Sim Bruce Richards

Sim Bruce Richards was born of Cherokee descent in Tahlequah, Oklahoma in 1908. The son of a farmer, Bruce, chewing on wheat regularly, developed a bone infection in his jaw as a young boy after a kernel seated itself deep in his gums. Fascinated by architecture, even as a young boy, his passion would develop further by reading magazines while convalescing from his ill health. In 1920, the Richards family (brother Willis, and sisters Francis and Betty) moved to Phoenix, in part to find better healthcare for son Bruce. In Phoenix he would learn of Frank Lloyd Wright’s nearby Ocatilla Desert Camp (1927) and his published works.

Bruce studied architecture upon arriving at Cal in 1930. Soon thereafter, frustrated with the program and faculty, Bruce transferred to the art department. While studying art, Richards honed his talents weaving abstract rug designs that he had learned while still in Phoenix studying with master-weaver Melanie Murdoch. In 1934, prior to his graduation, Frank Lloyd Wright set his eyes on rug designs, by Bruce and his roommate and Blaine Drake, on display in San Francisco. Mr. Wright told the gallery director to have the rug designer(s) contact him.

Following correspondence with Wright, and at his invitation, at age 26, Bruce Richards joined the Taliesin Fellowship. Between May 1934 and September 1935, Bruce worked and studied alongside Wright and other Fellows Edgar Kaufmann Jr., Blaine Drake, John Lautner, Cornelia Brierly, Gene Masselink, Bill Bernoudy and others.

Under the employ of Ed (Loomis) Bowes and Homer Smith, Richards worked on the Phoenix Little Theater (100 East McDowell, Phoenix, AZ), Camelback Inn and a number of residential designs including the Warren Residence and B.H. Residence.

Arriving in San Diego in 1938, Bruce worked as a draftsman for the 11th Naval District. Soon thereafter he met Janet Hopkins at a dinner party in Point Loma, and after a short time of dating, the couple was married in May 1944. At the time Bruce was renting a room above a 2-car garage at 3515 Wisteria Drive and with the beginnings of a family in mind, the couple bought their first house – a “fishing shack” for $3,500 at 3505 Talbot in Point Loma. In 1946, Bruce finished his work for the US Navy and began work for William Templeton Johnson on a number of projects including the early Harbor Front studies.

The family growing, Bruce and Janet bought property on Albion and began work on their first house of Bruce’s design. At this time Bruce began working for Harold Abrams, noted later for the design on Park La Jolla apartment community on La Jolla Boulevard. In 1949, Harold Abrams told Bruce to “take a vacation… and you don’t have to come back.” Bruce and Janet agreed that he should practice architecture on his own at this time… and would do so until his passing in December, 1983.

During nearly four decades in practice, Sim Bruce Richards designed over 200 projects not including his work in weaving, painting, and furniture design. His small practice moved through a few addresses (Pearl Street Prospect Street, La Jolla Boulevard and eventually on Linwood in Old Town) and a few colleagues: John Reed, Ken Kellogg and Spencer Lake, always taking the time and joy in hand-sharpening his drafting pencils.

Partial List of Projects

African Methodist Episcopal Church (1947)
7517 Cuvier Street, La Jolla

All Saints Lutheran Church (1964)
6355 Radcliffe, University City

Alpha Phi Sorority (1966)
6055 Montezuma Road, College Area

Bascomb, Edward S. and Iris Residence (1953)
887 Golden Park, Point Loma

Bauer, Emil Residence “Hex House” (1965)
1655 Plantation Way, El Cajon

Beatty, Hugh and Elaine Residence (1957)
1640 Via Cancion, San Marcos

Bell, Arthur R. Residence Remodel (1956)
5960 Camino De La Costa, La Jolla
*Remodel of the Cohu Residence

Bennett, Ralph B. Remodel (1955)
919 Pacific Beach Drive, Pacific Beach

Blackwell, Elmer J. Residence (1959)
1275 Willow Street, Point Loma

Bogan, Admiral Gerald E. & Katie Residence (1949)
6318 Muirlands Drive, La Jolla

Bovard, John & Camille Residence (1947)
359 Belvedere Street, La Jolla
*AKA Armin Richter Spec House

Bowman, Robert W. Residence Remodel (1963)
3360 Harbor View Drive, Point Loma
*Remodel of Richards Residence II

Brav, Nelson Residence (1977)
12961 Via Grimaldi, Del Mar

Brav & Schwartz Law Offices (1982)
4026 Dove Street, Mission Hills

Calloway, Plans for a House for William C. and Virginia C. (1947)
10 E. Roseland Drive, La Jolla

