The History of Architecture in the Gaslamp Quarters and the Architects

If architecture is the design of space that affects emotions in ways that affect human

behavior, well-being, civic and social interactions, then the Gaslamp Quarter today is a

thriving embodiment of those qualities. Its long and rich historical architecture charms

visitors and residents alike. The architects and developers who played a crucial role in

this rich architectural history are highlighted for their contributions to the Gaslamp

Quarter and are reflected here as some of the district’s cherished historic structures.

William Heath Davis, Town Developer

Town developer, William Heath Davis, though not an architect, constructed the first 10

buildings on the waterfront area in 1850, on what was then barren land. The 10

prefabricated “saltbox” New England style architecture was the first attempt to create an

architectural urban style in the downtown area. These structures served the needs of

businesses, visitors, a military detachment and residents. Only one such structure

remains today, the Davis-Horton House on 4th and Island. The Davis’s project fell

dormant for 17 years until the next town developer, Alonzo Horton, came to San Diego

and successfully revived the Gaslamp Quarter along 5ht Avenue to the waterfront.

Alonzo Erastus Horton, Town Developer

When Alonzo came to San Diego, downtown was still a dusty, rough and rowdy western

town covered with dry brush, little green vegetation, few trees, and no water source.

Alonzo Horton promptly laid out his 960-acre subdivision with the Gaslamp Quarter as

its core, which ran along 5th Avenue from Broadway to the waterfront. Although the

Gaslamp Quarter boasted a temperate climate and a magnificent natural harbor, the

land had little natural resources. Lumber to build houses had to be procured from

northern California and Oregon, and clay had to be gathered locally to make bricks. Iron

foundries were built though, and slowly America’s Finest City began to take form. It is

here, along 5th Street, that San Diego’s architectural evolution truly began to take shape.

The years between the late 1870s through the early part of the 20th century was a

period of intense growth, aided by a bevy of talented, imaginative architects specializing

in established styles from European roots to innovative Asian inspired and frontier

styles. The result was a carefully crafted and artful blending of structures, reflecting

European Renaissance, Victorian, Romanesque, Italianate, Chinese and early Chicago

commercial styles. Today, the district is registered as a National Historic District with

strict regulations that help preserve this rich architectural history, while allowing for new

and innovative design approaches that blend the old and the new.

William, Charles, and Edward Quayle, Architects

Of the many popular and prolific architects of the time, several stand out. Probably the most

productive were the Quayle brothers, William and Charles and their father, Edward. They incorporated Spanish Renaissance and Romanesque features in their buildings. Their

structures included:

Sensenbrenner Building (1920)

Scott-Ingersoll Building (1905)

Golden Lion (1907)

Whitney Building (1906)

Hotel Lester (!906)

Brunswick Drug Building (1900) Granger Building (1904)

John Stannard, Architect

John Stannard is best known for the iconic Louis Bank of Commerce building, fondly

known as the “Queen of the Gaslamp.” This Italianate Baroque Revival structure, built in

1888, is the most photographed building in the Gaslamp. The buildings are no less

elaborate but exhibited different architectural styles:

Cole Block (1892)

Minear Building (1910)

Sherman-Gilbert House (1887)

Irving Gill & William Hebbard, Architects

A familiar name to many is Irving Gill. Mr. Gill utilized his own unique style, which was quite

different from the ornate old-world styles. He stressed simplicity and usefulness. He is

considered a leader in the Modernist movement in architecture. His works are found throughout San Diego, including the water fountain in Horton Plaza. His buildings

included:

Las Flores Hotel (1912)

Buell-Towne Building (1898)

Gerichton, Petersen & Choate Building (1894)

In collaboration with another well-known architect, William Hebbard, they produced:

F. F. Wright Block (1894)

National City & Otay Railroad Depot (1896)

William Lacy, Architect

William Lacy, one of our earliest contributors to downtown architecture, designed:

Old City Hall (1874)

Bijou Theater (1875)

Spencer-Ogden Building (1874)

Higgins-Begole Building (1873)

Richard Requa, Architect

Richard Requa designed several iconic structures that are enjoyed by tourists and

residents, alike. The most famous are the structures in Balboa Park:

Balboa Park 1915 Expo Buildings

William Wheeler, Architect

William Wheeler is best known for his design of the Balboa Theater, which is still in use today as an active venue for performances, public events, and theater. The Spanish Renaissance structure boasts a monochromatic tiled dome and a large interior tiled floor mural depicting Juan Rodrigues Cabrillo, regarded as the first European to sail along the shores of present-day San Diego.

Balboa Theater (1924)