The Pickering House: Historic Adaptive Reuse, 1995
Original Architect: Unknown, Circa 1890s
Size: 2,200 s.f., Two Story
Location: Niles, California
Road realignments sometimes cause a complete loss of cultural memory. This is the case with the Pickering House. As part of the Washington Township's agricultural era, the house had been constructed on the main highway between Oakland and San Jose. In 1939, as the Bay Area grew, this route was relocated to the east of the house, situating it backwards to the community. Over time, the house settled into its overgrown and unattended site only to be forgotten.
In 1995, the historic house was re-presented to the community, by rotating and relocating it on the site. All of this was accomplished in conjunction with an affordable housing development. The housing development was designed to be compatible with this Victorian era structure, and the use of the house was changed to serve the housing community's needs. It has become the recreation facility, including meeting rooms, lounge and manager's office.
