OH! (Open House) San Diego

OH! San Diego allows behind-the-scenes looks at historic or notable buildings in the area.  There were almost 90 properties on display over the two days of the event.  We focused on the Bankers Hill section.  We started at The Barcelona, an apartment building built almost 100 years ago.  An apartment was open for viewing and the fabulous roof deck.  Our next stop was Ohr Shalom Synagogue, which is easily recognizable from its beautiful dome.  We took a brief tour of the Abbey, originally built as a Methodist Church.  The architecture is Classical Revival with enormous stained-glass windows and skylights.  The Abbey is now a space for special events, such as weddings and jazz brunches.  Most of the buildings were open with self-guided tours.  There was a volunteer available at each property to answer questions.  We took a tour of The Louie, which was led by the building manager.  This apartment building is backed by a canyon, offering quiet and stunning views of the San Diego harbor.  We saw a variety of units, which were thoughtfully designed with high ceilings and balconies.  The building is designed with a wide variety of wood finishes and textured concrete.  The look is very California.  Our final stop were Parq West, a mission colonial-style building with high ceiling and arches.  We also walked or drove by several of the churches that were part of the tour.  The Open House is a great experience for anyone interested in architecture.  It was especially a treat to see the interiors of the apartment buildings - not open to the public.

The view from the roof deck of The Barcelona

A window from Ohr Shalom

A skylight in The Abbey

The Louie with James Coffee downstairs

No visit to Bankers Hill is complete without a visit to Extraordinary Desserts