We got the most recent newsletter from the Western Neighborhoods Project which had a fascinating tidbit in it.
Back in the 1940’s, the Morris family was in talks with architect Frank Lloyd Wright to design their new Sea Cliff home at 830 El Camino del Mar.
The house was never built, but a contemporary artist created the rendering above to show what the house would have looked like, complete with a modern version of a light house that overlooks the ocean. Wright designed a couple of versions of the house.
The Morris family didn’t end up building the house, but they did commission Wright to build his only work in San Francisco – the V.C. Morris Gift Shop at 140 Maiden Lane (photo). The space is now home to the Xanadu Gallery. More Bay Area Frank Lloyd Wright architecture
The house that was eventually built at 830 El Camino del Mar is still spectacular with unbeatable views. It was last listed about 5 years ago for just under $10 million.
Sarah B.
A drawing of the house. Courtesy of Wright Chat
A different design for the Sea Cliff house. Courtesy of Brett Drager
Wow! Thanks for sharing.
I think that area of Seacliff has soil erosion issues before. Don’t know if it has completely fixed or not.
Another point I want to make is there are quite a few tall trees shown in the sketch. Many of them are close to the water line, I wonder if they will survive in the salt water environment.
The previous owner tried to sell the house various times before, even through auction with a listing price of $18-mil but finally settled for close to $10 mil.
I believe the new owner is the founder of Twitter and Square Jack Dorsey
http://sf.blockshopper.com/news/story/2600138760-Wine_shop_cofounder_selling_2BD_in_Seacliff_for_9_9M
http://curbed.com/archives/2012/06/20/is-this-twitter-founder-jack-dorseys-stunning-new-home.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Dorsey
The rendering at the top of this post kind of makes it look like it’s situated at Mountain Lake Park. I love the middle image (the first sketch), though.
Pretty cool! Kind of looks like someplace Tony Stark would live
http://marvelcinematicuniverse.wikia.com/wiki/Tony_Stark%27s_Mansion?file=Tony_Stark%27s_Mansion.png
I’m not the biggest fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, but that’s pretty neat.
It would never be allowed today, of course.
I like the “different design” at the bottom better, but the big round foreground portion cantilevered from its foundation would have been hugely expensive. At least there the foundation is doing what it says it does (everything tapers to a point), though the big heavy columns on the living level would have either been ponderously heavy for the thin cantilever that supports them, or faked in some fashion (stucco finish on metal lath, steel beams, etc.). Nice sequence of curves going up the hill (huge expanse of “lawn” to mow).
The first design is less successful. The tapering “pedestal” seems tacked on to the big rectangular block of the main building (very little of which is liveable space). The portico on the top floor is an interesting touch (but a tough thing to use in this climate). The play of the circular and square bands at the foreground living space was worth a try (the obvious thing would have been three circles, or three squares), but it’s verging on fugly. In the new rendering it comes off no better (reminding us perhaps how much of the charm of the original is the ink spots and pencil strokes). Good on the Morrises for turning down both designs. Of course it may have evolved further.
The Morris Store is a gem; solving the client’s needs, the tight envelope of the existing building (ordinary board-formed concrete beams are visible through the ceiling panels), its modest size, were useful constraints on Wright’s playful, curving ramp. My first visit is still emblazoned in my memory.
I do occasional business in Marin Civic Center. It’s worth wandering around to see what works and what doesn’t. The gardens at the ends, the upper cafeteria, have interesting connection with the landscape; the escalator entry up the middle slot, and long balcony hallways, feels a little like being ingested into the guts of a big organism.
Looks like a torch to guide the ships safely through the gate.