Seven Arts Building

The Seven Arts Building, is a one-and-one-half-story, Tudor Revival-style commercial building in downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. It was designed by Albert B. Coats and built by Percy Parkes for poet mayor Herbert Heron in 1925, as a bookshop and printing press. It was built with Thermotite fireproof concrete blocks. It was home to the Carmel Cymbal newspaper, the Carmel Art Association's first gallery, and the Carmel Art Institute.

History


In 1918, writer Herbert Heron opened the first Seven Arts bookstore, selling books, art materials, poetry, and antiques near the Forest Theater, which he founded in 1910.

In 1923, Heron commissioned Michael J. Murphy to build the Seven Arts Shop for he and Helena Conger at a new located on Ocean Avenue and Monte Verde Street, next to Edward G. Kuster's Carmel Weavers Studio.

In September 1925, The Seven Arts store moved again to a larger Seven Arts Building on Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Street. He hired architect Albert B. Coats and builder Percy Parkes to build the Tudor Revival-style, building that included plans for an art gallery and frame shop. George & Catherine Seideneck did the original interior decoration. The building is a one-and-one-half-story, cement-block framed Tudor-style commercial building. The exterior wall is textured cement stucco. It has a steep pitched cross-gabled roof, and three brick chimneys. An open wood staircase, leads up to an open balcony, supported by wood posts and a rail, which has access to shops on the upper floor.

The Seven Arts Building became a popular meeting place for the many Bohemian artists and writers in Carmel including George Sterling, Mary Austin, and Jack London.