John R. Mock

John Mock graduated with his Bachelor’s of Architectural Engineering in 1957 from the University of Detroit. Prior to graduation he worked for Chaffee Roofing Company in Detroit (1953) as well as Victor Gruen Associates, Inc. (1954-1955). Before going on active duty as an ROTC commissioned officer in the US Army, he would work short stints with Palmquest and Wright (1955), Giffels and Rossitti (1956) and Smith, Hinchman and Gryles (1957). Following his tour of duty, Mock would return to Detroit to a depressed labor market. His parents, having moved to San Diego for retirement, asked him to join them on the coast.

Upon arriving in San Diego, John interviewed with three of the largest firms - Paderewski, Mitchell and Dean, Richard Wheeler, and Frank Hope - all on the same day. John was hired by Hope's firm where he would gain much-needed experience between 1958-1963. Here he would work on a number of the firm's progressive designs including the Timken Museum, Chambers Steel House and the Chuck Hope Residence.

In 1963, following a few side jobs John decided to start his own firm. When his early solo effort was featured in San Diego and Point Magazine (June, 1963), he resigned his position at Hope's firm. Initially, Mock would form the partnership Hendrick, Mock & Tipple, working from a garage studio at times, a business focused on architecture and architectural services including renderings and model building. Model builder William Tipple would leave the trio and Hendrick & Mock Architects would focus solely on architecture (1964-1994) including post and beam custom homes for John Mortenson and other builders.

Including being named "Mr. Masonry for 1974" by the Masonry Contractors Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties, Hendrick & Mock Architects completed 686 projects, of which 417 were constructed. During this time the firm maintained a general, yet comprehensive practice with an average staff of 10.

"The primary concern for all projects was to relate the building and its environment to the people who will be using it. The firm balanced the needs of the client with professional judgement regarding aesthetics, material, design and cost. The approach to architecture was also omni-directional since it developed design and planning solutions from three different viewpoints: form, function and economy." – Hendrick & Mock Architects

One of the earliest references to John's view of local architecture came through in an April 1962 article in OmniArt Magazine:

“...I feel , as the 1960 San Diego Chapter AIA Honor Awards Jury felt, that each example indicates an awareness of the principles of architecture within its architect creator. Even as each architect has given his own expression to these principles, beyond the fact of dissimilarity of building types, common relationships between each are apparent. These relationships can be stated as follows: 1. Attention to local climate involving the basic conception of the building. 2. Attention to space surrounding the building, as well as space within the building, to create harmony between building and site. 3. Superior development of functional planning to serve the purpose for which the building was intended. 4. Experiment with structure not as an end in itself, but in response to a specific architectural need. 5. Simplified construction process through better integration of building elements. 6. Application of the concept of surprise and delight by appealing to the senses, use of light and shadow, silhouette, suggestion. 7. Materials logically used to permit structure - form - space. ...We must realize that ...photographs can only record these buildings statically, as seen from a single view point., that of the camera. To fully comprehend the value of architecture and of relations stated, these buildings and their spaces must become part of the viewers' experience and thus must be walked through or around, preferably both.”

Partial List of Projects

Bock Residence (1964)
2827 Palomino Circle

Catalina Pools Office (1969)
8200-8265 Center Drive, La Mesa

Chalcedony Garden Apartments (1966)
950 Chalcedony, Pacific Beach

Chalcedony House West Apartments (1969)
1707, 1727 and 1747 Chalcedony, Pacific Beach

Commercial-Industrial Center (1966)
8200 Center Drive, La Mesa

Concrete Industries Horizon Home (1964)
6130 Calle Veracruz, La Jolla

Coral Reef Estates
*Designed several of "100 custom built homes" on Soledad Avenue. 5525 Soledad Mt Road is one example

Day, Robert Residence (1959)
4588 Conrad Drive, La Mesa

El Jardin Verde Development House for John Mortenson (1964)
334 Horizon Hills Drive, El Cajon
*Purchased by Mr. & Mrs. Horgan

El Jardin Verde Development House for John Mortenson (1964)
261 Horizon Hills Drive, El Cajon
*Purchased by Dr. Roger G. Myer

