Malloch Building

The Malloch Building at thirteen sixty Montgomery Street is a striking example of Streamline Moderne architecture, often referred to as the Ocean Liner House because of its aerodynamic horizontal lines and rounded, ship-like appearance. Built in nineteen thirty-six, the structure was designed to hug the steep grade of Telegraph Hill, resulting in a tiered progression that allowed its owners to bypass building codes that restricted height based on floor counts above a garage. Its exterior features three massive sgraffito murals by artist Alfred Du Pont, which depict a Spanish explorer, a worker holding a globe, and the Spirit of California, all rendered in raised, silvery plaster that glimmers against the white facade. When you approach the entrance, look for the sand-etched glass panel above the door, which showcases elegant, flowing designs of gazelles and palm trees that perfectly capture the sophisticated, optimistic aesthetic of the nineteen thirties.