I also learned that San Diego has had two different 'sanctioned' styles; one before the Balboa Park development that is based upon our famous Missions, and one after Balboa Park based upon Spanish Revival architecture (imported by way of a New York "society" design firm). Seems that the early taste for Spanish Revival after the 1915 Panama-California Exhibition overcame (in popularity) the honest simplicity of form and materials offered by our favorite son, if not native, Irving Gill. Does anybody know the name of the Architect who directed the design of the Spanish Revival Balboa Park structures? Thought so. Honesty and simplicity, elegance and parsimony seem to win out every time. And Architecture, good or bad, has a long, long, long memory.
With newly opened eyes, I looked at some new mixed-use development and urban infill. The Hillcrest Rite-Aid is a challenging example of poor design and unfortunate siting. The inward facing store concept is suitable for a freeway site, with bold graphics gestures that would be recognizable at freeway speeds. In the intimate neighborhood setting, it fails, miserably, to address the street with any type of human scale or interaction. Three sides of the building are nothing but tall, brick walls at the edge of the sidewalk; not very suitable for the walkable neighborhood. And Michael Stepner pointed out that the parking lot, with few trees and little other vegitation, does little more than raise the ambient temperature of the neighborhood with its black asphalt surface.
Having seen the sprawling, nearby Atlas complex grow during my years here, I was fascinated to hear the following from Michael Stepner, FAIA. I think I will paraphrase: It is a good thing to have good ideas; just don't use all of them on one building. I wholeheartedly agree. Having been inside one unit plan in this complex, I can now say that I am "underwhelmed" by the complex; inside and out. It really is amazing what people will pay for bad design.
The economy may have had some effect on the leasing of Atlas' ground floor retail spaces; it appears pretty bleak. I wonder if the real problem wasn't poor planning (design); creating not-so-highly visible retail spaces on such a highly travelled street. Many of the spaces have recessed windows, which when viewed on-angle from a passing car, are obscurred by the alcove columns. Further, in broad (typical in San Diego is very broad) daylight, the highly reflective low-E coatings used on the retail windows also create mirrors of outdoor, daylit activity. If given the opportunity, I will endeavor to design some mixed-use spaces where the efficiency of planning more nearly mirrors the need and uses for space; and no recessed, mirrored windows will be in use; thereby providing accessible retail space with a clear view.
Oh, and then we saw Trilogy. Hmmm. I am reminded of a story a dear friend and Architect in Palm Springs tells of his time in architecture school at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. A professor he admired would comment, when a student project was off the mark, "I never would have thought of that." This is akin to the commonly used "well that is one way to solve this problem." One way indeed; and the Trilogy could have used a few more reviews prior to being rushed to market. Will anyone remember that architects name?
Of great interest was the discussion among those participating in the tour. One recent graduate of the Masters Degree program at NewSchool was heard to say: "Find your focus early and work on it throughout your program. The years pass quickly, and you will want to focus so you don't end up being finished" (without learning what you want to learn). He was more poetic than that statement, but that is the gist of the commentary. I like this thought. I still have a few days to decide my focus (my orientation to the school, campus, policies, is next week, classes begin the following week). Learning how to avoid hearing "I never would have thought of that!" or "that is one way to solve the problem" just won't be quite enough.