Diamond House Apartments (1967)
933 Diamond Street, Pacific Beach

Dorman Tire Company (1966)
4690 El Cajon Boulevard, San Diego

Emerald House Apartments (1966)
1650 Emerald, Pacific Beach

Fares Company Inc.
National Avenue

First National Bank - Facade Screen Design
D Street, Encinitas
*While employed by Hope

Flores Residence (1967)
*3510 Via Flores, Point Loma

The FutureCraft Home (AKA Chambers Steel House) (1959)
4196 Eastridge Drive, La Mesa
*While employed by Frank Hope, this was the first light-steel House in San Diego. Published in San Diego & Point, March 1959. The house in Eastridge Estates was on view for weeks as a showcase home for new designs in steel construction

Golden Reed Apartments (1966)
1401 Reed Avenue, Pacific Beach

Greenwood Residence (1964)
6567 Linda Lane, Del Cerro

Hanalei Hotel and Islands Restaurant (1964-1981)
Mission Valley

Hilton Hotel (1967-69)
1775 E. Mission Bay Drive, Mission Beach

Hindman, Dr. Robert Residence (Construction completed in April 1962)
10636 Snyder Road, Mt. Helix
*This project won the Gold Nugget Grand Prize Award by Pacific Builders (1963).
Published in the June 1963 issue of San Diego and Point.
Recognized at the 1964 United Masonry Association of San Diego Awards

Holy Cross Cemetery Mausoleum
4470 Hilltop Drive, Chollas View

Hope, Chuck B. Residence (ca. 1962)
676 Albion Street, Point Loma
*While employed by Frank Hope

Hornblend Apartments (1966)
1933 Hornblend Street, Pacific Beach

Kassel Residence (1965)
Del Cerro
*Unbuilt

Kendal Palm Apartments (1966)
4444 Kendal, Pacific Beach

La Casa Flores Apartments (1968)
3510 Front Street, San Diego
*Designed by Hendrick & Mock Architects

Lamont House Apartments (1967)
4040 Lamont Street, Pacific Beach

Laufer Residence (1964)
6105 Pasatiempo Avenue, Del Cerro

Mitchell Residence (1964)
9973 Shadow Road, La Mesa

Mock, John R. Residence (1969)
6410 Elmhurst Drive, Del Cerro

Operation Pacific
1060 Point Loma Boulevard, Point Loma
*Remodel of Point Loma Post Office

Parkway Technical & Education Center
8374 Hercules, La Mesa

Phillips Residence (1964)
565 Rimrock, El Cajon
*Bill Hendrick design

Pullman Cafeteria Remodel
1240 5th Avenue, San Diego

Reed House Apartments (1968)
1222 Reed Street, Pacific Beach

Riviera Liquor House
4114 West Point Loma Blvd - 3006 Loma Riviera Drive, Point Loma

Rodeway Motor Inn / Port O' Call (1970)
2901 Nimitz Boulevard, Point Loma

Ross Residence Addition (1959)

Royal Reed Apartments (1968)
1488 Reed Street, Pacific Beach

Saint Therese Social Center
5815 Navajo Road, Allied Gardens

Sapphire Palm Apartments (1964)
901 Sapphire Street, Pacific Beach

Silverman Residence (1972)
1770 Colgate Circle, La Jolla

Spec Houses for E.P. Custom Construction Co.
*5 designs in Del Cerro

Star Realty (1969)
4433 Convoy Street, Clairemont

Thomas House Apartments (1967)
1333 Thomas Avenue, Pacific Beach

Thomas House Annex Apartments (1967)
1301 Thomas Avenue, Pacific Beach

Timken Museum (1965)
Balboa Park
*While employed by Frank Hope

Town and Country Hotel (1968)
Mission Valley

Trinity Lutheran Church
7210 Lisbon Street, Encanto

Ullman, Dr. Milton Residence (1964)
4786 Mt. Helix Drive, La Mesa
*Designed by John R. Mock of Hendrick and Mock Architects

Valley Ho Restaraunt
Mission Valley
*While employed by Frank Hope. Demolished.

Zellerbach Paper