Historical Resources Board Nomination for Maurice T. & Jacqueline Watson / Sim Bruce Richards House 2744 Azalea Drive San Diego, CA 92106 Report Prepared By: IS Architecture 5649 La Jolla Boulevard La Jolla, California 92037 (858) 456-8555 September 2016 State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # PRIMARY RECORD Trinomial NRHP Status Code 7L Other Listings San Diego, Quieter Home Program NRHP 6U Review Code Reviewer Date Page 1 of 105; Exhibits A-D *Resource Name or #: 2744 Azalea Drive, San Diego, CA 92106 P1. Other Identifier: *P2. Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted *a. County: San Diego and (P2b and P2c or P2d. Attach a Location Map as necessary.) *b. USGS 7.5' Quad: Pt. Loma Date: 1996 T R ¼ of ¼ of Sec; M.D. B.M. San Bernardino c. Address: 2744 Azalea Drive City: San Diego Zip: 92106 d. UTM: Zone: 10 ; mE/ mN (G.P.S.) e. Other Locational Data: (e.g., parcel #, directions to resource, elevation, etc., as appropriate) Parcel No. 450-170-13-00; Legal Description: All of Lot 14, Excepting therefrom the Northeast 40 feet thereof, measured along Azalea Drive and All of Lot 15 in Block C of Plumosa Park, in the City of San Diego, County of San Diego, State of California, According to Map thereof No. 1820, filed in the Office of the County Recorder of San Diego County, February 14, 1925 *P3a. Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries) 2744 Azalea Drive is a one-story Organic-Geometric style house constructed in 1964 by artist-architect, Sim Bruce Richards. His work is a transformative architectural remodel to a pre-existing 1951 one-story Ranch style house and garage. Richards' architectural remodel converted a pre-existing L-plan into an irregular complex form through partial demolition and modification to the north, east and south elevations, roof modifications, and relocation of the garage.1 His work constitutes the east wing, and north elevation living room addition, as well as a new entrance with redwood deck, railing and steps, and interior modifications that created an open floor plan between the family room, kitchen, and new living room.2 (Continued on page 3) *P3b. Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) HP2 – Single Family Property *P4. Resources Present: Building Structure Object Site District Element of District Other (Isolates, etc.) P5b. Description of Photo: P5a. Photo or Drawing (Photo required for buildings, structures, and objects.) Mar-2015; ¾ view of north elevation and east elevation front entrance *P6. Date Constructed/Age and Sources: Historic Prehistoric Both 1964 Sim Bruce Richards transformative architectural remodel of 1951 original house *P7. Owner and Address: Dr. James Huck 2744 Azalea Drive San Diego, CA 92106 *P8. Recorded by: (Name, affiliation, and address) IS Architecture 5649 La Jolla Boulevard La Jolla, California 92037 *P9. Date Recorded: Aug-2016 *P10. Survey Type: (Describe) Intensive *P11. Report Citation: (Cite survey report and other sources, or enter "none.") IS Architecture Historic Resources Nomination Report, 2744 Azalea Drive, San Diego, CA 92106 *Attachments: NONE Location Map Sketch Map Continuation Sheet Building, Structure, and Object Record Archaeological Record District Record Linear Feature Record Milling Station Record Rock Art Record Artifact Record Photograph Record Other (List): Attachments A-F – Works Cited; Exhibits A-D DPR 523A (1/95) *Required information State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD Page 2 of 105; Exhibits A-D *NRHP Status Code 7L *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) 2744 Azalea Drive, San Diego, CA 92106 B1. Historic Name: Watson Residence B2. Common Name: B3. Original Use: Single Family Residence B4. Present Use: Single Family Residence *B5. Architectural Style: Organic-Geometric *B6. Construction History: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations) Sim Bruce Richards' architectural remodel occurred in 1964 under Permit A79268 for a bedroom and bathroom east wing and north elevation living room addition to a pre-existing 1951 ranch style house. Richards' plans also included a new entrance with redwood deck, railing and steps, and interior modifications that included the addition of a breakfast bar, built-in furniture, and window seating to create an open floor plan between the family room, kitchen, and new living room.3 In 1976, according to the Watsons, the kitchen was also gutted as part of Richards' 1964 remodel.4 (Continued on page 3) *B7. Moved? No Yes (Garage) Unknown Date: 1964 Original Location: unknown, but on-site *B8. Related Features: B9a. Architect: Sim Bruce Richards (1964) b. Builder: Robert P. Changnon (1951) *B10. Significance: Master Architect Theme: Architecture Area: Loma Portal (Plumosa Park) Period of Significance: 1964 Property Type: Single Family Residence Applicable Criteria: HRB C & D (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity.) 