- I stopped by the Hoffman Showroom on Park Avenue this afternoon and, when the sales person asked if he could be of assistance, I told him that (unfortunately) I was only there to see the architecture. He welcomed me to look around and said that I was fortunate to have stopped by because it would all be gone in the near future as a remodeling would be taking place.
Anyone know of this? Perhaps the Conservancy should make some inquiries.
Hoffman Showroom
Hoffman Showroom
I haven't been to the M-B showroom on Park Ave since '83 or '84. Back then there was a lot of Wright or TAA furniture: built-ins, round tables with brochures and even some round hassocks...cushions were red/orange leather, and mirrors had been mounted on most columns, perimeter walls and portions of the ceiling. My 17 or 18 year old personage made it clear I was not there to make a purchase, but my interest in the architecture won me an invitation from the receptionist to wander.
Not sure if the showroom has been landmarked by NYC or not.
Not sure if the showroom has been landmarked by NYC or not.
I'm astounded to hear that this showroom remains (more or less ?) as Wright designed it. I had no idea . . . assuming that it would long ago have been remodeled. What's more ephemeral than retail space ?
Here in SF we have an old "auto row" on a main thoroughfare, Van Ness Avenue. Among its denizens is the 1928 Earel C Anthony Packard showroom, by the Bay Area's own Bernard Maybeck -- still in use, as a British Motors dealership. Its travertine and plaster exterior is intact, as is the elaborate interior with major coffered wooden ceiling.
http://tinyurl.com/8xrsjnj
The rooftop parking canopy is new.
SDR
Here in SF we have an old "auto row" on a main thoroughfare, Van Ness Avenue. Among its denizens is the 1928 Earel C Anthony Packard showroom, by the Bay Area's own Bernard Maybeck -- still in use, as a British Motors dealership. Its travertine and plaster exterior is intact, as is the elaborate interior with major coffered wooden ceiling.
http://tinyurl.com/8xrsjnj
The rooftop parking canopy is new.
SDR
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Roderick Grant
- Posts: 11815
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:48 am
TAA altered the showroom cosmetically without altering any major elements when it switched from Jaguar to Mercedes Benz. That's when the mirrors, which abound, were introduced, like the MB insignia in the ceiling.
SDR, speaking of non-residential buildings, do you know if that union headquarters in SF, across the street from the Hyatt, that was a knockoff of Morris, is still extant? Not great architecture, but an interesting homage to a masterpiece.
SDR, speaking of non-residential buildings, do you know if that union headquarters in SF, across the street from the Hyatt, that was a knockoff of Morris, is still extant? Not great architecture, but an interesting homage to a masterpiece.
RG: Oh, I thought the mirrors were Wright's innovation. Maybe the photos I've seen have been of the TAA alteration ?
I'm aware of the SF union building you mention -- neither of my SF architecture guides mentions it. I know it by its cast facade incorporating a repeat pattern of logotype emblems. I had missed its similarity to the Morris store; I assume you mean that it has a central volume, perhaps with a ramp ?
SDR
I'm aware of the SF union building you mention -- neither of my SF architecture guides mentions it. I know it by its cast facade incorporating a repeat pattern of logotype emblems. I had missed its similarity to the Morris store; I assume you mean that it has a central volume, perhaps with a ramp ?
SDR
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Roderick Grant
- Posts: 11815
- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:48 am
As has been noted, retail architecture seldom lasts long. In my memory, the Hoffman showroom went from somewhat bland and undercooked by FLlW to overcooked and gaudy with TAA's mirrors and chrome. But at least it is/was still there.
The Maybeck Packard showroom was actually originally black ceramic tile not the more restrained and elegant travertine that is there today. Look in some of the old architecture guidebooks and you will see it in the original configuration.
The union hall across from the Hyatt Regency for all intents and purposes no longer exists. Standard storefronts have been cut into it on the ground (a Subway sandwich shop) and second floor (a Chinese restaurant) altho some of the "logotype emblems" remain. I too always found that building vaguely Wrightian but never went inside. At any rate it has lost the interest it once had.
The Maybeck Packard showroom was actually originally black ceramic tile not the more restrained and elegant travertine that is there today. Look in some of the old architecture guidebooks and you will see it in the original configuration.
