Caved in Glass

            Today was another inspiring day through the historical architecture of San Francisco. Before our introduction with Mr. Rick Evans, we had a walk through a popular section of San Francisco with our chaperones. It was Chinatown;  of course we didn’t buy anything. We also walked through one of the steepest roads of San Francisco to get to Coit Tower  and trust me it had one of the most beautiful views in the world. Okay maybe not the most beautiful, but it had a really nice view of a little Italy in the city of San Francisco. Afterwards, while getting one of the most fascinating tours from Mr. Evans, I learned and saw San Francisco as it is today. We didn’t roam much in San Francisco but we traveled back in time to 1848 and the Gold Rush days all the way to the present. What interested me most during the tour was the architecture by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill named the Crown Zellerbach Paper Company Building made in 1959. 

            By 1959, San Francisco has moved onto modernism, especially due to Vandero in 1957. The Crown Zellerbach Paper Company Building was the second all glass building in San Francisco. What’s really interesting about glass architecture in San Francisco is that the first was constructed to be cheap and built fast. Made by a famous San Francisco architect named Willis Polk, the World’s first glass building, Hallidie Building, was built in 1917.  The people of San Francisco was astounded when they saw this masterpiece, I was too when I learned that UC Berkeley colors was incorporated into this unique and one time building. 
             It was a real great shame that this building was under construction due to the weak materials used, so I didn’t get a taste of how it looked with my own eyes. However, after 40 years we see again that glass has made reappearance in San Francisco. Made with, if you can guess, all Italian materials! The architect, Italian, the glass, Italian, the concrete, Italian, the stones, Italian, the little mosaics covering the elevator is Italian too. I wonder what the difference is between glasses made in America compared with those made in Italian. In truth, nothing is really different except the location where they are made. Why would the architect make sure everything had to revolve around Italy besides the fact that he was Italian? Maybe he was a chauvinist. Who knows? But, he was one smart fellow I tell you. When we stood outside the little lobby on the Italian stones, we were caved in Italy. Mr. Evans explained that there was a purpose to the way he set up the building and where it was located. There was a wall blocking the building from the street. But inside was a big open area. It wasn’t a POPOS (Privately Owned Public Open Space) though.

            It appears that the big leading companies in San Francisco are really scandalous! We learned that depending on how big the company these people own, the must give back to the community. By giving back, these big company owners have publicly opened spaces where everyone is able to come to. However, not much people know about these POPOS. The reason is because these company owners don’t want people to learn about them too.

            There were no seats, benches or chairs in the big open area of the Crown Zellerbach building. In addition to get to the elevator, which was coveted, a person would have to go through the little lobby that the whole building was on top of.  It was really apparent that Skidmore wanted to keep people out. I find that really mean. Anyone accomplished with a masterpiece with such a grand size should let others praise his work instead of leading them astray. But, when looking next door we really saw the time span of 40 years. 40 years that gone by and in a flash everything changed because it was the new era, the new “fashion”. It wasn't just next door but the reflection that makes me look and wonder if the next 40 years will again change and have a new fashion. 

 -Susan Vang