"Olle Lundberg has a client list most architects would kill for" began the article in the New York Times "Home" section, (June 2, 2005) titled "The Scavenger’s Guide to the Galaxy," which reeled off names like Lawrence J. Ellison, chief executive of Oracle, John Pritzker of the Chicago hotel dynasty and Leslie Rudd, an owner of Dean & DeLuca, all of whom have had homes or getaways styled by Mr. Lundberg.
Top San Francisco architect outs himself as an illegal live-aboard, in the New York Times
By Bobby Winston, Editor
Published: July, 2005
"Olle Lundberg has a client list most architects would kill for" began the article in the New York Times "Home" section, (June 2, 2005) titled "The Scavenger’s Guide to the Galaxy," which reeled off names like Lawrence J. Ellison, chief executive of Oracle, John Pritzker of the Chicago hotel dynasty and Leslie Rudd, an owner of Dean & DeLuca, all of whom have had homes or getaways styled by Mr. Lundberg.
In the article, written by Raul A. Barreneche, Lundberg relates that he and his wife Mary Breuer had cast about unsuccessfully for an industrial building to be converted into a home.
Unable to find anything landside to his liking, he located a retired Icelandic car ferry called the Marisol on the internet, bought it for $260,000 and spent another $600,000 on improvements.
The couple is pictured in the article showing off panoramic views while describing design details, like an 18-foot-long slap of cypress left over from the Slanted Door in the Ferry Building.
"We’re in the middle of the city, but we enjoy a very quiet, private enclave"— and all for just $1,200 a month in rent.
What motivated Lundberg and Breuer to preen so publicly about their unconventional living arrangements is unclear, but it’s certain they did not count on at least some of the attention the article quickly attracted.
Times readers at the Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC), knowing live- aboards at Pier 54 are not allowed, quickly got in touch with the Port of San Francisco.
The Port, even before hearing from BCDC, shot off a letter to its tenant of record for Pier 54, Miller/Thompson Constructors Inc., sternly reminding that their lease explicitly states that "tenant shall not use the Premises for sleeping."
As Bay Crossings went to press, the status of the Marisol and its design maven masters was unclear. Chances are good it’ll be the Flying Dutchman before long. Pride goeth before the fall.
