Richard Requa facts for kids
Richard Smith Requa (born in 1881, died in 1941) was a famous American architect. He is best known for his amazing buildings in San Diego, California. Requa was the main architect for a big event called the California Pacific International Exposition in Balboa Park in 1935–36. He made many existing buildings from an earlier fair even better. He also designed new places, like the Old Globe Theatre.
His designs often used the Spanish Revival style. This style looks like old Spanish buildings. Sometimes, he mixed in ideas from the American Craftsman style. He wanted to help keep San Diego's Spanish history alive through his buildings. His company, Requa and Jackson, was very popular in San Diego in the 1920s. They created a special "Southern California Style" that mixed Mediterranean and Mission looks.
Richard Requa's Life and Work
Richard Requa was born in Rock Island, Illinois in 1881. When he was 19, in 1900, he moved to San Diego, California, with his parents. He passed away at age 60 on June 10, 1941. He had a heart attack while working in his office. He is buried in Greenwood Memorial Park in San Diego. In 1908, he married Viola Hust in San Diego.
Requa was very smart about capturing his ideas. He used early home movies to record architectural designs. He filmed during his trips to Spain, the Mediterranean, and other places. These trips included Santa Cruz, San Francisco, Monterey, and the Pueblos of the Southwest.
He designed many important homes in the San Diego area. He also worked on the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in Balboa Park. In 1925, Requa designed the Del Mar Castle in Del Mar, California. This home was for Ruth and Marston Harding. Later, it was owned by the McGaugh family. Then, the motivational speaker Tony Robbins owned it.
Requa was the architect for many of San Diego's historical landmarks in La Jolla. He also designed landmarks in the Point Loma area. He had a big impact on the look of the Kensington district in San Diego.
Richard Requa's Famous Buildings
Richard Requa designed many well-known buildings and projects. Here are some of his most famous works:
- The 1935 California Pacific International Exposition in Balboa Park, San Diego, California.
- The Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park, San Diego, California.
- The San Diego County Administration Center (he worked with other architects on this).
- The first plan for the city of Rancho Santa Fe, California. He chose Lilian Jeannette Rice to be the main planner in 1921.
- The St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel in Ojai, California.
- The original Torrey Pines Lodge. Today, it is the visitor center for Torrey Pines State Reserve.
- The Mount Helix Nature Theatre in La Mesa, California.
- The Del Mar Castle, located at 544 Avenida Primavera, Del Mar, California.
- The D. E. Mann House, located at 1045 Loma Avenue, Coronado, California.
- The William A. Gunn House, located at 1127 F Avenue, Coronado, California.
- Requa's first home, which he built for himself in 1913. It is in Mission Hills at 4346 Valle Vista, San Diego, California.
- Requa's second home, which he built for himself in 1921. It is in Loma Portal at 2906 Locust Street, San Diego, California.
- Furniture for the George W. Marston House. This is a museum and a San Diego Landmark in Balboa Park.