Carlson Residence Remodel (1966)
1335 Trieste, Point Loma

Childs, A.L. and Winetta Residence (1952)
663 Circle Drive, Solana Beach

Chung, Ronnie Residence (1959)
1807 Kelly Street, Oceanside

Clark, Alice M. Residence I (1953)
3243 Harbor View Drive, Point Loma

Clark, John G. and Alice Residence II (1959)
7907 Calle De La Plata, La Jolla

Clark, John G. and Alice Residence III (1972)
3634 Jennings Street, Point Loma

Clarke, Colman Residence (1959)
2470 Sunset Drive, Riverside

Cohu, LaMotte T. Residence (1948)
5960 Camino del La Costa, La Jolla

Cramer, Ed Residence Remodel (1964)
727 Armada Terrace, Point Loma

Crowell, F.P. Residence (1961)
7675 Via Capri, La Jolla

Crowley, Jerry Residence II (1978)
24747 Olive Tree Lane, Los Altos Hills

Dorman, Chester and Sterling Residence (1976)
15585 Old Guejito Grade Road, Escondido

Eales, Rodney Residence (1973)
391 Catalina Boulevard, Point Loma

Eitel, John Residence Remodel (1950)
977 Albion Street, Point Loma
*Remodel of Richards Residence #1

El Borregito Duplex Apartments for Dr. A.S. Parker (1948)
2870 Country Club Drive, Borrego Springs
*Published in Magazine San Diego in December, 1948

Engstrand, Paul & Parthie Residence (1964)
9450 Sunset Drive, La Mesa

Esling, Helen Residence (1954)
1119 Klish Way, Del Mar

Fine, Dr. Lawrence and Irene Residence (1967)
10535 Fuerte Drive, La Mesa

Fowler, Francis E. Jr. Remodel (1950)
7683 Hillside Drive, La Jolla

Franklin, William C. Residence (1962)
894 Rosecrans, Point Loma

Friedkin, Thomas H. and Susie Residence (1964)
Via Del La Valle, Rancho Santa Fe

Furgatch, Harvey Residence (1982)
2932 Camino Del Mar, Del Mar

Garland, Hastings Jr. Residence Remodel (1959)
3243 Harbor View Drive, Point Loma
*Remodel of John and Alice Clark Residence I

Goodwillie, Janet Remodel (1982)
2580 North Arroyo Drive, Mission Hills
*Remodel of Newsom Residence

Hartley, John Residence (1969)
1 Cabrillo Way, Laguna Beach

Haugh, Jim and Sally Remodel (1973)
887 Golden Park, Point Loma
*Remodel of Bascomb Residence

Hayward, Chester and Joan Residence (1963)
1840 Neale Street, Mission Hills

Heuser, William and Charlotte Remodel (1973)
560 San Gorgonio, Point Loma
*Remodel of Silva Residence

Hood, J. Hall Residence (1955)
6063 Folsom, La Jolla

Hord, Admiral Paul W. and Jane Residence (1952)
621 First Street, Coronado

Hudson, Victor Residence Remodel (1958)
1275 Trieste Drive, Point Loma

James, Rembert and Catherine Residence (1953)
5578 Calumet, La Jolla

La Grange, Howard Residence (1974)
1918 Pacific Terrace, Oceanside

Langham, James R. Residence Remodel (1967)
4255 Del Monte, Point Loma

Larrick, Herschell Jr. Residence (1958)
632 Canyon Drive, Solana Beach

Liebmann, Joachim E. & Suzanne Residence Remodel (1959)
3711 Dudley Street, Point Loma

