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267:. Its glass curtain facade was a precursor to modern skyscraper development. It has been argued to be the most important building in San Francisco. Polk was a versatile architect, with particular skill in combining classical styles with environmental harmony. He was regarded for his elegant residential work, mainly in mansions and estates, in the Georgian Revival style for wealthy and prominent San Francisco residents.
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He struggled to earn commissions, and in 1897 he declared bankruptcy. However, an opportunity presented itself in 1899. Francis
Hamilton, of the local firm Percy & Hamilton, died, and George Washington Percy asked Polk to be his new partner. Polk was primarily in charge of design and employee
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in New York and moved with Brown's firm to San
Francisco, subsequently taking over the Ferry Building project following Brown's death. Though his own career was inconsistent during these years, Polk became an active and outspoken advocate for the architectural profession and the standards of good
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were contributors to the News. In 1894, Polk led the Guild of Arts and Crafts, an organization of artists and architects, in an effort to create a Board of Public Works that would approve the design of all municipal projects. Polk also wrote a series of short critiques for
282:. In 1917, Polk designed but was not involved in the construction of the single family homes at 831, 837, 843 and 849 Mason Street in the exclusive area of Nob Hill in San Francisco at the intersection with California Street opposite the
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to gain more experience as a draftsperson. Since Van Brunt & Howe of Boston had just established a branch office there, a few years later Willis Jr left Kansas City to seek his future studying under former Van Brunt associate
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management, while Percy focused on the business end. The partnership gave Polk a relief to his debt and the opportunity to work on large-scale commercial structures. The partnership designed five buildings, including
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By 1910, Willis Polk was recognized as one of the most influential architects and urban planners in the city. Polk was again credited for designing the tallest building in San
Francisco when his
137:, where Willis Webb Polk, the father, serving as a founding member of the Kansas City Architects Association, was able to introduce his eldest son to Adriance Van Brunt, principal of the firm
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design. During 1890-91 he published three issues of the
Architectural News, conceived as an alternative to the conservative California Architect and Building News. In addition to Polk,
106:(October 3, 1867 – September 10, 1924) was an American architect, best known for his work in San Francisco, California. For ten years, he was the West Coast representative of
244:
leaders who undertook ambitious plans to rebuild a world-class city. Polk was tasked with convincing city officials to adopt
Burnham's 1905 Plan of San Francisco.
194:, a San Francisco weekly review, between 1892 and 1899. At times harsh in his criticisms, Polk often alienated colleagues and former associates with his comments.
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to architect builder Willis Webb Polk (1836-1906). The eldest of four children, in 1873 he moved with his family to Saint Louis, Missouri and again by 1881 to
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building. 849 Mason Street was redeveloped into four luxury apartments called Four at the Top in 1983 by the restaurateur and wine maker
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in Santa Clara, California. After his death, his stepson Austin P. Moore ran his business Willis Polk & Co. into the 1930s.
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NE corner of 9th & Dolores, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California (1903 - for Polk's parents, Willis & Endemial Polk)
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Alvinza
Hayward Building (1906), 400 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California; San Francisco Landmark #161;
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was completed in 1914. In 1915, Polk was appointed the chair of the architectural planning committee for the
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1063:
Chronological listing of 65 selected extant architectural works in the Bay Area by Willis Polk (1890-1932)]
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490:, estate located in Hillsborough, California. Built by Willis, following the plans of French architect
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130:, Arkansas. Willis Jr began his architectural training with his brother Daniel in his father's office.
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228:. Polk designed several of his most notable structures while associated with the firm, including the
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opened up numerous opportunities for Polk to design
Burnham structures. He was a member of Mayor
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263:. One of Polk's most influential commissions came in 1916, when he was tasked to design the
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On the Edge of the World: Four
Architects in San Francisco at the Turn of the Century
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361:, 2550 Webster Street, Pacific Heights, San Francisco, California (1896) made for
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First Church of Christ
Scientist, 43 E. Saint James St., San Jose, California. A
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723:. New York: Reinhold Publishing Corporation. pp. 37–38. ASIN B000I3Z52W.
