A word about architects

I recognize that many of those that are (or will be) reading this blog are architecture-philes and also may be interested in learning more about some of the recent new construction being built and designed in the area.  I've spent a fair amount of time learning about many of the contemporary local architects designing the lion's share of new housing stock on the Peninsula, so thought I'd share some of my thoughts here. While many examples of their work are very well done, part of me still thinks that none are on track to create the timeless works of art designed by the greats, like George Washington Smith, Myron Hunt, & Addison Mizner. Although a few examples of their work come close!

Tier 1: The majors & the prolific
Ashai Design (http://www.ashai.com/)- Based in Torrance, with offices in Beverly Hills and Dubai, Ashai Design is headed by Tony Ashai, a Kashmir-born PVE resident. Ashai's designs are almost exclusively Mediterranean in style and as a general matter, the firm focuses on large-scale estates, residential communities and commercial projects.  Over the years, Ashai has designed many of PVE's largest and most opulent residences, though in recent years, Ashai has shied away from custom homes and focused instead on large residential and commercial developments in Dubai.  You'll see a number of their designs featured in future posts.

Doug Leach Architecture  (no website) - Doug Leach is one of the two best known South Bay architects (the other being Tomaro).  Doug designs mid to high end homes in the Beach Cities (Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and parts of Redondo Beach) and on the Peninsula.  His style includes Cape Cod as well as many Spanish and Tuscan-inspired blends.  At the peaak of the housing boom, Doug was designing 40+ homes per year - an amazing feat given he was the only architect at his Redondo Beach-based firm.  In a more normalized market, Doug pens approximately 20-25 homes per year.  He does architecture the old fashioned way, i.e. with pen and paper rather than a fancy 3D CAD model (although he refers people to 3D designers, if they want to see his designs in 3D).  Another interesting fact - Doug is a member of the PVE Art Jury.

Tomaro Design Group (http://www.tomaro.com/) - Tomaro Design Group is a Manhattan Beach-based firm headed by Louie Tomaro that dominates the Beach Cities market and does some work on the Peninsula.  Tomaro's styles range from Modern to Cape Code to Mediterranean.  Like Doug Leach, Tomaro is also one of the more prolific architects in the South Bay/Peninsula area.  Tomaro has a whole staff of people and utilizes the latest in tech for his clients - 3D renderings are standard, and he also has LEED-certified staff for those wanting some "green" building input.  In addition to design work, Louie's brother also runs Tomaro Design's construction business.  I find Tomaro gives up authenticity for his own take on "pure" styles like Spanish Revival, Italian, etc.  If you want Euro-authentic designs, look elsewhere.  If you want something different (some will love it, others will hate it), Tomaro might be a good fit.

Edward Carson Beall & Associates (http://www.ecbarchitects.com/) - Ed Beall is somewhat of a staple in the South Bay/Peninsula design world, having been around for nearly 40 years.  Many of the architects listed here have spent some time at Beall & Associates (as have many local architects not named in this post).  Beall now only does very high end projects and I've heard his minimum fee for design work is substantially above other Tier 1 guys.  I also understand he does a very small number of homes per year.  His styles are varied, ranging from Spanish Colonial to American Colonial and everything in between.  He also tends to do a large number of restoration remodel projects as you'll see featured on this site.

Tier 2: New guys and the occasionals
Russ Barto (no website) - Barto is a PVE-based architect that designs a number of homes on the Peninsula.  His style is varied and in my view, a bit on the plain side.  From what I gather, Barto is very good for clients that  have a very specific design idea in mind.  As a general matter, I'm not a fan of most of his work.

Don Thursby (no website) - Thursby is a Peninsula-based architect that does a small number of original and remodel designs.  I've only seen a few examples of his work but one home in particular is among my favorite homes in all of the Peninsula (stay tuned!)

Powell Dudley Frith (http://www.pdfarchitects.com/) - PDF Architects, namely Brad Dudley, also does a fair number of homes on the Peninsula (and southern Orange County and LA's Westside - Brentwood, Bel Air and Beverly Hills).  The Laguna Beach-based firm specializes in larger, high end custom homes.  Their design styles are varied, consistent with some of the larger, higher end firms mentioned in this post.

Obelisk Architects (http://www.obeliskarchitects.com/) - Less familiar with this firm, although I know they have designed a few homes in PVE and the South Bay.  They are based in Torrance.

Pritzkat and Johnson (http://www.pritzkatjohnson.com/) Not familiar with this firm, but they have done several remodels and new construction designs in the area.

EnviroTechno (http://www.envirotechno.com/) - Culver City-based firm that has designed a few homes in the South Bay and on the Peninsula.  The homes they've designed that I am aware of are Mediterranean in style.

Over the course several blogs, you'll become very familiar with the names above, as these firms dominate the Peninsula new build market.