2. The 1915 Panama-California Exposition design and
development created much of the park’s present day
look and feel. The Exposition celebrated the 1914
completion and opening of the Panama Canal, and
to advertise that San Diego was the first U.S. port
of call vessels encountered after passing through
the canal and sailing north. The Exposition brought
Spanish Colonial Revival into becoming
California’s “indigenous historical vernacular style”.
DESIGN:
• Real Estate Developer: David Colloer
• Architect: Bertram
• Assistant Architect: Carleton Wislow
(original: Irving Gill)
• Landscape Architect: Frank Allen
(original: Olmsted Brothers)
The 1935 California Pacific International Exposition
was second big event. This Exposition was intended
to promote the city and remedy San Diego’s Great
Depression era ills. Balboa Park was reconfigured
by San Diego architect Richard S. Requa, who also
oversaw the design and construction of many new
buildings.
1 9 3 5 C A PA C i F i C i n t E R n At i O n A L E x P O s i t i O n
One of the first San Diegans to help improve City
Park was Kate sessions. According to the Los
Angeles times, she was school teacher by trade,
but plagued by illness. In order to get fresh air, she
decided to take up gardening in San Diego. (Los
Angeles Times, 1894) Known as the “Mother of Balboa
Park,” Sessions originally asked to use the grounds
of the Park for her nursery. Part of the
agreement was that she plant trees along the
borders and within the Park for future generations.
She became very prominent in San Diego, and
nationally, for her horticultural acumen. Sessions was
on either deferred to or sat on committees that dealt
with any changes or improvements to
City Park. (Los Angeles Times, 1899)
K At E s E s s i O n s ( 1 8 5 7 – 1 9 4 0 )
1915 – OPEning DAy of the Exposition 1915 – Aerial view of Balboa Park 1935 – OPEning DAy parade 1935 – View of Midway Kate sessions: A statue was erected in her honor in Marston Point,
the southwestern section of the Park.
1 9 1 5 PA n A M A - C A L i F O R n i A E x P O s i t i O n
1906 – Entrance to Balboa Park from
6th and Date street
1912 – Men preparing the land for planting. City Park
was covered by brush and native plants.
1911-1915 – Construction of Cabrillo Bridge, El Prado and California Quadrangle.
B A L B OA PA R K h i s t O R y
italian Blue Cypress
Oaks
Brazilian Pepper trees
Flame Eucalyptus
Queen Palm
Camphor Trees Aleppo Pine
Bougainvillea
Bird of Paradise
Torrey Pine
Old
Cactus Garden
Palm
Canyon
Alcazar
Garden
Japanese
Friendship
Garden
Zoro
Garden
Casa del
Rey Moro Garden
Lily
Pond
Botanical
Building Moreton Bay
Fig tree
Desert
Garden
inez grant
Parker
Memorial
Rose
Garden
t R E E & P L A n t s i n t R O D U C E D B y K At E s E s s i O n s g A R D E n s O F B A L B OA PA R K
Site Analysis – History (1 of 2)
3. b a l b oa pa r k h i s to r y
a m e n i t i e s
balboa park
a landscape of art and Culture
m u s e u m s
1 san Diego museum of man
2 mingei international museum
2 sDai-museum of the living arts
3 san Diego museum of art
4 timken museum of art
7 natural history museum
6 reuben h. Fleet science Center
5 san Diego railroad museum
5 museum of photographic arts
5 museum of san Diego history
9 Japanese Friendship Garden
18 automotive museum
19 aerospace museum
21 hall of Champions
22 World beat Center
23 Centro Cultural de la raza
p e r F o r m i n G a r t s
14 the old Globe
10 san Diego Civic youth ballet
10 san Diego Junior theater
17 marie hitchcock puppet theater
20 starlight bowl
at t r a C t i o n s
16 balboa park Club
11 hall of nations
12 united nations building
15 house of pacific relations/Cottages
G a r D e n s
a old Cactus Garden
b palm Canyon
C alcazar Garden
D Casa del rey moro Garden
e botanical building
F lily pond
G Japanese Friendship Garden
h Zoro Garden
i moreton bay Fig tree
J inez Grant parker memorial rose Garden
k Desert Garden
s i t e
b u i l D i n G s r e m a i n i n G a F t e r e X p o s i t i o n s
1 9 1 5 e X p o s i t i o n b u i l D i n G s
1 9 5 3 e X p o s i t i o n b u i l D i n G s
el prado el pradolaurel st
5thst
6thst
pan american
plaza
plaza de
pananma
Fountain
Cabrillo bridge
el prado el prado
Cabrillo bridge
G
HD
A
B
C
J
K
I
E
F
m i l i ta r y G r o W t h
now located on Florida Drive in san Diego
adjacent to balboa park, the hospital has played
a role in the history of san Diego for more than
80 years. the original tent dispensary established
in 1917 was augmented by permanent hospital
buildings in 1922; and the 85-acre, 89-building
complex with 2,600 beds was the largest military
hospital in the world during the Vietnam War.
When the panama-pacific exposition opened, a model
marine camp on the fairgrounds in balboa park was set
up and became the marine barracks.
by march 29, 1942, the navy took possession of balboa
park and renamed it Camp kidd.
nmCsD has ten clinics open to family members and six
active duty clinics.
u.s. marine Camp
Camp kidd
1 9 1 4 – m a r i n e C o r p s o C C u pat i o n 1 9 4 3 – u. s. n aV y o C C u pat i o n ( C a m p k i d d ) 2 0 1 1 – u. s. n aV y o C C u pat i o n
naval
medical
Center
san Diego
hospital
site
plaza de
pananma
9
1
14
3
4
10
7
6
13
2 5
11
12
19
15
16
17
18
21
19
20
22
23
alcazar
Garden
house of
hospitality
Ca state
building &
Quadrangle
(the museum
of man)
California
bell tower
botanical
building
spanish
Village
art Center
spreckels organ
pavilion
municipal
Gym
marie hitch
puppet
theater
Ford building
(san Diego aerospace
museum)
marie hitch
puppet
theater
Site Analysis – History (2 of 2)
10. Individual Presentation
1” = 1/4”
P L A N :
L e v e L s e v e N – Lo f t
P L A N :
L e v e L s e v e N
balboa
studio
m A r y tAy Lo r
s e C t I o N 2 :
w e s t
s e C t I o N 1 :
N o r t h
SCALE: 1/4” = 1’ - 0”
1/8” 1/4”
1
2 2
1
11. Group Presentation
1” = 1/8” (1 of 2)
LeveL7LeveL5
LeveL4LeveL1LeveL2LeveL3
LeveL6LeveL8
SeCtionA–SouthSeCtionB–WeSt
SCALE: 1/4” = 1’ - 0”
1/8” 1/4”
A
A
B B
balboa
studios
