Shingle-'stone style

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2400 Block 21st Avenue

San Francisco's permastone excellence influences design in Half Moon Bay

Wow...permastone is so versatile! We made a special trip to Lemos Farm to see this beauty.

With permastone, even little houses look majestic

2500 Block of 21st Avenue

Permastone and religious expression

Orthodox Church of the Resurrection
109 6th Avenue

Happy Preservation Month!

Welcome to my new blog on some remarkably -- and some might say surprisingly -- underappreciated historic resources in San Francisco. While the Painted Ladies show up on picture postcards and in the travel photos of many tourists, the new DeYoung and Academy of Sciences provide the "wow" in contemporary institutional architecture, and the Golden Gate Bridge remains one of the most visited structures in the United States, it is rare to read anything about San Francisco's permastone buildings.

This versatile building material transformed many houses and other structures from just another Victorian or Edwardian or bungalow into a statement of solidity and strength. Who could argue that these buildings represent the best of the best of San Francisco design? Who would want to see them disappear forever? Should someone prepare a nomination of a thematic historic district to protect them from imminent threat of destruction?

So, let the posting begin. I welcome your participation in this exciting project, particularly with your help in locating fine examples of the permastone craft that represent the breadth of architectural styles that turned to permastone for cladding. Preservation Month is the perfect time of year to start this project. Enjoy this tour and happy viewing!