Lipetzky, Jerome and Lynn Residence (1965)
1367 South Grade Road, Alpine

Loizeaux, William and Sally Residence (1973-74)
3958 La Cresta Drive, Point Loma

Lovell, Capt. and Royal Residence (1959)
3728 Dudley, Point Loma

Lyon, Edward and Nancy Residence (1972)
2411 Canyon Road, Escondido

Mannen, Bertha K. Apartment Remodel (1969)
141-145 21^st Street, Del Mar

Margolin, Elias Residence (1959)
887 La Jolla Rancho Road, La Jolla

Marston, Arthur Hamilton and Peggy Residence (1967)
1650 Kearsarge, La Jolla

McGuire, Thomas G. Residence (1969)
1471 Borrego Springs Road, Borrego Springs

Meador, Dr. Bruce S. & Betty (1973)
14353 Mussey Grade Road, Ramona

Mission Bay Aquatic Control Center (1960)
2581 Quivira Court, Mission Bay

Morley Field Tennis Center (1975)
2221 Morley Field Drive, North Park

Morrison, Jack Remodel (1978)
205 Pacific, Solana Beach

Muschbacher, E.P. Residence (1949)
3748 Warner Street, Point Loma

Nemiroff, Dr. and Remodel (1975)
2803 Inverness Drive, La Jolla

Neves, Manuel Jr. Residence (1962)
1376 Willow Street, Point Loma

Newsom, T.R. Residence (1955)
2580 North Arroyo Drive, Mission Hills

Nicol, Frank and Jean Residence (1982)
15405 Pauma Valley Drive, Pauma Valley

Nourse, Hal E. and Clari Residence (1962)
16205 Rostrata Hill Road, Poway

Olney, Richard Residence (1954)
1644 Crespo, La Jolla

Orman, Garald J. and Juanita J. Residence (1976)
12552 Vista Panorama, Santa Ana

Ostenberg, W.H. Residence (1959)
1620 Mecca Drive, La Jolla

Palk, Robert J. Residence (1955)
9303 Carmichael Drive, La Mesa

Peterson, Kenneth and Marguerite I. Residence (1973)
24341 Sargeant Road, Ramona

Peto, Guy Residence (1955)
1742 Sunset Drive, Vista

Phillips, Bob and Lois Residence Remodel (1973)
641 San Gorgonio, Point Loma

Quintana, Frank and Audrey Residence (1956)
2880 Moonridge Road, La Jolla

Rice, Mr. and Mrs. J.U. Residence (ca. 1942)
2735 Azalea Drive, Point Loma

Richards, Sim Bruce and Janet Residence Residence I (1947)
977 Albion Street, Point Loma

Richards, Sim Bruce and Janet Residence II (1950)
3360 Harbor View Drive, Point Loma

Richards, Sim Bruce and Janet Residence III (1957)
955 Bangor Street, Point Loma

Richards, Sim Bruce and Janet Residence V (1972)
3706 Jennings Street, Point Loma

Rigsby, George P. Residence (1960)
411 San Remo Way, Point Loma

Saklatwalla, Ann R. Remodel (1950)
5836 Bellevue Avenue, La Jolla

Schmock, Donald L. and Joyce Residence (1953)
7345 Remley Place, La Jolla

Shapiro, Robert L. Residence Remodel (1957)
3651 Rosecroft Lane, Point Loma
*Remodel of the Soulé Residence

Silva, Edward P. Residence (1953)
560 San Gorgonio, Point Loma

Simonson, Harry and Louise Residence (1958)
4140 Sea View Lane, Los Angeles

Sisson, C. Paul Residence (1948)
2905 Nutmeg Street, North Park

Skinner, Alma Residence (1949)
7044 Monte Vista, La Jolla

Soulé, Alan and Bernice Residence (1949)
3651 Rosecroft Lane, Point Loma

South Clairemont Community Center Building Addition (1965)
3605 Clairemont Drive, Clairemont

Spicer, Raymond D. Residence (1960)
379 San Antonio, Point Loma

Stauffer, Paul C. Residence (1956)
3033 Central Avenue, City Heights

Stephens, James and Dee Residence (1978)
16208 Orchard Bend Road, Poway

Throneson, Lt. Col. and H.K. Residence (1953)
3640 Dudley Street, Point Loma

Town, Robert and Mae Louise F. Remodel (1953)
3654 Dupont, Point Loma

Tyson, Dr. Robert and Residence (1977)
7214 Rue Michael, La Jolla

Ullrich, Marian Residence (1961)
3340 Ingelow Street, Point Loma

Van Dorn, Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Addition to Residence of (1968)
10 E. Roseland Drive, La Jolla

Vint, Vincent J. & Tanya Residence (1964)
187 Nob, Del Mar

Waterman, Herb A. and Betty Residence (1957)
19 Vista Del Mar, Orinda

Watson, Maurice T. Remodel (1964)
2744 Azalea Drive, Point Loma

Watson, Maurice T. Residence Remodel (1976)
755 Rosecrans, Point Loma

Weber, Irwin and Sheila Residence (1977)
3402 Gage Place, Point Loma

Weinberg, Lewis and Violet Residence (1978)
23427 Calistoga Place, Ramona

Woods, Dr. & Harry B. Residence (1973)
1140 Inspiration Drive, La Jolla

Worthington, Bryan Addition to a Residence For (1968)
2137 West California, Mission Hills

Wright, Leone and Elsie Gillett Residence (1949)
935 Bangor Street, Point Loma

ZLAC Rowing Club Remodel (1961)
1111 Pacific Beach Drive, Pacific Beach