The Town of Hillsborough has never been a suburb, but rather a collection of estates known for its privacy, scenery, and commitment to architecture. Unique in all of Northern California, Hillsborough's architecture reflects its rich history and stunning topography. This architectural magnetism is no coincidence: where else in the world is there such a meeting of land, sea, mountains, and valley…so picturesque in rolling topography, and immersed in a history of the many design titans who have left their mark? And where else in the world exists such a sophisticated demographic, seeking their architectural retreats mid-way between the world-class meccas of Silicon Valley and San Francisco?
Early Hillsborough architects such as George H. Howard, Willis Polk, Lewis Hobart, and Arthur Brown Jr. were creating nothing less than a "Newport of the West," a passionate punctuation to the West Coast's Gilded Age. If Newport, Rhode Island had its Vanderbilts and Astors, Hillsborough, CA was to have its Crockers and Pullmans. And architecture was the preferred expression. Inspired by New York Fifth Avenue society by way of Nob Hill, Hillsborough mansions were designed with grand receiving and entertaining in mind. And that meant porte cocheres, ballrooms, grand salons, and banquet-scale dining rooms. As the Victorian era yielded to the 20th century, the architecture of choice became the Beaux Arts. Willis Polk’s masterpiece Uplands II, a Crocker property from 1917, embodies the epoch perhaps best of all. Of note, the inspiration for Uplands II was none other than Newport's c.1900 Rosecliff, itself a classically marvelous echo of Versailles' Grand Trianon.
Carolands became the boldest of all statements, its construction foreshadowing World War I in 1914. With 65,000 sq. ft. and entire rooms imported from France, this authentic French Chateau could not have been more continental in its opulence. The drafting boards of architect Willis Polk must have been quite the visual between 1910 and 1920! In addition to Uplands II and dozens of San Francisco projects, He was also the stateside supervising architect responsible for the construction of the Carolands. Harriett Pullman's French architect Ernest Sanson never visited the Hillsborough site. Carolands is considered one of Sanson's later works, the architect having passed away at age 82 in 1918.
Architect Lewis Hobart (1873-1954) earns a class of his own, as many of his great Hillsborough mansions still exist as thriving icons of an era. Villa Rose (later renamed Strawberry Hill by second owner Charles Blythe in 1936) from 1912 commands the end of the Forest View Avenue historic corridor (main entrance at the end of Redington) still on nearly 50 intact acres. Villa Rose was commissioned by Joseph D. Grant, who like many wealthy San Franciscans, was intent on dividing his time between City and country at the advent of Hillsborough. Grant was a charter member of the Burlingame Country Club. Hobart's c.1910 New Place built for William H. Crocker today serves as the Burlingame Country Club clubhouse. Like Villa Rose, New Place leaned on Italian Villa inspiration, both in dwelling and garden. The original gateposts still stand at the intersection near North School, New Place Road, and the golf course. In 1914, Hobart designed the Beaux Arts French masterpiece Newmar (later renamed La Dolphine under Spreckels ownership) originally on 30 acres at Lower North's 1761 Manor Drive. San Francisco businessman George A. Newhall (1862-1929) was an influential early property holder as he first owned the c.1892 A. Page Brown Cottage at 1615 Floribunda, and later made his mark building the classically magnificent La Dolphine. Also of note in Lower North, Hobart's elegant 12,000 foot villa, c.1913 Rosecourt, was originally accessed at 815 Eucalyptus. Complete with towering music room, the home was built for George T. Cameron, who was married to Helen de Young, of the San Francisco Chronicle family. Later re-configuration of the cul-de-sac now places the home at Stacey Court.
One can only imagine the excitement in Hillsborough's air around 1912-1914. The bucolic pace of life was being interrupted with the construction of no less than Villa Rose, Carolands, Uplands II, La Dolphine, Guignecourt, Kohl Mansion (Burlingame), and Rosecourt! It was the age of the Titanic, the brink of World War I, and for wealthy San Franciscans, it was a brilliant phase of "carpe diem" real estate after the 1906 earthquake. From the basis of land holdings and architectural magnificence, we will never again see such a moment in time.
Architecture and local history are passions of my approach. Sharing this insight becomes the benefit of my discerning clients in Hillsborough real estate. “Telling the Story of Hillsborough Real Estate…” is the foundation of my service, as history, design pedigree, and construction credentials continue to drive value and require articulation. I hope you will look forward to my future articles here, as we explore Hillsborough subdivisions and the Advance of Modernism into the 1930s-1950s. I also look forward to discussing all exciting new architectural trends currently on the drafting boards: mesmerizing moderns, outdoor innovations, and Transitional as the new norm.
Warm Regards,
Pictured: 804 Vista Road, Hillsborough, In Contract, Off Market, $11,250,000 List Price. https://hillsboroughblog.com/xxx-Estate-Setting-Hillsborough
