Tempered ambitions...

Palos Verdes had always been planned as an affluent bedroom community for the movers and shakers of Southern California, particularly Los Angeles.  It was originally meant not to only be affluent, but extremely affluent - a so-called "millionaires' colony" - that was to be the envy and model for such a community and would attract the wealthy from around the world.  While present day PV remains one of the most exclusive and affluent areas in the country, it did fall short of its grand designs.  

A number of projects that were planned for the Peninsula never came to realization for a number of reasons.  One good example of such misses are the commercial centers.  Palos Verdes was primarily a residential community and was not meant to have any "undesirable" businesses such as auto shops or factories.  However, the city planners did allow for certain types of businesses to operate in tasteful, designated commercial centers.  Three plazas were designed.  Of the original three, only Malaga Cove was realized.

(Source: Wikipedia/Abby Lanes)

(Source: Wikipedia)

The other two centers were never built.  The most grand of the three was the Lunada Bay Plaza:

(Source: Palos Verdes library)

Needless to say, that plaza was never built, largely due to the Great Depression and a lack of funds.  Instead, the current commercial center in Lunada Bay is much less grand.

(Source: Google Maps)

(Source: Bing Maps)

Part of me hopes that an enterprising (and financially capable) PV patron will buy the commercial center and realize the intent of the original city planners.  It would be great for PVE to transform this rather pedestrian shopping center into a destination for, e.g.,  the art or culinary seekers.  The new plaza could be filled with art galleries, cafes, libraries, an intimate performing arts venue and a few restaurants.  Nothing "undesirable" - quite the contrary, something fashionable.

Similarly, the Valmonte Plaza, of similar grand design, was also never realized.

(Source: Palos Verdes library)

Present day:

 (Source: Google Maps)

(Source: Bing Maps)

The Valmonte Plaza was meant to occupy the lot currently occupied by a few homes and a church at the intersection of Via Campesina and Palos Verdes Drive North.  In my mind, as I fantasize of what could have been, I think of the Valmonte Plaza as a sort of extension of the Palos Verdes Country Club - perhaps, a Palos Verdes City Club which could house a public library and reading room, meeting rooms, athletic facilities (like a pool and fitness center), a day care center, a grocery store and a small hotel for guests of PVE residents.

PV would have been a fairly different place had these two commercial centers been realized as designed.  It's still possible!

For those not familiar with PV...

I recently came across a cool channel called HDNet, where, as the name might suggest, all the shows on the channel are filmed in HD.  They have a series called SkyScapes which takes you through a 45 minute tour of various cities - all footage in high definition.  In the SkyScapes:Los Angeles episode, they have quite a good sequence that covers the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  I've tried my best to capture that clip to share with the rest of you.  Full disclaimer: the video and content is copyright HDNet 2011. Video clip below.

Something new

So I started my first actual home blog post with something old - something timeless and classic.  Now I'm switching gears and talking about something (relatively) new and one of my personal favorites.  The Contratto Residence, located in the sylvan landscape of the Valmonte neighborhood of Palos Verdes Estates, is one of the best examples of new construction in the Spanish style.

(Source: NJC)

Designed by Don Thursby and built in 2006 by Baldwin Construction, I nearly fell off my chair when I realized it wasn't technically a new build but rather a remodel of a single-story ranch style home.  The current owners bought the property in 1988 for $895,000 and lived with the previous one story home for nearly 20 years before deciding to remodel.  The original modest home is shown below, as flagged during the PVE neighborhood compatibility process before the final design was approved for construction.

(Source: Don Thursby)

As you can see from the photo above, the previous home was a very modest single story structure on a very nice, flat, wooded lot.  The lot itself totals 12,614 square feet (0.3 acres) and spans two legal parcels, measuring an estate-sized 105x119.  What I love about this house are the proportions - very rare to get a double-wide lot especially in a tony neighborhood a stone's throw away from the coast.  When you look at the nearby beach towns of Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, for example, the name of the game is maximum interior square footage and "zero-lot line" builds - a perversion of nature that results in a crowded streetscape, full of cars, an absence of trees, and houses so close together you can touch your neighbor's window.  Another side effect of the densification of these once comfortable areas is that you also lose stylistic variety - there is only so many ways to design a home for a 50-foot wide lot, especially when you factor in two 5-to 8-foot side yard setbacks and a 16-foot wide garage door.  With this home, there's ample lot width to really let the architect design something special and authentic, something unique.  Similarly, the home itself is set back from the street, probably about 30-35 feet or 2 car lengths, while in most of the South Bay, homes are set back between 15-20 feet from the street.

(Source: NJC)

The house has a classic, timeless feel.  Charming.  Appropriate.  Comfortable.  A house that makes you feel warm and that sits well within its natural landscape.  Harmonious.  A house that you can see a family playing in the yard, or having a holiday meal.   This one is on my short list of 'dream homes' of PV.  The arches, the window placements, even the placement of the garage doors are all well thought out and retain a strong fidelity to the historic Spanish style.

(Source: NJC)

If we turn to our trusty Bing Maps for further insight into the home, we see a rear paved patio with what appears to be a central fountain.  A perfect place to entertain family and friends, or just relax and enjoy the Southern California sun.

 (Source: Bing Maps)

(Source: Bing Maps)

This house is definitely in my top 10 homes of PV.  Thursby did an absolutely fantastic job capturing the essence of the warm, familiar and comfortable Spanish style in stucco and tile.  When I see homes like this, it makes me want to jump into real estate development and start adjoining parcels to create the right sized lot to accommodate truly spectacular home designs.  If only I had the money.  Any financial supporters out there?

KEY STATS

Location: Valmonte, PVE
Style: Spanish
Year built: unknown / 2006
Architect: Don Thursby
Square footage: 4,901
Lot size: 12,614 (105x119)