Are we in the Valley?

Quick updates today.  Remember that monstrocity in Lunada Bay that I wrote about (more here) ?  Well, my fears were confirmed when I checked out the progress being made.  Here's what the first of the two homes looks like as of last week.

 (Source: NJC)

(Source: NJC)

This is a cartoon of a home if I ever saw one.  It's a block.  Well, three blocks.  With windows.  Lots of them.  Close together.  Doors.  Lots of them.  Close together too.  And the three car garage!  The siting and massing of this house is atrocious!  And what's more, rather than even attempting to have any semblance of authenticity by say, painting the home white and using a deeper red tile, the home is yellow.  With orange tile.  I mean, if you're going to go with something that is overly simple, at least do it well.  This home is a McMansion.  The kind you normally find in the Valley or Riverside County.  It does not belong on a bluff top lot in PV.

If the owner/builders were going for the symmetric, stately yet informal, balanced facade look, they could have gone with this home below which was built last year in Beverly Hills.  While this home too is imperfect, it still is head and shoulders above the Paseo del Mar McMansion!

 (Source: NJC)

(Source: NJC)

This example is a simplified, somewhat symmetric and balanced facade. The BH home has the right color palette.  Better massing.  The design is restrained, graceful even.  Sufficient white space.  Etc.

What do you all think?



Also, one other quick update.  The other home I wrote about is nearly complete - and its a beauty!
You remember this one? Well here it is, all grown up!

(Source: NJC)

We need more homes likes this!  Unique, authentic designs.

Under Construction - A Unique Spanish Home

So today I'm going to focus on a home that is currently under construction.  I've been following this home for some time.  Unlike other homes featured on this site, this home sits on an irregularly shaped lot which makes designing a nice Spanish home particularly challenging.  The Holdsworth Residence

(Source: NJC)

Situated on a large, albeit irregular pie shaped lot, the Holdsworths have owned the home for some time.  In fact, property records do not show the last sale transaction.  In an interesting side note, the Holdsworth used the same architect on this home as they did on the home right next door which they bought on spec and built a (in my view) less attractive Spanish home.  More on that later.

Anyhow, this home, designed by Huntington Beach-based architect Jeff Dahl replaces a fine but less  attractive 3,178 square foot 1963 Cape Cod style home.

(Source: Google Maps)

Indeed, you'll notice that this picture, taken in 2007 or thereabouts, shows the flagging required by the PVE Planning Department and it also shows the other home the couple also built right next door (also being flagged).

As you can see below, the large 15,000 square foot lot also has a pool, and backs up to a hill.

 (Source: Bing Maps)

(Source: Bing Maps)

I think the home they're building is absolutely stunning.  I've followed it the last several months, hoping that it would turn out well - and it has!  I'm guessing its a few more months before everything is finished.  I do hope this gets put up for sale so I can tour the inside!  A few more photos below:

(Source: NJC)

(Source: NJC)

(Source: NJC)

This is a project well executed.  The turret.  The minimized garage.  The roof lines.  The scale of the windows.  The way the shape of the home fits into the natural landscape.  This all just works!  I can't wait to see this home completed - should be great!

KEY STATS

Location: Upper Lunada, PVE
Style: Spanish
Year built:  2011
Architect: Jeff Dahl
Square footage: Unknown
Lot size: 15,590sf (irregular)

P.S. The neighboring home I mentioned above, which was also designed by Jeff Dahl and built by the homeowners, is far less impressive.  They bought the original home in 2008 for $1.195M and replaced that 2,286sf 1962 home with this Spanish one - not my favorite - by a long shot!

 (Source: Google Maps)

(Source: NJC)

Those stairs! No no no.  Too much.  Too much white there.  The stairs are out of scale and detract from the rest of the home.  Also, those french doors above the garage - NO!!! Out of scale and look cartoonish.