Nature and Architecture Galore at Balboa Park, San Diego - Part 1

sisterhood2 (64)in Architecture+Design • 2 years ago (edited)

Hello Hivers,

Hope everyone is doing well. Let me take you to this place that we recently ‘discovered’ on a random trip to San Diego, California - Balboa Park, a 1200- acre historic urban cultural park with many walking paths, lush gardens, and historic museums, among other attractions. It is a place where nature and fine architecture coexist. Great place to visit.

We drove into Balboa Park at midday and found a parking spot adjacent to one of the Park’s wooded areas. It’s called Palm Canyon, where giant palm trees and giant-rooted trees thrive. It smelled of fresh air.

I think these are called fig trees. Look at those giant roots

There's a wooden stairway for access to the Palm Canyon

We walked through the canopy of trees and crossed a wooden footbridge into the street leading to the center of the park - a most amazing Spanish Colonial complex with an array of the most ornate and intricate structures. These buildings, along with Balboa Park itself - were built in 1915 for the Panama-California Exposition that celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal. It showcased San Diego as the first port-of-call on the US west coast, thus putting this small town on the map!

These architectural gems have been restored, some recreated, and are now permanent fixtures in beautiful Balboa Park. They were designed by Spanish colonial architect Bertram Goodhue. Even from afar, they look amazing.

The House of Hospitality -The Centerpiece

The first colonial building that crossed our path was the House of Hospitality, formerly called the Foreign Arts Building; it was the centerpiece of the 1915 Exposition. It has a very intricate facade, the decorative details inspired by the 16th-century facade of the Santa Cruz hospital in Toledo, Spain. Around the portal and windows are rich spots and panels of ornament, coats-of-arms, and ornamental motifs. The walls however are plain, left bare. The current building is a recreation of 1915 original and was designed by architect Carleton Winslow in a Spanish Renaissance or Plateresque style.

There’s a towering sculpture of a cross above the portal. Today it is draped in purple and blue colors.**(Why?)

There were tall cypresses that framed the entrance and flowering geraniums around the building, which added beauty and color to the setting.

This house is now home to the Prado restaurant and Balboa Park Visitor Center

Park trams stop in front of the Visitor Center for drop off and pick up. Free ride!

Fronting the House of Hospitality is an open space called the Plaza de Panama furnished with tables, chairs, and umbrellas - a nice place to rest, and take a break. There are also a few kiosks for souvenirs and food. Yes, churros! A few visitors were sitting it out and enjoying the view. We also rested here later, on our way back.

There’s a water fountain in the middle of the plaza, ornately decorated and surrounded by colorful spring flowers. I think these are called fox gloves. So lovely!

At the entrance of the Plaza is a tall 23-foot bronze sculpture of the Spanish knight El Cid. I tried to take a nice picture of it but captured only its silhouette. (My lens was facing the afternoon sun, so..).

The California Tower

From the Plaza, we turned left on El Prado St and walked towards the California Tower which is near the Park entrance. Bells were chiming from that direction every 15 minutes as if there was a mass or something. So we headed to the Tower, which is described as San Diego’s most iconic landmark.

The Tower soars at 200 feet and is covered in carvings and colorful tiles. The chimes, by the way, were not from actual bells but from electronic keyboards playing stationary chimes. For a fee, we could have accessed and climbed the tower, but we were short on time. We wanted to see more of the Park before sundown.

Here’s the California tower viewed from the Park entrance showing the dome, tiled in blue and gold.

Another view of the Tower from the Old Globe Plaza on the opposite side

Backtracking a bit, on our way to the Tower, we took the covered Prado arcade.

Look at this pooch who was walking with us!

The California Building that houses the Tower also hosts the Museum of Us, formerly called Museum of Man which was designed in Gothic style with influences from Mexican and Spanish churches. Inside are exhibits of 70,000 artifacts, folk art, and archaeological finds from ancient civilizations.

We did not go inside the museum though; we only went as far as the entrance.

This is the entrance of the museum inspired by Mexican artifacts

The Old Globe

We made a U-turn back towards the Visitor Center but not before stopping at the Old Globe plaza which has a replica of the open-air **Globe Theater **in London. It was the place where Shakespeare’s plays were performed. This Old Globe was built 20 years after the 1915 Expo.

Circular in shape like London’s Globe, it seems to be made of timber as well, Tudor-style, and has a seating capacity of 580. It is now a professional theater company producing about 15 plays and musicals yearly. The Old Globe Plaza includes an outdoor dining pavilion with trellis and banquette seating.

There’s a Pub that offers to serve soups, salads, coffee, wine, and more.

One day - I’d like to come and watch a musical here. Rain check!

House of Charm

Across the street from the Old Globe, this very arresting mission-style structure caught our attention. It has a colorful tower, intricate facade, arcades, and carillons typical of the California missions.

Another mission revival-style architecture at its finest!