Top 5 Buildings with the Best Architecture in California.
Architecture is a unique and exciting way to put your creativity to work on a large scale. A California architecture school can help you develop these skills. Then, from homes to businesses you can showcase your art for the world to see.
Take a look at these five buildings in California, to get a glimpse into different architectural styles you can start to explore while attending a California architecture school.
1. Hotel Del Coronado
Located in the city of Coronado, this luxurious late Victorian hotel sits on the beachfront, offering magnificent views and a wide range of activities for guests. Developed by James W. Reid, the hotel first opened in 1888, which makes it one of the oldest all-wooden buildings in California. Two thousand laborers worked together in the building of the hotel, the pavilion tower and Reid’s masterpiece, the Crown Room. Today, the hotel has 381 rooms and an additional 37 cottages and villas.
2. Ahwahnee Hotel
Situated in the Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park, sits this magnificent full service hotel. Designed by Gilbert Stanley Underwood, the hotel is constructed from glass, wood, concrete and stone. The cost of $1,225,000 back then went to labor costs and building materials – 5,000 tons of granite, 30,000 feet of timber and 1,000 tons of steel. After only 11 months of construction the hotel opened its doors in 1927.
3. Hearst Castle
This brilliant castle is located on the central coast of California near the community of Sam Simeon. Designed by Julia Morgan, this castle with an area of 60,645 square feet, was built in 1919. When built, the castle consisted of 56 bedrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 61 bathrooms and 127 acres of swimming pools, gardens, tennis courts, an airfield and the world’s largest privately owned zoo. Along with the many magnificent features inside this castle, there are also three guest houses on the property.
4. San Francisco City Hall
This five story Beaux-Arts building opened in San Francisco in 1915, after nearly two years of construction. Designed by Arthur Brown, Jr. the building replaced the previous city hall which was destroyed by an earthquake in 1907. Sitting on two city blocks, this building consists of 7,900 tons of steel and has the fifth largest dome in the world. The exterior features Madera County granite and the interior is faced with Indiana sandstone.
5. Transamerica Pyramid
This stunning pyramid style tower is located in San Francisco and is the tallest building in the city. Completed in 1972, this four-sided pyramid tower was designed by William Pereira. It was constructed using 16,000 cubic yards of concrete and has a total of 530,000 square feet. The tower features two separate wings which house an elevator shaft on the east side and a smoke tower and stairwell on the west side. Aluminum panels cover the top of the tower which provides a brilliant white light display on Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July.
Inspired yet? Start today to bring your artistic passion to life.
