Guidebook for San Francisco
Sightseeing
It’s rare to find a stone building in San Francisco that predates the 1906 earthquake, so this 1874 survivor is a real gem. The Mint borrows its Doric columns, entablature, and pediment from the architecture of ancient Greek temples, but the architect, Alfred B. Mullett, used a later Roman interpretation of the Greek style on this imposing landmark.
Check out the Mint’s public calendar to see when you can get inside.
The San Francisco Mint
88 5th StIt’s rare to find a stone building in San Francisco that predates the 1906 earthquake, so this 1874 survivor is a real gem. The Mint borrows its Doric columns, entablature, and pediment from the architecture of ancient Greek temples, but the architect, Alfred B. Mullett, used a later Roman interpretation of the Greek style on this imposing landmark.
Check out the Mint’s public calendar to see when you can get inside.
A 20th century Gothic cathedral with Renaissance doors and two labyrinths in the middle of San Francisco? What’s not to like? Before you go inside, take a look at the exquisite replicas of Ghiberti’s famous doors made for the Baptistery of St. John in Florence, Italy.
For a truly local experience, come on Tuesday at 6:15 pm to peacefully walk the labyrinth outside before enjoying yoga inside the cathedral.
165 recommandé par les habitants
Grace Cathedral
1100 California StA 20th century Gothic cathedral with Renaissance doors and two labyrinths in the middle of San Francisco? What’s not to like? Before you go inside, take a look at the exquisite replicas of Ghiberti’s famous doors made for the Baptistery of St. John in Florence, Italy.
For a truly local experience, come on Tuesday at 6:15 pm to peacefully walk the labyrinth outside before enjoying yoga inside the cathedral.
A radical interpretation of church architecture, this 1971 building achieves what most good cathedrals do: surprise and awe inside. Travertine stone lends a classical Italian grandeur to the exterior, while on the inside, the medieval tradition of stained-glass windows shows up in an unusual form, as an equilateral cross hovering above.
The building was designed by a pair of Italians—engineer Pier Luigi Nervi and architect Pietro Belluschi—and takes inspiration from the Italian futurists of the early 20th century.
8 recommandé par les habitants
Cathedral Of Saint Mary Of The Assumption
1111 Gough StA radical interpretation of church architecture, this 1971 building achieves what most good cathedrals do: surprise and awe inside. Travertine stone lends a classical Italian grandeur to the exterior, while on the inside, the medieval tradition of stained-glass windows shows up in an unusual form, as an equilateral cross hovering above.
The building was designed by a pair of Italians—engineer Pier Luigi Nervi and architect Pietro Belluschi—and takes inspiration from the Italian futurists of the early 20th century.
Historically, people would go into a Gothic cathedral and their necks would snap up immediately, because they’d be so taken by its soaring verticality. This building does that pretty well. It’s vertically oriented, and there’s a ton of light coming in from above, both sacred architectural motifs.
Like all good cathedrals, the outside does not tell you everything. Enter quietly and you’ll find some unexpected surprises within, especially above the altar, where you’ll see a huge translucent figure of Jesus.
23 recommandé par les habitants
The Cathedral of Christ the Light
2121 Harrison StHistorically, people would go into a Gothic cathedral and their necks would snap up immediately, because they’d be so taken by its soaring verticality. This building does that pretty well. It’s vertically oriented, and there’s a ton of light coming in from above, both sacred architectural motifs.
Like all good cathedrals, the outside does not tell you everything. Enter quietly and you’ll find some unexpected surprises within, especially above the altar, where you’ll see a huge translucent figure of Jesus.
Designed by popular San Francisco architect Willis Polk in 1917, this building is famous for being one of the first that used a steel frame to support a glass curtain-wall facade—an idea that changed architecture forever. This technology was radically modern at the time, but notice how the building also has a bit of 19th century eclectic ornamentation.
The building now houses the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), where interesting exhibits are typically open to the public.
