Mansion time...

So today, for my comeback post, I'll start with a splash - a big one - a 12,279 square foot one to be exact.  The Labarba Residence.

(Source: ECB Associates)


Designed in the Beaux Arts style in 1997 by Ed Beall, the home is one of the largest homes in Rancho Palos Verdes.  It has 5 bedrooms and 9 bathrooms.  A four car garage.  Public records show the current homeowners purchased the 1.1 acre lot with an older home in 1991 for $2.0M.  The home is currently a pocket listing by Raju Chhabria, the leading PV Peninsula realtor, for $14.9M.

 (Source: Raju Chhabria)

(Source: Bing Maps)

The home is unique among a sea of Italianate and Spanish homes.  I initially wasn't a fan of this home - thought it was too ornate; however, upon further investigation, it is quite in keeping with the Beaux Arts style.  The home has a very formal feel, with the motor court, symmetric facade, formal rear garden, etc.  You'll also notice that the garage - a rather large one - is in a separate structure connected to the main home.

(Source: Bing Maps)

I thought it was also interesting that a home of this size, on such a large lot (albeit partially sloped), does not have a swimming pool.  At this price point, buyers would likely expect a pool, especially given its ocean views and proximity to the bluffs.

(Source: Bing Maps)

KEY STATS

Location: Lunada Pointe, RPV
Style: Beaux-Arts
Year built: 1997
Architect: Ed Beall
Square footage: 12,279
Lot size: 48,787(178 x 250)

Have been very busy with work...

...so again, I've been negligent in my HoPV duties!  Work has kept me on the road the last few weeks.  I'm back (for the time being).  More posts to come soon (promise!), but for now, check out this recent article from Easy Reader:  This Old House (http://www.easyreadernews.com/23805/palos-verdes-historic-homes/)

(Source: Easy Reader)

Redemption for Doug? Let's see...

So I think we all agree that the last home I wrote about which was penned by Mr. Leach was not, by anyone's standards, authentically Spanish.  So I thought - "hmm, maybe I'm being too harsh on Doug, can I find a better example of his work?"  So here goes.  The Earhart Residence.

(Source: NJC)


Designed by Doug Leach and built in 2009, the home spans 3,801 square feet and sits on an oddly shaped corner lot that measures a cozy 9,710 square feet (143 wide x 65 deep).  The homeowners, who incidentally bought the original home in 1972 for $47,500, decided to replace their 1954, 2,185 square foot single-level ranch home with this Spanish-inspired two story home.  Overall, I like it.  I prefer the new home to the older one.

(Source: Bing Maps)


As you can see from above, the original home was modest and was typical of the California Ranch style home that characterized the 1950s and part of the early 1960s.  A home that was understated, and in keeping with its natural surroundings.  Less.  Not more.  Sleek.  Modest.  That was the California Ranch home.  While I have an obvious bias towards the Spanish style, I do admire the ranch style home for being distinctly Californian.  But I digress, back to the home.

(Source: Bing Maps & Google Maps)


Notice that the new home (on right) occupies roughly the same footprint as the old home (on left).  Garage is still in the same location, as is the front entrance.  The homeowners opted to have a wider, more impressive face to the home, rather than orient the house to face the shorter side as most non-corner homes do.  Kudos. The only unfortunate loss in orienting the house as they have is the lack of a back yard or garden area.

PVE is strict on having a maximum of 65% of the lot covered with non-natural/hard surfaces (the home, driveway, patios, tennis courts, etc), so that every home in PVE has at least 35% of the lot unimproved/naturally improved (e.g. grass).  With a corner lot, given the front and side setback requirements, most of that 35% is in the front yards, leaving only a small strip of grass at the rear of the home (technically the side setback).  But given the homeowners bought the home in the 1970s, I'm guessing they don't have small children in the home wanting to play in the back yard (but I suppose maybe when the grandkids come, could be a problem!).

(Source: NJC)

(Source: NJC)

What I like about the home:  its white!  As all Spanish homes should be (not taupe or beige)!  It has good presence and sits well on the lot.  Very nice roof lines.  Shutters that are actually large enough to cover the windows.  Modest landscaping. Simple.

What could be improved? Well, for starters, there's a lot going on here.  The facade is almost too busy.  Too many things to focus on.  There are 11 windows - ELEVEN - on the front facade.  And they're all LARGE.  I get that the home faces west and maybe has ocean views from the second level.  But really, no home needs that much light!  The second floor window/balcony should have two panes, not three.  In fact, all of the second floor windows should be smaller.

