Archibald Quincy Jones
(1913 - 1979)

According to Cory Buckner in A. Quincy Jones (Phaidon, 2002):

San Diego House, San Diego, 1948. H.C. Hvistendahl, developer, A. Quincy Jones, Architect.

In 1948, because he felt that no on in the San Diego area had yet cashed in on the appeal of “a good contemporary low cost house,” local builder H.C. Hvistendahl asked Jones to design a two-bedroom exhibition house. In 1950, Architectural Forum commented of the house “Here is an architect’s solution to a builder’s problem which proves that top-flight modern design can offer more for the money in the most competitive building field – the $10,000 house market.”

Designed as an affordable, contemporary dwelling that could be built for people who already owned their lots, the 1,000-square-foot-house featured rooms that opened to a patio and a built-in kitchen that opened onto a dining area. The majestic, low-sloping roof was similar to that of Model 111 of the Mutual Housing Association development. Public reaction to the house was mixed. Many people, according to Hvistendahl, had never been exposed to severely functional architecture, and they found it rather staggering at first sight. But after two months of open house viewings, five hundred people per day were still passing through. Contemporary magazines commented that with Jones’s project, the door had been opened to contemporary architecture for the low-cost house.

Jones was awarded the National AIA First Honor Award in 1950 for this project. It appealed to the jury for three principal reasons. In appearance it is well handled, with elements beautifully related and details carefully studied. In addition, it is a serious and apparently successful attempt to approach the problems of building in the low-cost market. It was designed for construction on any lot in San Diego County for $8,750; the limitation of the program to the 1,200 square feet of usable floor area was aimed to demonstrate good design for the low-cost housing market. Its plan is compact and workable, with circulation carefully studied, and the entire lot is utilized as part of the living area.

The similarities with the Mutual Housing Association houses are striking. Both projects featured post-and-beam construction, exposed tongue-and-groove ceilings, and exposed plywood cabinets with molded plywood door and drawer pulls. The inclusion of built-in cabinets and furniture helped moderate-income families keep down the cost of furnishing their homes.

In other publications, the San Diego Houses were referred to as Sun Villas. This home won a national Honor Award from the AIA (in 1950), the first such award for a San Diego project. The original model home for the line of "Sun Villas" was located at 2548 El Cajon Boulevard in 1950.

Partial List of San Diego Projects

Hvistendahl, H.C. Residence (1950)
3711 Dudley Street, Point Loma

San Diego House (1950)
3021 North Evergreen, Point Loma
This particular well-photographed example (circa 1949/1950) was destroyed by its 2nd owner and flipped for a profit a few years ago despite educating both realtors and the purchaser.

San Diego House (1950)
9211 Lavell, Mt. Helix
After purchasing plans for a Sun Villa, the owner had Jones add a 3rd bedroom to the stock plans. 1of approximately 12 "Sun Villas" built and sold in San Diego.

San Diego House (1950)
5417 Pennsylvania Lane, La Mesa

San Diego House (1951)
2015 S. Nevada Street, Oceanside

San Diego House (1951)
1647 Berenda Place
Altered in recent years - including the addition of a second story.

San Luis Rey Estates Tract (1963)
The firm of Jones & Emmons built a number of houses on the following Oceanside streets: Frontier, Sahara, Sands, Las Vegas, Hacienda, Flamingo, Riviera, Mint, Tacayme, Siesta, Redondo, Lun and Sol Sitio.

Mandeville Center for the Arts (designed 1968, built 1975)
UCSD Campus

Mission Valley West
Design attributed to Jones & Emmons, while architects and engineers were Frank L. Hope & Associates.