Clausen, C(harles) O(liver)
Entry Author: David
Parry
Architect
Most of the early San Francisco architects were European-born
and trained. The succeeding generations, born in California,
regarded a qualification from the prestigious École
des Beaux-Arts in Paris as a worthwhile goal. However,
few came from independently wealthy families or could find
the sponsorship for such a lengthy time commitment. Others
had to settle for the 'Grand European Tour'.
Charles Oliver Clausen, born September 13, 1886 in Napa,
California, was brought up in San Francisco, graduating from
Mission High School in 1904. He started work as a draftsman
with the architectural firm of Meyer & O'Brien. He was
not yet 20 at the time of the 1906 earthquake and, at the
stage in his life when he might have taken the Grand European
Tour, he was busy developing an architectural career in San
Francisco. He obtained his State Architectural license in
1909 and opened his own practice in the Phelan Building on
Market Street.
Clausen began his career designing in the Mission Revival
style, which was popular at the time. He was a prolific architect
who designed many pairs of flats and apartment buildings,
and some single-family homes. Examples include: in Pacific
Heights, the triplex at 2853-57 Clay (1910) and the 12 apartments,
now condos, at 2760 Sacramento (1923); in Presidio Heights,
the home at 3600 Jackson and the 6 apartments at 112 Arguello
(both in 1918); and on Russian Hill, the 7 apartments at 1457
Jones (1913), the 12-unit building, now condos, at 2363 Larkin
(1923), and the 10-unit luxury cooperative apartment building
at 2240 Hyde (1926). In the Marina, where the smaller buildings
were often speculatively built by contractors, there is a
fine example of Clausen's design work in the lovely pair of
flats, also now condominiums, at 1337-1339 Francisco (1924).
Having missed out on the Grand European Tour in his 20's,
in 1926 Clausen celebrated his 40th birthday by taking a year
off for travel and architectural study in Europe and Scandinavia.
Some of his notes from the trip were serialized after his
return in 19 consecutive issues of Architect and Engineer
(March 1928 to September 1929) under the title of 'My European
Impressions'. The articles covered highlights from the countries
he visited, including England, Scotland, France, Germany,
Italy, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. In one of them he described
his first-ever plane flight, an excursion from London to Paris
at the bargain price of 9 pounds sterling for the round trip.
Impressed at first with the comfort of the wicker armchairs,
the provision of cotton wool for his ears, and the sensation
of crossing the English Channel at a height of 3,000 feet
and a speed of 120 miles per hour, he "had the unusual
and thrilling experience of a forced landing" after one
of the two engines "became disabled" over Northern
France. However, according to Clausen, the pilot "knew
his stuff", switching off the other engine and gliding
the plane down safely in an emergency landing in a grain field.
Clausen was happy to get out in one piece and accept a ride
to an airfield five miles away to continue his journey in
another plane. He reported that "after a lively evening
in Paris we revived and got enough courage to make the return
trip the next day".
Upon his return to San Francisco in 1927 Clausen entered
into a partnership with F. Frederic Amandes (1892-1951), which
lasted until 1933. Examples of their apartment buildings include
two fine 6-unit buildings, both of which have since been converted
to condominiums, in Pacific Heights, 2785 Jackson (1927) and
on Telegraph Hill, 199 Chestnut (1930).
In 1933, Clausen reestablished his own practice, designing
several single-family homes, such as 50 San Rafael Way in
St. Francis Wood (1935), 311 Marina Boulevard and 115 &
125 Sea Cliff Avenue (all in 1940).
Entry taken from the website of David Parry at www.classicSFproperties.com
and is used by permission. Unauthorized use of this copyrighted
material is strictly forbidden without permission from the
author.
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Born: Napa, California, September 13, 1886