Coronado
OH! San Diego 2024
Sunday, March 10th
About Coronado
The start of modern-day Coronado can be traced back to 1885 when Elisha Babcock and Hampton Story purchased a one-time Spanish rancho that spanned Coronado, North Island and the Silver Strand. Their vision was to establish “The grandest hotel on the Pacific coast,” nestled within a master-planned community of wide avenues, parklands, handsome public buildings and attractive beachside residences. Coronado’s history is a rich one. In the early 1900s, Coronado’s balmy weather and remote location helped cement its fame as both a world-renowned resort and the birthplace of Naval aviation. In 1911, famed aviator Glenn Curtiss leased North Island and in order to experiment with his newly developed seaplane. He eventually convinced the U.S. Navy to establish its first aircraft squadron there. Even today, Coronado is the destination of presidents and kings, Hollywood stars, and visitors from every corner of the world. Still, at its core, Coronado is an easy-going welcoming community.
The Coronado Historical Association will serve as the Coronado Open House Hub.
This neighborhood is sponsored by Nikki Kreibich.
Coronado Historical Association
Neighborhood Hub
1100 Orange Avenue
Coronado
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Self-guided tours will be available.
Constructed in 1911, this landmark building was designed in the Neoclassical architectural style. The building holds a special place in the City of Coronado's history as the home of Coronado's first bank—the Bank of Commerce and Trust—and for its association with the bank’s president G. Aubrey Davidson, who is considered to be the father of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. Over the years, various businesses and organizations operated in the building, including the Coronado post office, the Coronado Beach Company office, City Hall and offices, and Marco’s Italian Restaurant. Today, the building is home to the Coronado Historical Association.
Architects: Kenneth MacDonald, Jr. and George Applegarth
Hotel Del Coronado - Industrial Complex
1500 Orange Avenue
Coronado
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Self-guided tours, set at intervals with a limited number of people per group.
Established in 1888, one of the most publicly accessible resorts on the west coast, the Hotel Del Coronado stands as a cherished National Historic Landmark. obrARCHITECTURE, inc. was tasked with developing a multi-phased master plan that respects the hotel's rich history while enhancing its allure for leisure, gatherings, and hospitality. Explore the campus-wide renovation starting at the new Avenida Del Sol entrance, journey through the historic Industrial Complex that houses The Oxford, Laundry, Ice House, and Powerplant buildings, and relish in the transformation of this iconic destination.
Architect of building renovations: obrARCHITECTURE, inc.
Original Designer: James Reid
Glorietta Bay Inn
1630 Glorietta Boulevard
Coronado
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Self-guided tours available.
It was on Coronado Island that Spreckels built his dream home on five acres of land overlooking Glorietta Bay across from the Hotel del Coronado. In 1906, Spreckels, 53, contracted Architect Harrison Albright to design and build the Mansion. The building, designed with the simple, classic lines of Italian Renaissance, was complete in 1908 with six bedrooms, three baths, a parlor, dining room and library at the cost of $35,000. At that time, Spreckels' Mansion featured a brass cage elevator, a marble staircase with leather-padded handrails, skylights, marble floors and some of the Island's most spectacular gardens. The home was built with reinforced steel and concrete, an earthquake precaution Spreckels insisted upon after living through the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Architect: Harrison Albright
Coronado Public Library
640 Orange Avenue
Coronado
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Self-guided tours available.
The Coronado Public Library, founded in 1890, was sustained for years by gifts and rent-free locations. John D. Spreckels, then owner of the Hotel del Coronado, finally endowed and built the permanent library building. The original 1909 building in the classical revival style, now serves as the Spreckels Reading Room. It is the centerpiece of the 40,000 square feet remodeled and expanded library. The library has a robust public art program with several significant works on display within the building. The monumental 48 foot long, 1930’s mural by Alfredo Ramos Martinez was added to the new light-filled, travertine tiled lobby above the circulation desk. The entry portal to the Children’s Library features illustrations by artist Brenda Smith, from The Wizard of Oz, as an homage to its author L. Frank Baum, who lived in Coronado.
Architects: Harrison Albright, 1909 / Homer Delawie, 1974 / MW Steele, 2005
Irving J. Gill Adaptive Reuse Church to School
1123 8th Street
Coronado
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Self-guided tours available.
Irving J. Gill is considered one of the pioneering architects of the modern movement. This space is a hall within a church that has been adapted to be a Montessori school. The intervention is subtle, as its priority is to respect and enhance the original space, which boasts a beautiful natural light. The space has been furnished with Montessori furniture and materials, and a mobile made of origami with colorful paper has been added as a playful distinctive feature.
Original Architect: Irving J. Gill
Renovation: Rosa Agraz
El Mirador Apartment
1820 Avenida Del Mundo, Unit 407
Coronado
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Guided tours only.
The El Mirador apartment has been renovated to meet the spatial needs of the client, taking into account the limitations and restrictions of the existing space. The design of the spaces has created a very interesting spatial transition, from the entrance of the apartment to the breathtaking view of the bay and downtown San Diego. In this project, cutting-edge materials have been used that reflect the versatility and sophistication of current finishes. These materials not only provide a modern and elegant look, but also demonstrate attention to detail and quality in the selection of each element. El Mirador is a testament to how intelligent renovation and the use of state-of-the-art materials can transform a limited space into a functional and aesthetically pleasing place. This renovated apartment is a reflection of current trends in interior design and a showcase of excellence in the execution of projects of this kind.
Architect: Rosa Agraz
Village Theatres Theatre
820 Orange Ave.
Coronado
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Combination of self-guided and guided tours of the 3 auditoriums and lobby area.
Originally constructed in 1947, the 9,000-square foot art deco style Village Theatre debuted to roaring success with a showing of “Irish Eyes Are Smiling” in Technicolor. For more than 50 years, the theatre was a centerpiece of Coronado, but by 2000, it had fallen into disrepair.
After 10 years and over 3 million dollars from the city and private investors, Vintage Cinemas of Los Angeles opened the etched glass doors of the Village Theatre once again in 2011.
Noted theater designer Joseph Musli (of Hollywood's Egyptian Theater remodel fame) conceived the interiors to reflect the grand movie palaces of yesteryear. An eyesore became eye candy for a new generation, and home to Coronado Island Film Festival for the past 9 years.
Renovation was designed by Brian White and Ronald Wright. Hand painted murals by former Disney artist Bill Anderson of Mural Makers.