San Francisco is known worldwide as a hotbed of Victorian era architecture. There are countless books, calendars, tours, and knickknacks devoted to these relics that were constructed over a relatively short time during the turn of the Century when pioneers and the adventurous moved to the West in search of a better life. The taste of the day was ecletic since Victorian art and architecture reflected an era that loved a wide variety of cultures and styles and combined them in every which way to suit personal expression. A love of the Far East, Egypt, the Italian Renaissance, Ancient Greece and Rome was prevalent, and writers, artists, craftsmen and women, and architects drew from these cultures and incorporated motifs into their own globalized vision of the world. Decoration and clutter were in vogue. Homes were filled with furniture, walls covered with paintings, and every item was embellished with intricate detailing.

However, tastes change with the times. In the 1920s and 1930s a new movement was afoot that shunned any form of decoration in architecture. Architects such as Walter Gropius (who founded the Bauhaus), Le Corbusier, and Aldolf Loos were the men who rallied for the lack of ornamentation. Anything fake, anything not registering visually as an essential component in the structure was discarded. A love of the future, and not a love with the past, was the theme of the day. This was partly due to the industrial revolution and the fascination with machines. Everything became modern. Metal, not wood, was the popular material. Everything from cars to houses were made to represent the machine and appear futuristic. Art Deco is the name given to the aesthetic that combined elements of the machine and decorative florishes left over from the Victorian era. So, during the 1930s up to the 1950s modern architecture reflected these two styles: severe utilitarian and no-nonsence modernity and a more digestible, decorative modernity that appealed to the masses.

Since most of the flatlands of San Francisco were already developed, housing construction in the 1930s onward spread to areas outside the City such as Daly City, South San Francisco, Pacifica etc. and in the City it was in the hills that new homes were built. Diamond Heights, Twin Peaks, and Forest Hill are the three areas that contain the largest percentage of post-Victorian homes. The Sunset area also contains mostly post-Victorian homes, but they are not worth mentioning here. And it is in these hilly regions that the majority of modern homes were built. This is a boon for the homeowners who have the luxury of views and privacy, but for the modern architecture enthusiast it poses a logistical problem since finding them is difficult. In my 11 years of living in San Francisco, I have done a lot of exploring on foot and have cataloged in my mind all the cool modern buildings. However, this site is my attempt to share my efforts and present a visual guide to a side of San Francisco most people do not know exists. Yes, good modern architecture is rare in San Francisco compared to Los Angeles, but the homes and commercial buildings that do exist are treats.

I originally set out to research any published material (print or internet) on local modern architecture and came up with only two books: 'Bay Area Houses' and 'San Francisco Modern: Interiors, Architecture & Design.' The first book only features a few noteworthy homes, and the second focuses only on interiors and most of which are from homes built in the past decade. I figured I should fill the gap. I selected about 20 homes to feature on this site. I wrote a letter introducing myself and my intentions to the owners and requested only the name of the architect, the year the house was built and any interesting information they might want to share. I heard from only a few people. This explains why for most of these buildings I have no information. Undaunted by this lack of cooperation I decided to go ahead and build this site. I decided I would also feature commercial buildings - though I will develop this area later on. My decision on what buildings I wanted to highlight was purely subjective - a gut reaction. This was the initial process. I then went back and rephotographed the buildings and then as I built the site I analyzed what it was about these structures that I responded to.

Some of the buildings have been featured in publications, and some no-one has given a second thought to. Many are considered ugly by the uneducated masses and then some are considered ugly by architects who probably are the ones who have the nerve to design faux Colonial or Spanish homes, mini malls and corporate headquarters which in my book is a criminal affront to the senses. But I am not out to offend or make any enemies. I am merely trying to present the hidden modern architecture of San Francisco. I hope you enjoy my efforts and maybe develop an appreciation of a little seen side of this city. I also welcome feedback - both positive and negative. And if you know of an interesting buildings I may have missed - feel free to drop me a line.