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adopted a design by Willis Polk. It was used with small changes until 1998.
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Valentine Rey house, 428 Golden Gate Avenue, Belvedere, California (1893)
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232:, the tallest building in San Francisco upon its completion in 1903. The
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302:, California on September 10, 1924, at the age of 56. He is buried in
738:. Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians. pp. 55–56.
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592:. Redwood City, CA: San Mateo County Historical Association, 2006.
408:-style church with the floor in the shape of a Greek cross (1904)
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and later associated with the Hearst family, featured in 1899 in
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255:. When the exposition concluded, Polk led the effort to preserve
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868:"Willis Polk Collection, 1890-1937 - Collection Number: 1934-1"
224:. From 1903 to 1913, Polk was the West Coast representative of
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Townhouses at 831-849 Mason Street, San Francisco, California
274:, Polk's productivity declined. He oversaw the design of the
110:. In 1915, Polk oversaw the architectural committee for the
500:, 582–592 Market Street, San Francisco, California (1914)
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86 Sea View, Piedmont, California (for James K. Moffitt)
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After much dissatisfaction with their logo, in 1894 the
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First Church of Christ Scientist San Jose, California
484:, 400 Jibboom Street, Sacramento, California (1912)
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Pacific Gas & Electric Company, River Station B
476:St. Mark's Episcopal Church (Berkeley, California)
449:reconstruction of old Chronicle Building, now the
329:Example of a Polk-designed house in San Francisco
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414:, San Francisco (1904; 1907 reconstruction with
1072:San Francisco: A cultural and literary history
966:"Percy & Hamilton Partnership (1880–1899)"
162:Willis Polk's early career included work with
1010:"'Country Elegance' comes to Woodside in May"
559:, 425 Mason Street, San Francisco, California
122:Willis Polk was born on October 3, 1867, in
278:and Veterans Building, part of the planned
216:In 1901, Polk went on a tour of Europe and
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1126:Architecture in the San Francisco Bay Area
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651:Pacific Coast Architecture Database (PCAD)
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988:San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
780:William E. Colby Library, The Sierra Club
568:22 Roble Road, Berkeley, California (for
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220:. In Chicago, he met prominent architect
541:, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco (1925)
399:The American Architect and Building News
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734:Longstreth, Richard W. (October 1974).
253:Panama–Pacific International Exposition
112:Panama–Pacific International Exposition
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133:In 1885, Polk's family moved again to
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877:. University of California, Berkeley.
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170:. In 1889, Polk joined the office of
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641:
639:
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915:"Willis Polk scrapbooks, 1908-1924"
677:The Daily Sentinel (Hot Springs AK)
647:"Willis Jefferson Polk (Architect)"
506:, Woodside, California. (1915–1917)
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13:
1106:People from Jacksonville, Illinois
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705:. No. Page 5. April 12, 1885.
673:"Advertisement WW Polk & Sons"
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525:Clubhouse, San Francisco (c. 1924)
311:University of California, Berkeley
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1136:People from San Mateo, California
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624:. No. Page 8. April 22, 1888
1141:20th-century American architects
1111:19th-century American architects
460:(1908; expansions 1914 and 1918)
451:Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences
446:, Nob Hill, San Francisco (1907)
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1001:
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907:
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860:
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472:, Sacramento, California (1910)
470:Western Pacific Passenger Depot
373:Robert Louis Stevenson Memorial
309:Some of his papers are held at
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553:, Los Gatos, California (1931)
352:, Cupertino, California (1892)
16:American architect (1867–1924)
1:
1116:1906 San Francisco earthquake
893:California Historical Society
875:Environmental Design Archives
803:. Chicago: Sears, 1932. p. 75
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517:Mission San Francisco de AsĂs
234:1906 San Francisco earthquake
1035:"VLN: Willis Polk 1914-1918"
754:Online Archive of California
699:"An Architects' Association"
304:Santa Clara Mission Cemetery
213:was one of his apprentices.
86:Santa Clara Mission Cemetery
7:
831:– via Newspapers.com.