2744 Azalea Drive is an example of a transformative architectural remodel by artist-architect Sim Bruce Richards. Historic designation is sought for 2744 Azalea Drive under HRB-Criterion C for architecture as a distinct example of the Organic- Geometric style and HRB-Criterion D for Master Architect under the context of San Diego's Modernist architectural movement between 1935 and 1970. The period of significance is 1964, which signifies the year that Sim Bruce Richards made his contribution by altering and transforming the pre-existing 1951 ranch style house and garage through partial building demolition, additions, and remodel to reflect his distinctive architectural language of Organic-Geometric design. (Continued on page 3) B11. Additional Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) *B12. References: Sim Bruce Richards, "Watson Residence," Architectural Drawings (1964), Addition Specifications (1964); Site Visit March 2015. (Sketch Map with north arrow required.) B13. Remarks: Property is located within the boundaries of San Diego County Regional Airport Authority’s Residential Sound Insulation Program (Quieter Home Program). In 2008-09, for the purpose of Quieter Home Program the property was evaluated based on a Reconnaissance Level Survey and determined ineligible to the National Register of Historic Places and as a non-contributor to the potential Plumosa Park National Register Historic District. As a result, the sound attenuation program would only provide vinyl replacement windows in lieu of architecturally compatible wood sash windows. See Exhibits A-D for previously recorded survey forms. *B14. Evaluator: IS Architecture *Date of Evaluation: March 2015; August 2016 This space reserved for official comments. DPR 523 (1/95) *Required information State of California The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# CONTINUATION SHEET Trinomial Page 3 of 105; Exhibits A-D *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) 2744 Azalea Drive, San Diego, CA 92106 *Recorded by: IS Architecture 5649 La Jolla Boulevard La Jolla, CA 92037 *Date: Aug-2016 Continuation Update P3a. Description—Continued Sim Bruce Richards North Elevation Living Room Addition The north elevation living room addition is built above grade. It features a broad gable roof with exposed beams and floor to ceiling glazing consisting of fixed and casement wood sash windows that filter natural light into the open floor space, while uniting the indoor and outdoor environment. The front entrance, located on the east wall of the north elevation, consists of a wood door accessed from a wood deck. Adjacent to the door is a picture window with an interior window seat and exterior plant pot shelf. The window seat looks out onto an un-mortared brick walkway and patio set at an angle toward the front entrance. Sim Bruce Richards East Wing and Attached Garage The east wing, built above grade, features a medium pitched gable roof. The fenestration on the north elevation consists of a picture window flanked by two sets of wood sash casement windows. The east elevation fenestration features two fixed triangular gable windows. The garage, accessed on the east elevation is built at grade and is attached to the east side of the wing. No windows or doors exist on the north elevation of the attached two-car garage. The south elevation of the east wing and attached garage has an exterior stucco finish. This exterior finish is differentiated from the board and batten exterior finishes on the east and north elevations of Richards' additions. The fenestration along the south elevation consists of one single door entry to the garage, and a set of small wood sash casement windows. The laundry room jalousie window was replaced in the early 1980s with a casement window.5 The backyard is accessed on the south side of the house by a brick and concrete walkway that leads to an un-mortared brick patio added in 1964 and a wood deck added in the early 1980s.6 1951 Ranch House Portions of the north, west and south elevations of the 1951 Ranch style house are present and are finished in exterior stucco. The north elevation section is located at the rear northwest corner. This section features horizontal wood siding in the upper part of the end gable and a pair of three-over-three double hung wood sash windows. The west elevation is a side gable and includes a slightly off-centered single wood door with half-light added in the early 1980s and one double hung wood sash window.7 The south elevation features horizontal wood siding in the upper section of the end gable. This section also has two small double hung wood sash windows. The side gable section of the south elevation includes a brick chimney flanked on the west by a wood and half-light door and on the right by a wide six-over-six double hung wood sash window. Overall The house features a complex form with irregular massing.