Contents
Preface xi
Introduction xv
Part One: Genesis and Evolution
Chapter 1
Change in the Architecture of Alamo Square 1
Walking and Observing 5
The Use of Maps for Observation Purposes 8
Chapter 2 Some History 25
The Gridiron and Early Surveys 27
Squatters and the Struggle for Land Titles 28
The Western and Other Additions 32
Public Interest 35 Transportation 39
Early Land Subdivision and Development Industry 39
Early House Construction Industry 41
The Effects of Pre-grid Development 42
Anticipating Future Development 46
Alleys and Small Lots 47
Differences between Individual and Speculative Building 49
Part Two: Design and Building Traditions in the Nineteenth Century
Chapter 3
Elements of Order: Gridiron, Lots, and Boxes 51
A Closer Look at Land Subdivision 51
A Closer Look at House Design 56
Fronts and Backs: The Public and Private Facades 66
Order and Disorder, Unity and Variety: The Settlers' Options 71
Chapter 4
Elements of Variety: Street Ends, House Bases, Setbacks, and Location within the Block 75
Demands of the Natural Environment 75
Limited Prescriptions 81
Traditions Are Not Laws 86
Chapter 5
The Physical Structure of Urban Space: 1890s 89
Elements and Scales 89
Rules 91
Emerging Rules for the Architecture of City Blocks 92
Rigidity and Ingenuity 92
Part Three: Changing Traditions in the Twentieth Century
Chapter 6
Apartment Buildings 97
Changes in the Subdivision of Land 97
New Collective House Forms 100
Public and Private Facades 116
Building Bases 119
Chapter 7
New Physical Structures of Urban Space: 1 920s and 1 960s 1 25
The 1920s Structure of Space 125
The 1960s Structure of Space 127
The Structure of Space as a Design Tool 131
Part Four: Lessons in City and Building Design
Chapter 8
The Incremental Nature of Change 133
The Nature of Coexistence 134
What Comes First Remains 134
Lots as Increments of Change 139
Bridging City Design and Architecture 144
Chapter 9
The Issue of Control 145
Two Forms of Control: Tenure and Inhabitation 145
Land Aggregation and Collectivization of Residential Space 146
Loss of Control 147
The Condominium as a Response 150
Chapter 10
Density, Building, and City Design 151
Ten Blocks in Alamo Square 151
Densities 152
Loss in Density 1 52
Building in the Middle of the Block 153
Chapter 1 1
Meeting the Unexpected: Breathing Spaces and Resilience 157
Resilience at the City Scale 158
Resilience within Buildings 176
Lessons for Design 188
Afterthoughts 188
Epilogue
How San Francisco Planned for Change 191
Appendix A
The Data and the Analyses 243
Appendix B
Detailed Data of Ten Blocks 249
Bibliography 261
Sources and Credits 273
Index 277