756:. The Regents of California
557:Spring Valley Water Company
512:, San Francisco (1917–1918)
412:Merchants Exchange Building
393:, California, for attorney
230:Merchants Exchange Building
76:San Mateo, California, U.S.
10:
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776:"Sierra Club Logo History"
721:Five California Architects
466:, Sunol, California (1910)
389:, private estate in rural
226:D.H. Burnham & Company
108:D.H. Burnham & Company
895:. Polk, Willis, 1867-1924
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30:
23:
1146:Architects from Illinois
889:"Willis Polk Scrapbooks"
750:"Willis Polk Collection"
586:Dwyer, Michael Middleton
458:Mills Building and Tower
315:Archives of American Art
276:War Memorial Opera House
118:Early life and education
430:George Washington Percy
395:Charles Stetson Wheeler
363:William Bowers Bourn II
164:McKim, Mead & White
1008:Papoulias, Alexander.
535:, San Francisco (1925)
523:St. Francis Yacht Club
456:reconstruction of the
453:, San Francisco (1907)
440:James C. Flood Mansion
438:reconstruction of the
379:, San Francisco, with
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321:Notable Polk buildings
124:Jacksonville, Illinois
58:Jacksonville, Illinois
1077:Willis Jefferson Polk
1041:on September 28, 2011
817:"Willis Polk Funeral"
703:The Kansas City Times
622:The Kansas City Times
618:"BIG OFFICE BUILDING"
551:McCullagh–Jones House
339:
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298:Polk died at home in
104:Willis Jefferson Polk
44:Willis Jefferson Polk
984:"Sunol Water Temple"
823:. September 12, 1924
348:, on the grounds of
139:Van Brunt & Howe
442:as new home of the
261:Palace of Fine Arts
148:Columbia University
144:William Robert Ware
1014:PaloAltoOnline.com
940:"St. James Square"
515:reconstruction of
464:Sunol Water Temple
444:Pacific-Union Club
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284:Mark Hopkins Hotel
242:Committee of Fifty
207:One Lombard Street
69:September 10, 1924
799:Mizner, Addison.
510:Hallidie Building
488:Carolands Chateau
377:Portsmouth Square
265:Hallidie Building
177:John Galen Howard
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1037:. Archived from
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346:Le Petit Trianon
294:Legacy and death
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580:Further reading
570:Duncan McDuffie
498:Hobart Building
391:Siskiyou County
350:De Anza College
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257:Bernard Maybeck
249:Hobart Building
185:Bertram Goodhue
168:Bernard Maybeck
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181:Ernest Coxhead
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1081:Find A Grave
1043:. Retrieved
1039:the original
1029:
1017:. Retrieved
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991:. Retrieved
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950:December 30,
948:. Retrieved
944:the original
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922:. Retrieved
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621:
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549:redesign of
529:Beach Chalet
416:Julia Morgan
406:Neoclassical
398:
381:Bruce Porter
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280:Civic Center
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71:(1924-09-10)
18:
1121:Polk family
1101:1924 deaths
1096:1867 births
1019:January 26,
993:January 26,
970:Noehill.com
924:January 26,
852:January 26,
827:January 26,
657:January 26,
545:Tobin House
494:(1914–1916)
272:World War I
199:Sierra Club
135:Kansas City
25:Willis Polk
1090:Categories
899:January 1,
760:January 1,
628:August 31,
604:References
288:Pat Kuleto
92:Occupation
50:1867-10-03
590:Carolands
300:San Mateo
96:Architect
785:July 13,
719:(1960).
191:The Wave
114:(PPIE).
1045:May 10,
847:FoundSF
387:Wyntoon
218:Chicago
683:May 2,
596:
519:(1917)
478:(1911)
401:(1899)
383:(1897)
369:famous
270:After
183:, and
158:Career
60:, U.S.
871:(PDF)
428:with
1047:2011
1021:2019
995:2019
952:2015
926:2019
901:2021
854:2019
829:2019
787:2024
762:2021
685:2020
659:2019
630:2020
594:ISBN
128:Hope
66:Died
40:Born
1079:on
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240:'s
150:in
146:at
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
