restaurant, c. early 1970s
Russell Forester, the architect of Jack in the Box
McDonald’s, once known for its exuberant golden twin parabolas flanking a glass-and-steel pavilion, is now the most boring recitation of mansardism. Only the Wienerschnitzel chain still clings to its defining, red-roofed mini-A frames (March 30, 1995)
Casa de Estudillo, Old Town
Cliff May, inventor of the ranch house
"One of the county’s most appealing concentrations of ranch houses occurs in an unlikely place, the steep hillsides and winding streets of Del Mar…. several of these May mass-market houses were built in Del Mar as second homes.” (March 2, 1995)
A prolific writer for Sunset magazine, Peter Jensen has authored books on San Diego and California. He wrote stories on local architecture for the Reader in the mid-1990s.
Here's something you might be interested in.
San Diego’s architects finally understanding an ancient material
Editor's pick of stories Peter Jensen wrote for the Reader
San Diego’s architects finally understanding an ancient material
Editor's pick of stories Peter Jensen wrote for the Reader
Spanish Village, Balboa Park. The ultimate statement is San Diego’s own 1915 Panama-California Exposition, masterpieces in stucco and plaster ornamentation.
Stucco worked well for the Mayas, built much of Rome, and covers San Diego
Two factors helped bring the artistic use of stucco to a halt: modernism, with its emphasis on simple, unbroken planes, and the invention of the stucco “gun,” a machine process for blowing stucco onto walls. (December 1, 1994)
One favorite of bungalow historians is this one on Robinson Avenue one block east of 163. The greatest density of existing courts is bounded by Park Boulevard, Adams Avenue, Interstate 805, and University Avenue.
Are San Diego courtyard solutions too good to be true?
One disturbing element of the Mercado Apartments is its parking facilities. The two lots accommodate 100 cars each, and until shade trees (jacarandas and other flowering species) take over, will invite comparisons to a small Wal-Mart (June 28, 1994)
A small clone of Cabrillo Bridge exists in La Jolla on Al Bahr Drive, not far up the hill from Torrey Pines Road, via Exchange Place and Soledad Avenue.
Bridges of San Diego County: Cabrillo, Scripps pedestrian, San Luis Rey River, Lilac Road, Pine Valley
Pine Valley is famous among bridge engineers. The first pre-stressed concrete bridge in the U.S., built using a particular kind of cantilever technology, it appeared to defy gravity during construction. It is located near two earthquake faults. (September 15, 1994)
Ellen Browning Scripps Park. Bench seats, open sides, and public access create a place to commune with the city’s past.
Built to last: San Diego's 100-year buildings
Landscape architect Roger DeWeese cites Balboa Park’s landscape as San Diego’s most enduring feature. “Our society has been borrowing on the foresight of some real visionaries for three or four generations now,” (April 14, 1994)
Some major attractions in San Diego, even the zoo, have been notoriously hard to find.
San Diego's signs as public language
People wanted SLOW signs in their neighborhoods, on dangerous curves, intersections. But “slow is no longer a legal sign,” says Levy. “It’s too general. Now it must be why you’re supposed to go slow.” (June 23, 1994)
San Evaristo. Two barefoot men shovel the crystals into what look to be 50-pound sacks. The larger, stronger one then lifts each sack onto a scale, evens up the weight with a partial shovelful, and sets it aside to be laced closed.
On Mexican Highway 1 with my maniac father-in-law
Henry left this morning. He hooked up with a fellow we met on the morning radio net who was looking for a little company on his drive to La Paz. He’ll bring the truck back tonight. (March 10, 1994)
San Diego’s least successful tower aesthetically is Sea World’s 320-foot Skytower, a giant decorative toothpick with a transparent olive that moves up and down. No mystery. No soul.
San Diego"s towers: MTDB, zoo, SDSU, Solana Beach train depot, Tower Bowl
In San Diego’s towers we find our final denial of the endless plains and deserts that brought us to this Western shore. We embrace the power of mountains, the connection between man and the firmament. (Feb. 17, 1994)
Frances and John Lloyd Wright. At lunch Pat is always joined by her husband, retired superior court judge Louis Welsh, whose parents, Frances and John Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright), both now deceased, lived next door.
Pat Welsh, the Julia Child of Gardening
At lunch she is joined by her husband, Louis Welsh, whose parents, Frances and John Lloyd Wright (son of Frank Lloyd Wright), both now deceased, lived next door. Pat and Lou eat in the garden if it’s sunny. (August 17, 1995)
The Sporting Club at the Aventine, Golden Triangle. "If you’re a member of that law firm, you must play on their team. It may be one of the reasons you were hired."
San Diego pick-up basketball - heroes, courts, legends
San Diego is one of the only basketball meccas where beach sand tracked onto the court is part of the game. At South Mission or Crown Point or in North County at Pillbox or Glen Park up in Cardiff. (April 6, 1995)
South Mission Beach
The secret life of San Diego's alleys
Today in Mission Hills’ neighborhoods a few blocks north and south of Fort Stockton Drive, Sunset Boulevard, and Juan Street, alleys have a different feeling than straight alleys in Pacific Beach. (August 17, 1995)
Linda Vista library
The look of San Diego branch libraries
“We narrowed the Mira Mesa branch down to a design we liked, one with a roof we thought was very attractive. But the community group didn’t like it: they thought it looked like a Quonset hut.” (May 18, 1995)
Jack in the Box restaurant, c. early 1970s
Russell Forester, the architect of Jack in the Box
McDonald’s, once known for its exuberant golden twin parabolas flanking a glass-and-steel pavilion, is now the most boring recitation of mansardism. Only the Wienerschnitzel chain still clings to its defining, red-roofed mini-A frames (March 30, 1995)
Casa de Estudillo, Old Town
Cliff May, inventor of the ranch house
"One of the county’s most appealing concentrations of ranch houses occurs in an unlikely place, the steep hillsides and winding streets of Del Mar…. several of these May mass-market houses were built in Del Mar as second homes.” (March 2, 1995)
A prolific writer for Sunset magazine, Peter Jensen has authored books on San Diego and California. He wrote stories on local architecture for the Reader in the mid-1990s.
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