The kinda guy the Art Jury should have...

So as most of you know, I've been pretty critical of the PVE Art Jury given some of the architectural monstrocities they've allowed to be built in recent times.  The original PV planners back in the 20s had assumed the Art Jury would be comprised of esteemed architects - internationally renowned folks who were leaders in their field and styles.    Guys like John Galen Howard, famous for the Beaux Arts style of buildings of the Berkeley campus and Myron Hunt with notable structures all through Southern California (notably Pasadena).  While I'd suspect that most of the current Art Jury members do have solid architectural credentials (in fact, why don't they have their bios on the PVE or PVHA website?), I suspect their work would not stack up to the critique of their industry leading peers in the same way that their forebearers' work from the 20s/30s would.  In my daytime hobby as a reader of architectural mags and blogs, I did come across one great architect that's done some amazing Spanish work in SoCal.  Kevin A Clark. His designs, penned by hand and not by some fancy schmancy computer CAD software, look like timeless works of art - and the ultimate product, the home, look as though they were built a century ago.

He, as a general matter, isn't very prolific in the amount of homes he pens - designing only a handful of homes per year as I understand it (unlike Tomaro and Leach, for example, who each pen 25-35+ homes per year).  Check out some of his work here:

 (Source: Kevin A Clark Inc)

 (Source: Kevin A Clark Inc)

 (Source: Kevin A Clark Inc)

 (Source: Google Maps)

 (Source: Kevin A Clark Inc)

 (Source: Kevin A Clark Inc)


I wish he'd do some work on the Hill.  PV could use his talent!  If you're interested in more info, check out his Facebook page (he doesn't have a website): http://www.facebook.com/KevinAClarkInc

The wrong kind of new construction...

Just came across another home going up - this one in Montemalaga, PVE.  The home is perched on a expansive view lot, complete with tennis court, and replaces an older faux Mediterranean home.  The Irie Residence.

The Irie family purchased the original home, which was not a modest home like other tear downs, in early 2010 for $3.5M.  In fact, the original home (pictured below), was a 7,696 square foot, 7 bedroom, 8 bathroom home built in 1985.    Judging from the MLS listing description and photos, the home was in very good condition - not at all a tear down or "in need of TLC."

(Source: Google Maps)

 (Source: Google Maps)

(Source: MLS)


As you can see, the home site is quite large - 0.7 acres actually, and is purchased on a hill with some phenomenal views.

 (Source: MLS)

(Source: MLS)

Well, shortly after the family purchased the home, they hired Ashai Design to design a new Italian residence.   When I first saw the item on the Planning Commission agenda, I was excited.  Ashai has done some good work on the hill, with much of their work featured on this site.  But alas, this weekend I saw that this is not their finest work - in fact, quite the opposite.  I know and recognize this is still under construction, but so far, hard for me to see what could change that would redeem this home.  The architectural crime - aka the new home - is below:

 (Source: NJC)

(Source: NJC)

Where to even begin.  First, the color - mustard? Really? From the high res images, it looks like mustard colored stucco.  What about the window trim and the trim that demarcates the second floor? Too much.  And yes - I know the white elephant in the room - the "stone" tower.  The "stone" doesn't even look real - almost likes stone patterned wallpaper.  And how about the shape of the home? Very blockish and uninspired.

New home:

 (Source: Google Maps)

Original home:

(Source: MLS)


The footprint is so boring - in fact, I think the original home that they tore down was more interesting - I mean, check out the offset tower that faced the pool!  In fact, I think I like the old home more than this new monstrocity going up.  Is there even much of a difference between this home and this McMansion?

You tell me!  Is the PVE Art Jury asleep at the wheel here?

KEY STATS

Location: Montemalaga, PVE
Style: Italian (ish)
Year built: 2011
Architect: Ashai
Square footage: Unknown (but big!)
Lot size: 30,100 (126x202)

Development alert! We're losing a classic!

I noticed some flagging a few weeks back on one of the cooler classic homes in Lunada Bay - the McCreery House.

