San Francisco - Haas-Lilienthal House

Haas-Lilienthal House is one of the largest private residences in San Francisco. It has remained quite unspoilt for nearly a century, with just one or two additions made. Designed by the architect Peter R Schmidt, it was constructed in 1886 for William Haas, a wholesale grocer who had emigrated from Bavaria. The so-called Eastlake style was chosen, with a Queen Anne tower.

The asymmetrical placing of cubes, cones, pyramids, cylinders and other geometrical forms is the most striking feature.

Most unusually for the time, the house was fully wired for electricity, though candle sconces were provided in the candelabra just in case. Including everything, down to the very last cent, the builder's bill is said to have amounted to only $18,500.

Until the end of the 1970s the house was still lived in by descendants of the original owner. Since then it has been the offices of the Foundation for San Francisco's Architectural Heritage which works to preserve the best of the city's architecture. The Ball Room is still used for its original purpose; it is hired out for various social functions.