ARCHITECT ROBERT THIELE has become one of the driving forces behind the remarkable restoration of Balboa Park's Palisades, helping return lost architectural beauty to one of San Diego's most significant historic places.
Working pro bono through the Balboa Park Committee of 100, the fourth-generation San Diegan has spent nearly a decade researching, designing, coordinating, and overseeing the re-creation of architectural features that disappeared decades ago from the 1935-36 California Pacific International Exposition buildings.
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One of the two bronze grizzly bear sculptures crowning the San Diego Automotive Museum. |
His work has touched nearly every aspect of the Palisades restoration—from the California State Building (now home of the San Diego Automotive Museum) to the Municipal Gymnasium and the surrounding public spaces.
When no original construction drawings could be found, Robert became detective as much as architect. Using historic photographs, postcards, archival records, and painstaking proportional analysis, he reconstructed lost ceramic murals, Maya-inspired ornamentation, rooftop grizzly bears, sculptural details, monumental flagpoles, and decorative architectural elements once thought gone forever.
Working closely with artists, engineers, sculptors, preservation specialists, and craftspeople, he helped translate historic evidence into durable new elements and details that faithfully reflect the original vision of the 1935 Exposition while meeting modern engineering standards.
And that’s not all. Robert’s leadership extended well beyond architectural design. He evaluated materials, coordinated fabrication, reviewed historical accuracy, solved structural challenges, and participated in contractor selection.
Perhaps most important of all, Robert was present throughout construction to ensure that every detail accurately honored the historic character of the Palisades.
His deep desire to restore and preserve the park reaches beyond any one area. Working with landscape architects and fellow preservationists, Robert has helped shape long-range plans for the 1935 Pan American Plaza and the Singing Fountain, envisioning a revitalized civic gathering place that reconnects museums, architecture, landscape, and public life.
What makes Robert's contribution especially remarkable is that it has largely been a labor of love. Motivated by stewardship, he has generously devoted countless volunteer hours to preserving one of San Diego's greatest civic treasures. As he has said, the work has been "an adventure into the arts"—bringing together architecture, sculpture, tile making, engineering, and historic research through thousands of small steps taken over many years.
The results are visible throughout the Palisades, where long-lost architectural elements have returned to inspire new generations of visitors. Robert’s holistic approach and vast expertise demonstrate that patient research, technical excellence, artistic collaboration, and unwavering commitment can restore not only buildings, but the civic pride and cultural vitality they represent.
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