Award-winning Alameda Queen Anne

Alameda A.W. Pattiani Queen Anne with its ROBA-designed façade restoration

This recently completed project in Alameda, CA  by Rynerson + O'Brien Architecture has just been awarded an Alameda Architectural Preservation Award.

Here is more about this fantastic house and what was done to revive it:

"This building is one of several remaining A.W. Pattiani houses in Alameda and Berkeley.  The house had been significantly altered by additions and expansions on its west and north elevations, by the removal of original ornament and by the application of wood shingles over original wood siding and previously ornamented surfaces. The west addition included a wraparound porch where none previously existed, covered by a squat, glass-roofed pergola supported on classical style columns.  The result of the cumulative changes was a house that was no longer recognizable as an A.W. Pattiani Queen Anne.

Queen Anne house façade before (left) and after restoration

"The current owners wanted to restore the character of A.W. Pattiani’s original design as well as specific Pattiani signature ornamental details to the property. They also needed to address serious water intrusion problems and the ensuing damage that had developed on the wraparound porch. It was not practical for the owners to consider giving up the previous addition and porch, but both additions were inconsistent with the original design and created massing challenges to restoring the main facade.

Pattiani-inspired details

"The solution to this dilemma was to restore the original portion of the structure as closely as possible based on existing Pattiani examples and historical photos, and to rebuild the deteriorated wraparound porch using a vocabulary more compatible with the original house.  This included adding a cupola that effectively conceals the awkward western addition while adding new ornament and massing in proportion to the original façade."  - Steve Rynerson

The house now sports original-style ornament and  a beautiful covered wraparound porch with many of the "gingerbread" details that A.W. Pattiani was known for. 

Interior of the new covered porch

Restoration and ornamental carpentry by Guild member Skeeter Jones / Clearheart Design.  Fellow Guild member Lynne Rutter collaborated with the owners to design the color scheme, adding a robin's egg blue/green ceiling to help showcase the covered porch. 

Interior of the porch under the new cupola

Exterior Painting and gilding by Olson's Painting, Alameda, CA.
Photos in this post by Steve Rynerson
more details at the Rynerson O'Brien blog.

"Island Creatures" at the Alameda West End Library

mural detail: blue heron

The West End Library of Alameda was designed by architect Carl Werner and built in 1936 as a Public Work Administration (PWA) project.  The recent restoration included funding for a public art commission.

In competition with over 100 artists, Debey Zito and Terry Schmitt,  the creative forces behind Debey Zito Fine Furniture and Design, were chosen to create artwork for a  4’ x 28’ wall above the circulation desk.  

Debey designed a frieze mural incorporating Terry’s carvings devoted to the wildlife of Alameda Island. With over 20 miles of shoreline, the citizens of Alameda are never far from the creatures they share their island with.

The completed mural at the Alameda West End Library

The mural is carved in black walnut and polychromed to compliment the stained oak original to the library.  The artwork is “framed” with an arch, tapered posts and waves. Leopard sharks and surf fish swim in the bay, crab and shorebirds on the sand, hills and water and least terns fly under the bridge. 

The bunny frieze was created using a combination of carving, cast plaster, and faux finishing

For the children’s section of the Library, Debey and Terry enlisted ornamental plasterer and fellow guild member Lorna Kollmeyer, to cast a 21 foot long plaster frieze of romping rabbits and  monarch butterflies, after their original carved wood model. The plaster work was then faux finished to match the wood carvings. Flanking this frieze, four be-speckled hares carved in wood, are relaxing and reading books.

mural detail: native grasses

The work was unveiled to the public on April 14th 2011

The Alameda West End Library is located at 788 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda, California.

photos in this post by Nathanael Bennett Photography

click on images to view larger.

2009 Alameda Museum Lecture Series

Photo by Dennis Evanosky / Alameda Sun

The Alameda Museum has announced its 2009 Lecture Series, as part of Historic Preservation "Season" in Alameda

In April, May, and June 2009, look for events, tours, and lectures about the rich history of this island town!

The season kicks off Saturday, April 25, 11:00 AM with the "Webster Street Walkabout," a walk led by architect Richard Rutter.

Upcoming Lectures include:

• Thursday April 30: "A.A. Cohen and Old Fernside," by architect and historian Hank Dunlop. Underwritten by Michael Studebaker and Cynthia Audet, owners, Gallagher & Lindsey, Inc., Realtors.
• Thursday May 28: "A Home in Alameda," by local author and historian Woody Minor, based on his new book about Victorian era development. Underwritten by Ginger Schuler, member, Alameda Museum Board; Realtor, Harbor Bay.
• Thursday June 25: "Alameda: An Architectural Treasure Chest," a look at the Island City’s domestic architecture from the Gothic Revival to the Bungalow, presented by Dennis Evanosky and Eric Kos. Their talk is based on Alameda: An Architectural Treasure Chest written by Evanosky and published by Stellar Media of Alameda. Underwritten by Patricia M. Sahadi as a birthday present to herself.
• Thursday July 30: "Winslow Homer and the Post Civil War Era in America," Art historian Colette Colester returns with another dynamic lecture. Underwritten by Peter Fletcher, Real Estate Broker, Windermere Real Estate.
• Thursday August 27: "Just Across the Pond: Oakland Point and the West Oakland Marsh," by architectural historian Betty Marvin. Underwritten by Robbie Dileo; member, Alameda Museum Board.
• Thursday September 24: "Alameda Album" an illustrated talk by Paul Roberts based on two recently discovered vintage photo albums from the 1890s. Underwritten by City Council Member Frank Matarrese.

All lectures start at 7:00 p.m. at the Alameda Museum, 2324 Alameda Avenue, Alameda, CA.

for more information, visit the Alameda Museum website