dsoderblog

Visitors and locals alike recognize it. It is Balboa Park’s Ford Building, current site of the San Diego Air and Space Museum. But what many people might not realize it was designed by one of America’s most legendary designers, Walter Dorwin Teague.

Walter Dorwin Teague was an industrial designer who pioneered in the establishment of industrial design as a profession in the United States. Teague, who studied painting at the Art Students League in New York (1903-07), began his professional career as a graphic designer illustrating magazines. Soon Teague’s clients began to seek his advice about product design so in 1926 he formed an office devoted exclusively to industrial design. He would create products, exhibits, corporate graphics, and interiors. At the time America was entering the Great Depression and large companies, intent upon finding measures to survive, turned to talented industrial designers. Teague was recommended by Metropolitan Museum curators to Eastman Kodak (1928), which retained him to produce cameras. He insisted on working closely with engineers in the Eastman factory; the results were successful, and the firm remained a client until his death. “Teague” and the Brownie Camera became synonymous.

I had one as a toy when I was a child.  I have vivid memories of the real ones that were everywhere. Texaco gas stations designed by Walter Dorwin Teague.

So now you know the talent, if not genius, behind one of San Diego’s great buildings, the Ford building in Balboa Park. But did you know he designed a companion building for it?

It was located on Broadway at 12th streets. While the Ford building at the Exposition showcased Ford cars, the building on Broadway is where you could go test drive and buy them.

It is forlorn looking now–mostly demolished behind the damaged remaining facade. But in its day it was every bit the complementary jewel to the Balboa Park building. The dealership went by the name “City Ford.” It later became Pearson Ford. In the 1950′s they went to “Stand alone at Fairmont and El Cajon,” (El Cajon Boulevard). This was one of San Diego’s very best Streamline Moderne buildings.

In Los Angeles there is an appreciation for Streamline Moderne landmarks. In San Diego, they get demolished.

Walter Dorwin Teague’s City Ford building on 12th and Broadway should have been restored and placed on the National Register of Historic Places. It would have been if it were in Los Angeles–especially with a designer of such national stature–Teague–and his client, the Henry Ford Company.

As you can see the City Ford Building had the same character defining features of the Streamline Moderne style seen with the Los Angeles Cocoa Cola building. Portal windows, horizontal raking. Walter Dorwin Teague had in place black glass tile and jade-green paint. Some tiles are still apparent in the photo. But in later years all was painted beige to give it a “ready for demolition” look.

And demolition is what happened. Despite promises and agreements in the past that SOHO, preservationists and community groups would be advised of such demolitions in advance, the City Historical Resources Staff withheld notification of this demolition. There was no public input on this unmitigated destruction of a very valuable historical resource.

It is one of the most devastating losses of an historical resource we have seen in many many years. And it could have been avoided–but there was no opportunity provided by City staff.
SOHO,  with a proven track record of being able to negotiate with developers to achieve goals for development while at the same time saving historical resources, was completely shut out of the process. Not advised, not notified–only shut out. Instead a demolition permit was rubber stamped. No opportunity was given to provide solutions, incentives, or to come up with “win-win” proposals.

What a shame in San Diego there still remains a rush to fill landfills with demolition rubble from great buildings. Failing to give alternative approaches and solutions a shot. Failing to “Think Green.” It is sad. It is tragic. And completely unnecessary.

To Walter Dorwin Teague’s City Ford building. R.I.P. You deserved better.

Out of context this a drawing that might not raise too many eyebrows. Except the context was a plan for a “new look” Hotel Del Coronado.

In 1997 planned modern four story buildings were going to surround the Hotel Del on all four sides–including the ocean side.

Not only would the project shroud Hotel Del from view, but it would have destroyed historic features throughout the property. All of the redwood interior of the Hotel Del was to be painted white, making the 1880′s Victorian hotel into a Tommy Bahama theme resort.

An unsuspecting community did not realize how far these plans by the Del owners, Travelers Insurance, were in progress before heeding the alarm bell rung by SOHO. Bruce and Alana Coons spearheaded the effort to Save the Del.

They made it a major campaign in the community, in the press, and throughout the land. It kicked in at the national level when policy holders began canceling their insurance policies as people learned of the destructive plans.

But what SOHO does equally as well as running an effective preservation battle, it knows how to negotiate the peace. Hotel Del was not only saved but current ownership is now an ally in preserving this iconic treasure. Through the years SOHO has negotiated a significant number of preservation agreements. The Ballpark and Historic Warehouse District, Old Police Headquarters, Temple Beth Israel, and the Veterans War Memorial Building, Torrey Pines Glider Port, just to name a few.

Learn more about Save Our Heritage Organisation, SOHO at SOHOsandiego.org