Outside of that, I really do like this home.  It doesn't wreak of McMansion.  Has a nice touch of authenticity to it.  Just a little bit excessive, but certainly good bones.  All of the things I mentioned can be fixed by the next owner.  Overall, I'd rate it a solid B (no, I'm not going to start rating each of the homes I review!)

(Source: NJC)


By the way, I love the side facade (above).  It feels right.  Notice the small windows on the second level, off to the right.  Yes!

Good job Doug!  Just remember, less is more! Less is more!

KEY STATS

Location: Lunada Bay, PVE
Style: Spanish
Year built: 2009
Architect: Doug Leach
Square footage: 3,801
Lot size: 9,710 (143 x 65)

Oh, Doug... No no no.

So as I mentioned before, one of the more (maybe most?) prolific architects in the South Bay/PV area is Doug Leach.  I would characterize most of his work as ok to good, but not fantastic.  Occasionally, he does pen some very.... shall we say, questionable designs.  What's remarkable to me, is that Doug sits on the Palos Verdes Estates Art Jury, the governing body which overseas the aesthetics and architecture of the City of PVE and included among its members people like John Galen Howard, Myron Hunt and Frederick Law Olmstead Jr (yes, that Olmstead).  So one would think in modern days, we would have some equally impressive and accomplished members sitting on the jury.  But alas, no.  There are no internationally acclaimed (or even nationally acclaimed for that matter) architects on the Art Jury.  Indeed, most of the jury members are local architects, some that do residential work, others that do commercial work.

Anyhow, in theory, the concept of having an art jury should prevent the McMansionization of the prized grounds of PVE.  That's what it was set up to do!  Beverly Hills only recently established an architectural review board ala the Art Jury (some say that was a reaction to the proliferation of the so-called Persian Palaces that dot the tree lined streets of the BH Flats, but I digress).  However, every now and again, things do slip through the cracks... somehow.  With this particular case, the culprit is none other than Doug Leach himself!

The Yarymovych Residence.  Designed and built in 2009, the home measures 3,619 square feet on a 8,930 square foot lot.

(Source: NJC)

(Source: NJC)


Where to even begin.  Just looking at this home makes me feel claustrophobic.  Too much.  Everywhere.  Can this home even be considered Spanish?  It looks almost solidly Caliterranean, the McMansion variety. OK, OK, discipline.  Let's start on the right.

On the right side of the home, the windows (on both levels) are just too large.  They bleed onto the sides and the roof line.  What with the window molding? Too thick.  They're also redundant, since the windows themselves have fairly bold and thick trim. And they nearly touch the molding below the roof.

(Source: NJC)

Now lets move onto the entrance. WAY too narrow - a large fellow may even get stuck trying to enter the home.  Its dark.  Why oh why would anyone desire something so narrow? Perhaps they liked the look of a two-winged home with central entrance hall that you can see on larger homes that sit on wider lots.  You see, this home sits on (by LA standards), a decent sized lot.  However, the lot is only 57 feet wide!  57 feet wide!!!  When you add the requisite side setbacks of probably 17 feet, you're left with a facade that spans only 40 feet.  Subtracting the 7 feet or so for the entrance, leaves you with wings that are only 16 feet wide.  Two-winged designs really need lots that are at least 75 feet wide (but ideally 100 feet+).  With small lots like this, the facade should have one or at most two focal points (maybe via an asymmetric design).  This home has about a dozen or so things to focus on.  The windows.  The glass doors. The entrance.  The stone balcony. The gate.  Remember what I've always said when it comes to Spanish home design? (No, not "windows must always be recessed") Less is more!  White space is beautiful.   Wallace Neff and George Washington Smith would never be caught dead claiming credit for a home such as this.

(Source: Google Maps)

I'm normally a fan of replacing old, uninteresting 1950s or 1960s ranch homes with beautiful Spanish homes on the Peninsula.  However, in this case, I long for the old home rather than this caricature of a Spanish home.  

(Source: Bing Maps)

(Source: NJC)

KEY STATS

Location: Lunada Bay, PVE
Style: Spanish
Year built: 2009
Architect: Doug Leach
Square footage: 3,619
Lot size: 8,930 (width 57 x 150)