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» CA.ARCHITECTURE & GARDENS In Harmony with Nature by y.j. zhu From the Golden Gate Bridge to hidden retreats, Californians have always enhanced the landscape SAN FRANCISCO Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), designed by Mario Botta. MUSEUMS Some of California's most dramatic architecture houses its prominent museums. San Francisco's de Young in Golden Gate Park and Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park occupy two ends of a spectrum, while Malibu's Getty Villa and LA's Getty Center run from a first-century Roman villa to a 21st-century modernist complex. For more on California's museums, see pages 30-32. 36 2 013 travel guide to c al ifo r n i a There is something irresistible about the sanguine spirit of optimism that is uniquely Californian. This "anything is possible" ethos is reflected in the diverse architectural and garden styles ranging from Spanish Missions to the Golden Gate Bridge, from public arboreta to private estate gardens. Infused with international design elements but respecting native terrain and lifestyle, California's topography of architecture and gardens is distinctive and original. Some of the earliest structures in the state are the 21 missions that dot the coastline from San Diego to Sonoma. Built between 1769 and 1823 during the Spanish colonial period, each was constructed within a day's horse ride of the next. Their signature elements of red tile roofs, white stucco walls and covered promenades are evident in many public and private buildings throughout the state. The Main Quad of Stanford University, San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, San Diego's Union Station and Casa de Balboa are all excellent examples. Victorian Rowhouses & Craftsman Bungalows The 19th-century gold and silver strikes created a new prosperity, and Victorian architecture was the perfect match for the times. Rows and rows of intricately embellished houses were constructed on narrow lots on the hills and streets of San Francisco. Lean, tall and ornate façades shouted for distinction, but their colors were muted. It was the preservation movement of the 1970s that gave them the brilliant colors you see today. You can stroll San Francisco neighborhoods and see the Painted Ladies in Alamo Square, the deliriously decorated Victorians in the Haight-Ashbury and the Mission, or take one of the walking tours offered by City Guides volunteers. After the exuberance of Victorians, California embraced the earthy, artisan Craftsman bungalows. The Craftsman style was inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement in Europe and was influenced by the Japanese design principle of simplicity. The ease and informality