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)