1920s Ford Dealership Integrated Into New Mixed-Use Apartment Complex

I n the historic district of Mission Hills in San Diego, a small 1920s art deco Ford dealership and filling station existed as an iconic landmark for the automobile industry and for the community overall. Unfortunately, poor maintenance of the structure led to the original stucco and windows being damaged beyond repair. Local architecture firm Jonathan Segal, FAIA, saw an opportunity to redevelop the site to highlight the small historical structure and add a new eight-story, mixed-use apartment building as well.

According to Segal, the project can be broken down into three formal elements: the original Ford dealership, the lower two-story screened structure, and the upper vertical tower. The structures include a total of 23 apartments—three of which are very low income paid for entirely without subsidy—six live-work studios, and a restaurant.

In coordination with the Save Our Heritage Organisation and the City of San Diego Historical Resources Board, an exact recreation of the Ford building was integrated into the new project. Instead of simply saving the façade, the round building stands alone as a focal point for the project.

To pay homage to the historical importance of the automobile, the building utilizes symbolic screening and fins similar to automobile grilles. The lower two-story element has a privacy screen for the two units’ patios, and the upper mass is lined with cast-in-place vertical fins, both mimicking grilles of the ’20s and ’30s. The east-facing fins reflect morning light, reducing heat gain and increasing natural balanced lighting, which contributes to the building’s highly efficient energy use.