Walking through the magnificent open-air rotunda and around the mystical lagoon, it is hard to believe the Palace of Fine Arts’ grandeur was almost never envisioned as it stands today. Originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition to house large collections of art and sculptures, only prominent Bay Area architects were invited to submit proposals. Even though he was not on the planning committee’s list, architect Bernard Maybeck successfully fought for the chance to design what is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in San Francisco.
Despite this accomplishment, Maybeck never got the recognition his masterful talents deserved, even though his work is visible throughout the Bay Area, the state and the country.
According to SRJC art history instructor Mark Wilson, who compiled a new book about the Berkeley-based architect, titled “Bernard Maybeck: architect of elegance,” the reason for the lack of notoriety could be Maybeck’s personal life was too boring compared to those of his famous colleagues such as Frank Lloyd Wright.
“Maybeck was happily married to the same woman all his life,” Wilson said. “Does that mean he doesn’t deserve as much credit because his life wasn’t as colorful? It wasn’t scandalous [as Wright’s with his five marriages and many mistresses], so he wasn’t as famous, but he should be.”
Wilson hopes his book brings to light and promotes Maybeck’s legacy outside of the Bay Area with never before published information. The book is the first comprehensive account detailing Maybeck’s entire career and includes personal stories, letters and drawings provided by Maybeck’s family.
Wilson’s fascination with Maybeck began as an undergraduate at UC Berkeley in the late 1970s. His Berkeley apartment overlooked the First Church of Christ, Scientist, designed by Maybeck in 1910. A few years later as a part of group attempting to save Berkeley’s architectural legacy, Wilson met the architect’s daughter-in-law Jacomena Maybeck, whom his book is dedicated to. They would continue a friendship for years that helped Wilson’s admiration for Maybeck flourish. Wilson would continue to weave Maybeck’s work into his life as a subject for his college thesis, a book topic and as a key figure in his curriculum.
Over his 15-year tenure at SRJC, Wilson has used Maybeck’s work to illustrate the importance of architecture in his classes.
“It is one of the most important art forms,” Wilson said. “We can’t have a civilized society without architecture! It incorporates all other forms of art.”
Wilson finds most art history textbooks have little to no information on architecture. Possibly because they know very little about it or do not care to emphasize it, he said. But Wilson devotes time in his classes to the art form, and uses his books as a tool.
In addition to the Maybeck book, Wilson has written three others, one of which, “Julia Morgan: Architect of Beauty,” will be re-released in March 2012. The book focuses on Morgan’s work and life and includes her time as Maybeck’s student. Morgan would help Maybeck on different projects as a supplemental assistant, but their most notable project together would be the design of the women’s gymnasium at UC Berkeley, which is still in use. Wilson notes that Maybeck recognized Morgan’s talent and taking her under his wing was another example of Maybeck’s “forward thinking.” He not only employed Morgan, America’s first independent female architect, but he was what would be considered today a green architect.
“Maybeck deserves to get credit for being the first American architect to use sustainable design in his work,” Wilson said. “ He pioneered that in the 1890s, and everyone thinks it is so new.”
Maybeck had been using the “green” philosophy from early on in his career. He used all natural materials that were not disguised in design, calling them “open use of natural materials honestly stated.” His buildings were unique to each client, constructed in a modern, energy-efficient way with reference to earthquake and fire safety.
“What really made him ahead of his time, that makes him the first green architect was his integration of his buildings into their environment,” Wilson said. “He integrated them by how he cited them into the site and with things around it like the views, natural light, breezes and sets of plants.”
Maybeck was one of the first American architects to design indoor-outdoor living spaces, walls of windows, decks and open floor plans. The private houses he designed could be used in modern design magazines and passed off as house built today, despite their construction in the early 1900s. The Palace of Fine Arts might be Maybeck’s most known, but one building he designed on the Principia College campus is considered a National Historical Landmark, a feat not many colleges can boast about.
Wilson’s book features more 300 photos ranging from Maybeck’s designs of houses, churches and college campuses. The book also includes the architect’s personal sketches provided by Maybeck’s descendants. Wilson believes that Maybeck deserves more credit and used his extensive knowledge of the architect to author a truly remarkable book.
In addition to the book, Wilson will give a lecture on the architect as a pioneer in design on Jan 30, 2012 in Newman Auditorium. Wilson also conducts architectural walking tours each semester to give interested parties a chance to see the brilliantly designed buildings of Bay Area architects.
While Maybeck has been Wilson’s prime focus for some time, he is moving forward with compiling a new book about the legacy of the American World’s Fairs. He currently teaches art history classes four days a week and said he is honored to teach at a college that tries to support all areas of artistic expression.
“Architecture teaches us, better than any other tool what life was like for people that came before us,” Wilson said.
The next time you walk around the grounds of the Palace of Fine Arts think of how different it could be if Bernard Maybeck was never given the chance to design it. It might not be as spectacular as it is today.