There are 12 iron houses in San Francisco: why are they cooler than their famous 'brother' in New York

Not only New York can boast of an unusual building-iron. There are many representatives of this architectural refinement in San Francisco, reports SFChronicle.

Photo: IStock

The most famous iron building in America is Flatiron Building in New York, Daniel Burnham's thin 22-story triangle at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, opened in 1902.

In San Francisco, iron buildings (a nickname that goes back to the supposed resemblance of their shape to the hand irons of the era) line Market Street and Columbus Avenue. Their age varies from 1904 to last year, and the height is from one to 24 floors.

There are no less than three dozen of them throughout the city, of varying degrees of maintenance and angular ambitions. Some of the buildings are very famous, many are hidden in the background, but they all offer an exciting spirit of adventure while looking for them.

The end of the street maze

• Where is: 342 Columbus Ave, North Beach
• Architect: unknown.
• Height: 4 floors.
• Opening date: November 1906, XNUMX

Columbus Ave is a wide diagonal that cuts across the relentlessly right-angled street grid of northern San Francisco, each diced intersection containing at least one building tightly fitted into a triangular block. This one has long lost all its frills, but the main thing is its form. Another reason to visit this place is that it is home to the bastion of bohemia, Caffe Trieste.

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The famous Sentinel Building

Photo: IStock

• Where is: 916 Kearny St., North Beach
• Architect: Salfield & Kohlberg.
• Height: 8 floors.
• Opening date: November 1907, XNUMX

The city's most famous iron building is the Sentinel Building. Here you can see an interesting view of the street from the Transamerica Pyramid, as a clear proof of the always striking contrast of styles and scales of the city.

The Sentinel Building began life as the lair of notorious political boss Abe Ruef. A decade later, the building was bought by folk idols Kingston Trio. Today it houses Francis Ford Coppola's American production company Zoetrope and the Cafe Zoetrope, a glass wedge that allows visitors to enjoy this flat iron building.

Gesture to the past

• Where is: 900 Kearny St., North Beach
• Architect: William Podesto & Associates.
• Height: 6 floors.
• Opening date: November 1989, XNUMX

How to finish the area starting with the Sentinel Building? This building is the answer to that question. The details of this iron building are very cartoonish. But the sumptuous architecture and pompous air have aged surprisingly well—postmodern distortions that look good in the rearview mirror.

Magnificent pearl

• Where is: 4 Columbus Ave., North Beach
• Architect: Charles Puff.
• Height: 3 floors.
• Opening date: 1909, third floor added in 1914

Formal and solemn at the same time, this flat-iron building is the gem of the street, paired with the almost equally good Colombo Building across the street.

As with the Sentinel Building, the backstory adds to the atmosphere. It first housed a local bank, which was soon taken over by A. P. Giannini's Bank, now Bank of America. It then housed the headquarters of Giannini's subsidiary, Transamerica Corp., which moved to a much larger building across the street in 1972. Even being hidden by a large street tree at its ornate top, this building draws attention.

Stylish gem

• Where is: 388 Market St., DownTown.
• Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
• Height: 24 floors.
• Opening date: November 1983, XNUMX

This iron building has a rounded shape. A rounded triangle of polished red granite narrows to a clean arc that points towards the bay and rises towards the sky. The top seven floors are occupied by apartments.

Flatiron Building - Ruffled Top

• Where is: 548 Market St., DownTown.
• Architect: Havens and Toepke.
• Height: 11 floors.
• Opening date: November 1913, XNUMX

The dimensions are almost as compact as those of its New York namesake. In a cozy corner, you can find a very suitable See's Candies. It is best to stand back a little to see the architectural crown with its comb-shaped cornice that could be the icing on the wedding cake.

Phelan Building - an eternal triumph

• Where is: 760 Market St., DownTown.
• Architect: William Curlette.
• Height: 11 floors.
• Opening date: November 1908, XNUMX

The best urban buildings exude thoughtful logic and confidence in any style. That's why the Phelan Building is the archetypal Market St. iron building. —beginning with its name etched in brass letters above the first floor, where it meets the regal first block of Grant Avenue.

Beauty lies in the severity of the composition, with a massive classical facade, the same from the north and south. Even hidden by scaffolding, as it is now, it leaves a powerful impression.

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Part of the landscape

• Where is: 800 Market St., DownTown.
• Architect: CF Whittlesey.
• Height: 8 floors.
• Opening date: November 1908, XNUMX

This iron building is part of much of San Francisco's history. It is the same size as the Phelan Building but with reinforced concrete exterior walls.
The impression of the building is harsh and heavy. Not like when it opened, apparently. According to architectural historian Michael Corbett, the base was adorned with brightly colored tiles, a fresh splash worth seeing.

Old form, updated style

• Where is: 950 Market St., DownTown.
• Architect: Handel Architects.
• Height: 12 floors.
• Opening date: November 2022, XNUMX

Can an iron building look futuristic? In this case, yes. The mix of condominiums and hotel is covered in a cloak of white fiber-reinforced concrete panels, with origami-like folds that bring the energetic form to life. Uniformity makes a stunning impression without overpowering neighbors.

Right now, a market begins here, which does not add any advantages to seeing architectural sights. Once Ikea opens across the street within the next month or two, that could change.

sharp point

• Location: 2175 Market St., DownTown.
• Architect: Van Meter Williams Pollack.
• Height: 6 floors.
• Opening date: November 2014, XNUMX

In the last decade, a housing boom has taken place along Upper Market, turning the site towards Castro Street an example of how iron buildings can be adapted for the 21st century. Some work better than others, and this is not surprising. This architectural wedge of 88 apartments may be the best example.

Cause? It accentuates the end of the block at 15th and Market streets with a knife-edged, rust-colored aluminum-lined nose, while horizontal grids between each level's windows further accentuate the corner. The only thing missing is the tenants on the first floor of the building, which was supposed to become a corner food hall. Let's hope that when the city revives, magic and revival will appear here.

With clumsy respect

• Where is: 2200 Market St., Upper Market.
• Architect: unknown.
• Height: 5 floors.
• Opening date: November 2014, XNUMX

The secret of the iron building is not to try to be too contextual. Otherwise, you'll end up with something like the well-intentioned confusion of Century, this 20-unit complex where Market, 15th, and Sanchez meet. The south flank is intended to connect with Market's broad potential, while the north attempts to fit into the more domestic 15th Street scene.
One triangular building has at least four separate facades. That three is too many.

humble charm

• Where is: 2300 Market St., Upper Market.
• Architect: unknown.
• Height: 4 floors.
• Opening date: November 1904, XNUMX

Our last stop is an old classic that a 1976 architectural study called "perhaps the best Mission Revival apartment building in town."

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A long form of cream stucco surmounted by a wooden cornice, and in the corner what might almost be a pointed turret. The Market Street side breaks the long wall into deep sections, 16th Street rises sharply.

This is the potential and beauty of iron buildings: they adapt to the topography and urban network in several ways. This is part of what makes Northeast San Francisco unforgettable.

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