The union hall across from the Hyatt Regency for all intents and purposes no longer exists. Standard storefronts have been cut into it on the ground (a Subway sandwich shop) and second floor (a Chinese restaurant) altho some of the "logotype emblems" remain. I too always found that building vaguely Wrightian but never went inside. At any rate it has lost the interest it once had.
Jim
Thanks, Jim. Not knowing anything, I just spent a while searching Google street views of the neighborhood, and saw no sight of the building in question.
Does anybody know what union was housed there ? Maybe there are some old photos around.
Speaking of automobiles -- when I first arrived in the city, in the early eighties, a friend led me to an Aaron Green-designed parking lot in the Financial district -- somewhere. I saw it only once, and retain a vague memory. Long gone, of course . . .
SDR
Does anybody know what union was housed there ? Maybe there are some old photos around.
Speaking of automobiles -- when I first arrived in the city, in the early eighties, a friend led me to an Aaron Green-designed parking lot in the Financial district -- somewhere. I saw it only once, and retain a vague memory. Long gone, of course . . .
SDR
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Roderick Grant
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- Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 7:48 am
I have found two photos of the building in the 1976 San Francisco Architectural Survey. They show the building to be the National Maritime Union. The building was built in 1966. The text says "Loaded with explicit monogram decoration. A bauhaus ship floating on a very small ocean of blue tiles. The Tile monograms are Wrightian and the steamlined moderne/nautical allusions are handled geometrically as the master himself would have."
I googled National Maritime Museum and came up with an article on a building with a strong family resemblance - the headquarters of the NMU in NYC - as documented by DOCOMOMO - designed by Albert Ledner, who it says was a FLlW Fellow in 1954. That building was at 36 7th Ave in NYC and I remember it as being very interesting also. That article goes on to say Ledner designed buildings for the union in Baltimore, and Houston.
For someone who is more computer savvy than I, you may be able to post the photos of the SF building (the 1976 Survey is not on line) by going to
San Francisco Planning Department>Resource Center>SF Property Information Data Base>91 Drumm Street>Preservation>1976 Architectural Survey.
The remodeling apparently happened in 2004/2005 by inspecting building permits. It sounds like it was blue initially, but was painted cream in my memory.
Photos of the NYC building, and perhaps others, can be found online on the DOCOMOMO site.
I googled National Maritime Museum and came up with an article on a building with a strong family resemblance - the headquarters of the NMU in NYC - as documented by DOCOMOMO - designed by Albert Ledner, who it says was a FLlW Fellow in 1954. That building was at 36 7th Ave in NYC and I remember it as being very interesting also. That article goes on to say Ledner designed buildings for the union in Baltimore, and Houston.
For someone who is more computer savvy than I, you may be able to post the photos of the SF building (the 1976 Survey is not on line) by going to
San Francisco Planning Department>Resource Center>SF Property Information Data Base>91 Drumm Street>Preservation>1976 Architectural Survey.
The remodeling apparently happened in 2004/2005 by inspecting building permits. It sounds like it was blue initially, but was painted cream in my memory.
Photos of the NYC building, and perhaps others, can be found online on the DOCOMOMO site.
Jim
Well, thank you Jim ! Now we have some documentation of the National Maritime Union building, on Drumm St, the N/S street nearest the bay in this part of town. I had erroneously recalled this structure as being several blocks inland (west) from its actual location.
First, the Planning Dept Property Information page -- from 1976, when the building was ten years old. Then two current Google Street View images.
First, the Planning Dept Property Information page -- from 1976, when the building was ten years old. Then two current Google Street View images.
Last edited by SDR on Sun Feb 12, 2012 6:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Here's an online reference to the NYC National Maritime Union building by Albert Ledner. Jim, do we believe both NMU buildings -- from the same year -- were designed by Ledner ?
http://nyc-architecture.com/CHE/CHE025- ... eUnion.htm
SDR
http://nyc-architecture.com/CHE/CHE025- ... eUnion.htm
SDR
I am guessing the SF building is by Ledner, since he appears to have been their architect of choice at that time. In addition to the NYC building pictured above, with the portholes, he did another at 7th Avenue between 12th and 13th street for the union that has a family resemblance to the SF building. DOCOMOMO has quite a bit on both of those, and even had Ledner as a guest speaker a few years back. I also came on a Nov 25 2007 NYTimes article on the subject and Ledner, with pictures of both NYC buildings.
Jim