1580 Beach Street, Marina

As part of its 2003 Historic Preservation Awards, the Art Deco Society of California includes this apartment building at 1580 Beach Street, Marina. Designed by R R Irvine, it was built around 1931 and in 2003, over seventy years later, it was still owned by the same family.

It is not difficult to see how the building was chosen for a preservation award. The floral panels at the roofline above the window bays are stunning.

The retro-fitted fire escape interferes with the decoration of the facade above the main entrance but no doubt it is a necessary precaution in the Bay Area.

I'm interested to know if the garage was pert of the original design or added at a later date. In other case it is well done in keeping with the style of the building.

I find the paintwork on the small metal balcony a little twee. I suppose it does allow the decoration to be seen more clearly but I would have prefered to see the metalwork all the same colour and probably the beige colour rather than the blue.

The entrance, on the other hand, with its combination of colour works for me and I think it would look even better when the flowers are in full bloom.

Reference:
Historical Preservation Award Winners - 2003, Art Deco Society of California