 (Source: Google Maps)

 (Source: PV Library)

Designed by Arthur C. Munson and built by Arthur Barnes in 1930, this Spanish home measures a comfortable but not excessive 3,725 square feet and sits on a flat 23,010sf lot.  It was originally built for Mrs. Madelon Matthews McCreery and then Ethel Barrymore.  Today, it is held by the Coors family (Enid Coors).

The lot itself is amazing - 160 feet wide, 155 feet deep.  It has room for a tennis court, big grass yard, motor court and several patios.  I haven't been able to snap my own photos and Google doesn't do this home justice - its perfectly elegant, understated, harmonious!

 (Source: Google Maps)

(Source: Google Maps)

(Source: Google Maps)


Anyhow, I noticed the flagging - a precursor to new building approval and part of the neighborhood compatibility process, a few weeks ago and that was a red flag to me - why would anyone want to tear down such a beautiful home with great history?  I was hoping that maybe it was just a facelift - a touch up, if you will, of the exterior.  But unfortunately, I was wrong.  A quick perusal through city council minutes and planning commission minutes shows indeed that Mrs. Coors heirs, who currently reside in Rancho Palos Verdes, applied for a new single family home permit.  And, to make matters worse, the architect they have chosen is Doug Leach.  Don't get me wrong - Doug has done some fine work, but he has also done some work of questionable integrity/fidelity.  Exhibit A. and Exhibit B.  I worry that this home will ultimately share the genetics of a McMansion rather than a classic Spanish home that would make Wallace Neff or George Washington Smith proud.

In fact, this home is just a few homes down from my last post's home, which has the garage facing the street rather than the alley.  The current home has the garage tucked away behind a quaint porte cochere.  What will Doug do here?  I don't know anyone in the requisite 300' radius who would have seen the drawings as part of the approval process, but perhaps one of my readers has a copy they'd like to share?  I sincerely hope that it is a tasteful Spanish home, faithful to the style, rather than a McMansion special.  I also hope that the owners preserve most if not all of the beautifully mature landscaping currently on the lot. To lose the home is such a tragedy, and to lose the wonderful trees would add further insult to injury.  Let's hope that what goes up in something at least as good as what's coming down.  Fingers crossed!

Another Spanish takes shape in Lunada Bay

Construction seems to be the reason for the season these days.  Lots of homes being flagged and framed as I drive around the Peninsula.  Today, I'm writing about another Spanish home going up in the bluffs of Lunada Bay.  The Mulligan Residence.

(Source: NJC)


Designed by Doug Leach in 2009, the home the Spanish styled home replaces a 1,893 square foot 1964 ranch style home which sat on a 9,780sf lot.  The original home was purchased in 2007 for $1.275M.

(Source: Google Maps)

(Source: Google Maps)

As you can see from above, the original home was nothing remarkable nor did it appear well maintained.  The lot is one of the few alley streets in PVE, meaning the garage on many of the older homes are located on the alley side, leaving the main street on which the home is located free from traffic.  As you can see in the new home that's going up here, the garage is placed front and center - what a shame!

(Source: NJC)

The new home looks sadly predictable.  Garage.  Central entry.  Living room balancing out the garage in the front.  Why oh why do people default to the default - what happened to the creativity in custom homes!

For a predictable home, this one may still work - the devil is in the details and final fishes.  Will it be white plaster or beige stucco?  How about the window trim?  Tiles used in the roof? Landscaping?

My fingers and toes are crossed hoping that this home turns out well.  I'd really like to see a nice, non-McMansion Spanish home set the tone for new builds in Lunada.

 (Source: NJC)

(Source: NJC)

KEY STATS

Location: Lunada Bay, PVE
Style: Spanish
Year built:  2011
Architect: Doug Leach
Square footage: Unknown, but probably 3,700 or thereabouts
Lot size: 9,780 (67'x148')

A few uncommented photos...

...have already blogged on this home...but took a couple of new shots this weekend.  So nice!

 (Source: NJC)

 (Source: NJC)