Hallidie Building
130 Sutter StDesigned by popular San Francisco architect Willis Polk in 1917, this building is famous for being one of the first that used a steel frame to support a glass curtain-wall facade—an idea that changed architecture forever. This technology was radically modern at the time, but notice how the building also has a bit of 19th century eclectic ornamentation.
The building now houses the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), where interesting exhibits are typically open to the public.
This neoclassical masterpiece is the monumental heart of the Civic Center. If you look closely, you’ll see it includes all kinds of historical styles and references. At the center, a base of Roman arches supports a Greek Doric temple motif above, with a massive dome behind. The dome, no doubt, was inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
The interior is open to the public during regular hours, and inside you will find tributes to former mayor George Moscone and county supervisor Harvey Milk, both assassinated within its walls.
134 recommandé par les habitants
San Francisco City Hall
1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett PlThis neoclassical masterpiece is the monumental heart of the Civic Center. If you look closely, you’ll see it includes all kinds of historical styles and references. At the center, a base of Roman arches supports a Greek Doric temple motif above, with a massive dome behind. The dome, no doubt, was inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
The interior is open to the public during regular hours, and inside you will find tributes to former mayor George Moscone and county supervisor Harvey Milk, both assassinated within its walls.
Many American civic buildings—like city halls, libraries, and courthouses—adopt the familiar institutional architecture of a neoclassical structure with impressive colonnades. But this building, designed by LA-based Morphosis, rejects much of that tradition. It’s a fresh, radical take on a federal building.
Remarkably undervisited, the Skygarden is open to the public on weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm. Just show an ID and go through the expected security measures and take the elevator to the 12th floor to enjoy the views!
San Francisco Federal Building
90 7th StMany American civic buildings—like city halls, libraries, and courthouses—adopt the familiar institutional architecture of a neoclassical structure with impressive colonnades. But this building, designed by LA-based Morphosis, rejects much of that tradition. It’s a fresh, radical take on a federal building.
Remarkably undervisited, the Skygarden is open to the public on weekdays from 9 am to 3 pm. Just show an ID and go through the expected security measures and take the elevator to the 12th floor to enjoy the views!
A fine example of international style modernism, this mid-century office highrise has an impressive glass curtain-wall skin. This was built while many of the more iconic mid-century skyscrapers went up in Manhattan, and in some ways is more impressive than its larger Eastern counterparts.
Because the elevators, stairwells, and other services are in their own adjacent structure, the office tower itself is able to be lifted up off the earth, with a totally transparent entrance. This became a hallmark of mid-century modern architecture.
One Bush Plaza
A fine example of international style modernism, this mid-century office highrise has an impressive glass curtain-wall skin. This was built while many of the more iconic mid-century skyscrapers went up in Manhattan, and in some ways is more impressive than its larger Eastern counterparts.
Because the elevators, stairwells, and other services are in their own adjacent structure, the office tower itself is able to be lifted up off the earth, with a totally transparent entrance. This became a hallmark of mid-century modern architecture.
Arts & Culture
Swiss architect Mario Botta’s classical symmetry and blocky forms from 1995 are now paired with the sinuous 2016 addition by Norwegian-based architectural team Snøhetta. The combination makes for a fantastic dialogue—some would say debate—between different approaches to museum architecture.
Coming in from Third Street, note the oblique staircase Snøhetta added to Botta’s original atrium. Check out the new dynamic staircases at the back entrance, too.
813 recommandé par les habitants
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
151 3rd StSwiss architect Mario Botta’s classical symmetry and blocky forms from 1995 are now paired with the sinuous 2016 addition by Norwegian-based architectural team Snøhetta. The combination makes for a fantastic dialogue—some would say debate—between different approaches to museum architecture.
Coming in from Third Street, note the oblique staircase Snøhetta added to Botta’s original atrium. Check out the new dynamic staircases at the back entrance, too.