The San Francisco call., 1910-01-08
BETTER DESIGNS
MARK BUILDINGS
Improved Construction and
More Ornamental Exte=
riors Feature City
BY WILLIAM MOOSER

President of the San Francisco Chapter of the
American Institute of Architects.
In respect to the construction OF
buildings in San Francisco and its re-
lation to architecture | might say that
much depends on the class of buildings
that city has that determines its
characteristics, it's wealth and its en-
terprise. On that score it is fair to
say that San Francisco has improved
in its general construction and that 1T
has improved very materially in its
building designs There is quite a
strong tendency now to put up better
class of buildings in this city and
especially in the matter of design. Ar
chitects are permitted more latitude
than they have had heretofore II we
can only reach the condition where the
enterprise of one man shall result in
such a high class building that his
neighbors feel that they are compelled
to follow his example in the erection
of structures for business purposes the
public will be largely benefited by the
Improvement of the standard think
that spirit of enterprise and emula-
tion is prevalent.
Examples are shown in the new
hotels, in the new theaters and in many
business blocks. We could not have
DONE even five years ago. the things
that are now done with the sanction of
the owners. San Francisco people are
persuaded that it is wise to expend
money on handsome exteriors. See the
banks. They are spending money on
designs and embellishments. That is
the only method by which banks can
advertise TO the passersby. The bank
ers appreciate this and the spectacle is
now presented in Market street of two
conservative banking institutions which
have purchased sites at large cost and
who are erecting handsome buildings
on important corners.
If poor buildings are erected here
after it will be as much the fault
of the architect as the owner, for the
owners are much more inclined to be
persuaded that a good appearance in
building improvements pays. There are
many examples of the we'll constructed
and well designed building in many
places that were designed to meet COM
petition and that are drawing tenants
for the reason that they are strictly
up to date.
We have only to look to New York
and other great cities to see that eN-
perience warrants the selection of only
the best designs in the retail district
of San Francisco. Take New York, for
instance Today ii hotelman desires
to erect a fine building he goes around
and gets as good or better design than
any of the existing hotels. The same
is true of the owners of Office buildings.
The San Francisco owner of realty to-
day who plans an Office or other income
bearing building must get a good de-
sign and modern Improvements to Sc
cure tenants. That is a step forward
and a long one. 1t is plain that good
buildings increase the attractions of
the city. a handsome city advertises
ITSELF There is no question that Paris
has achieved much of its popularity
because of its beautiful structures and
the general artistic effect that fine ar
chitecture produces.
Contrary to the prevalent idea the
average person does care for appear
ances. People begin to admire fine
buildings and so induce property own
ers to build that class. Everybody is
helped by that which lends attractive
ness to San Francisco. The architect
is helped, and so are the builder, the
owner of realty and all classes of peo-
pie who reside here or who can be in
duced to reside here. The better the
class of buildings that San Francisco
erects in 1910 the better it will be for
everybody.