A rare early-postwar example of Spanish Revival design, this Millbrae, California motel stands on land originally granted to the Valencia family by the Spanish government. The site was purchased from the Valencias by Martin Wilms and his son Earl in 1947, and the original 36-unit motel opened in 1949. The building used familiar Spanish Revival cues such as the tower, arch, and barrel tile roof, although much simplified from their prewar form. According to the present owner, the grandson of...
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A rare early-postwar example of Spanish Revival design, this Millbrae, California motel stands on land originally granted to the Valencia family by the Spanish government. The site was purchased from the Valencias by Martin Wilms and his son Earl in 1947, and the original 36-unit motel opened in 1949. The building used familiar Spanish Revival cues such as the tower, arch, and barrel tile roof, although much simplified from their prewar form. According to the present owner, the grandson of Martin Wilms, the building’s architecture “seems to always have been in style, and will always be in style.” Although the motel has since been enlarged to include 306 units and a restaurant, the owners have sought to maintain the flavor of the original in their additions.
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