An 18 unit multi-family housing project that fell on design hard times. An unusual conglomeration of indefinable 'styles' and pastiche. Describing this building as ugly would do an injustice to an articulate explanation of what happens when schlock meets Hillcrest. The bulk and scale of the structure fits on Washington Avenue like an 800 pound gorilla in a hobbit house. From arches that appear to have no function and seem to be forced, window openings that do not make any sense on the facade, difficult looking connections between materials, two foot long metal railings that make’s one has ask, why did you even bother, to an out of scale pitched roof that rivals the out of place looking roof of the Hillcrest Medical Center Building, the building couldn't have tried harder to be out of place. It seems not a cliché decoration was left out. The 70's called and said they don't what their design style back. The larger problem is that this structure will be around a long time and we all know the only thing worse than a good design is a bad design. A missed opportunity for sure. You know you have a design problem when the signage isn’t even consistent.

Project Information

Project Address: 

3972 Albatross Ave., San Diego, CA 92103

Project Owner/ Developer: 

Mission Florence L.L.C.

Project Architect/ Designer: 

Bejan Arfaa, 2900 4th Ave., San Diego, CA 92103

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