 The building was intended as a home for Jack Malloch and his son , John Rolph Malloch . Both men were partners in a father / son architectural firm based in San Francisco , and both wanted to live on Telegraph Hill with a view of the San Francisco Bay . They determined to build an apartment which would provide them with fine dwellings and also with income from the rental units it held . Irvin Goldstine ( sometimes written Irving or Irvine ) designed the building for them ; he had recently graduated from l 'École des Beaux @-@ Arts but had not yet earned his architect 's license , so he was not listed as the architect of record . Instead , the Mallochs were listed . Goldstine obtained his license in 1940 , four years after he first sketched the Malloch Building . 
