Herman C. Baumann in the TL Architecture Walking Tour

Discover the work of Herman C. Baumann, who ushered modern multi-unit hotels and apartments into the Tenderloin with distinctive flourishes inspired by Spanish Colonial Revival and baroque styles. Seasoned walking tour guide, historian, and emeritus city planning professor Linda Day continues her spotlight series on notable architects whose post-quake buildings define the TL’s built environment. 

After nearly all of downtown San Francisco was destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and fires, the Tenderloin was rebuilt as an apartment/hotel district between 1906 and 1929; architect Herman C. Baumann one of its most prolific designers and builders. Recognizing the complexity of modern multiple unit buildings, Baumann partnered with engineer Edward Jose for many of these years. Some of the downtown residents for whom they built chose to live permanently in hotels. 

On this special focus architecture walking tour with Linda Day, attendees will visit the San Francisco city landmarked Gaylord Suites at 620 Jones street, originally a residential hotel. Inspired by the buildings of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego, it is embellished with a Spanish Colonial Revival building entry, facade, and lobby. The tour will also visit the Farrellworth at 601 O'Farrel, which is another stunning example of using this design vocabulary. Baumann often ornamented his buildings with terra cotta to express baroque details because it could be molded into intricate shapes and then fired with colorful glazes. A walk-by of Princess Apartments, 155 Hyde, shows his elaborate use of terracotta. In addition to this iconic trio, Day’s tour will highlight nine buildings that illustrate Baumann's artistry, equally divided between apartments and hotels.