For the first time in half a century, an “anti-Victorian” Victorian-era home in San Francisco has come on the market for $9 million.
The 5,000-square-foot home, designed by Newton Tharp in 1899, is listed at 2590 Union Street in Cow Hollow, SFGate reported. The last sale was in 1970.
Its clean, stately lines and unadorned clapboard facade underscore Tharp’s anti-Victorian design, which became popular after the 1906 earthquake and fire.
“Tharp wasn’t a fan of Victorian architecture,” Compass listing agent Max Armor told SFGate. “He found this style pretentious and preferred a simpler, more dignified style.”
From the entrance to the formal dining room and the balustraded staircase, exposed beams and timber frames are at odds with the Victorian grandeur, SFGate says.
Tharp’s no-fuss aesthetic is maintained throughout the five-bedroom, four-bathroom home, despite modern touches in the large kitchen, luxe bathrooms, and rooftop deck.
The 0.17-acre property offers stunning views of the city from the top of the four-story home. The plain facade is embellished only by stained glass and dark wood accents.
Tharp studied at the San Francisco School of Design and traveled through Europe to complete his architecture education. This drew him to Edwardian, Tudorist and Craftsman design rather than the splendor of Victorian architecture.
For Tharp, Victorian homes were ostentatious and pretentious. The architect initially worked for Edward Swain. When Swain died, it was Tharp who “perfected the plans for today’s ferry construction”. according to his obituary.
Tharp, who became San Francisco’s city architect, helped rebuild the city after the earthquake. He designed numerous civic buildings, including the Hall of Justice, the Dewey Monument in Union Square, the Grant Building, and the Sloane Building, as well as many private homes.
His brown clapboard home in Cow Hollow features a large eat-in kitchen with high ceilings, natural light and direct access to the south-facing front yard and large back yard. according to listing. It includes a mud room, mechanic room and a two car garage.
— Dana Bartholomew
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