Cities of Design series: San Francisco

Image source: ArchitectureStyles.org

There are three cities in the United States which we believe showcase the beauty in and of architecture. These are Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. These three places have different personalities, with Chicago being the most avant-garde, New York having the grandest samples, and San Francisco being the most relaxing and laid back.


A huge number of architects now reside in San Francisco since it has quite a number of inspiring buildings built throughout the past two centuries. One of the best examples of these is the First Unitarian Church which features a Gothic Revival, what with the arches over the doors and windows and steep-pitched roofings.


Fans of Italianate architecture can get their fix as they pass by the residential districts. Balustrade and portico entrances and straight roofs are a dead giveaway for the Italianate lover, and so are the columnar structures, symmetrical windows, and rustic wood walls.

Image source: ArchitectureStyles.org

The asymmetry of gable roofs and conical towers with rustic wood paneling on plastered walls is credited to the influence of Queen Anne architecture.


Moving towards the Marina and Sunset districts, people can get a glimpse of the Spanish Colonial Revival, with stucco walls, ornamented arches, and red-tiled roofs.


Which is your favorite San Francisco-based architectural style? Sound off in the comments below.


My name is John Eilermann and I’m an architecture student currently based in St. Louis, Missouri. Architecture is both my passion and dream. The ability of architecture to make utilitarian and aesthetic ends meet amazes me. Know more about me and my interests here.