Glorietta Bay Inn-Coronado
|  |
John D. Spreckels Influence on San Diego Architecture
Tip of the Week: May 5, 2007 Harrison Albright was the Southern California architect who brought
his idea of reinforced concrete to some notable buildings in San
Diego and Coronado. Albright's vision gave him the opportunity, in
1906, to build the U.S. Grant Hotel on Broadway, in downtown San
Diego. Then came the interest of John D. Spreckels, sugar magnate,
who linked up with Albright to build his office downtown in 1908
(San Diego Union Building) and his Coronado homes.
The Coronado mansion was built in 1910 on Glorietta Blvd. across
Orange Avenue from the Hotel Del Coronado. Perched on a hill over-
looking the bay, the mansion can be recognized by its Beaux Arts
style. What most folks don't know is that the mansion is part of
the Glorietta Bay Inn. Just follow Glorietta Blvd. around the golf
course and veer right up the hill when you approach the fork in
the road. If you go, park the car, walk around the mansion and
take a look.
One house is not enough, though. Spreckels also had Albright build
a two-story "beach house" on Ocean Blvd. in Coronado. The house
at 1043 Ocean was built in 1908. We should all be directly across
the street from the Pacific in a 'smaller' house like this! Nevertheless, the Italian Renaissance Revival-styled house was less expansive than the mansion but still had/has grand style to it.
NOTE: Notice the incredible short distance from the beach
house to the mansion.
On to the Coronado Library, Spreckels asked Albright to build the
1600 sq. foot library which was completed in 1908. The building
was, of course, built of reinforced concrete making it virtually
fireproof and used the Italian Renaissance Revival-style. It was
expanded in 1971. However, a new library was built within the last
couple of years. All three parts of the library still stand
together, albeit oddly, on Orange Avenue.
The Spreckels-Albright team built yet another building which can be
regarded as their best--the Coronado Bank Building. It was built to
mirror the curves of Orange Avenue at Loma Avenue. The Silver
Strand Theater, part of the building, was touted as a great
addition opening in 1917.
| 
