11
12.14.2012 | SOUTHBAYDIGS.COM 55 ARCHITECT | DESIGN | BUILD 2012 Architect | Design | Build You’ve seen the houses during your morning walk on the Strand or your weekend drive through the Beach Cities. They are the ones you point to and marvel at. The ones that are so beautifully designed and built, they take your breath away. Here, we talk to 12 of South Bay’s most distinguished architects and designers about their remarkable creations. BEACH HOUSE DESIGN | DEVELOPMENT

Architect Design Build

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

Architecture

Citation preview

Page 1: Architect Design Build

12.14.2012 | SOUTHBAYDIGS.COM 55

A R C H I T E C T | D E S I G N | B U I L D 2 0 1 2

Architect | Design | Build

You’ve seen the houses during your morning walk on the Strand or your weekend drive through the Beach Cities. They are the ones you point to and marvel at. The ones that

are so beautifully designed and built, they take your breath away. Here, we talk to 12 of South Bay’s most distinguished architects and designers about their remarkable creations.

B E AC H H O U S E D E S I G N | D E V E LO P M E N T

Page 2: Architect Design Build

56 SOUTHBAYDIGS.COM | 12.14.2012

Drawing from Frank Lloyd Wright’s prairie style

influences and 19th-20th century style, David Watson

designed and built residential home 32nd Street in

Manhattan Beach. “The clients are originally from the

Midwest, interested in turn of the century style. The

stone-brick, Midwestern feel in the middle of a beach

city makes [the home] unique,” he explains.

A modern floor plan and living area with windows

give the house a spacious feel. “We integrated the

prairie style element in a confined beach cities space.

The 2nd floor’s long, horizontal style also plays into

this,” says Watson. Every detail down to the light

fixtures, dining table and chandelier were meticulously

constructed to be as inimitable as the structure itself.

Dean Nota explains his approach to modern

design+build as “creating a sense of spaciousness

when you do not have the space.” He did just this to

construct the Yu Residence on the Hermosa Beach

Strand. Made of wood, stone, and glass for the windows

and balconies, the layout is more spacious than a typical

Strand home. “The area’s tight space made the project

come down to inches,” Nota says. The interior includes

a master suite and second master bedroom.

Nota’s play on light and materials distinguishes

the house from its neighbors. While the beautiful

ocean view glistens through the windows, the house

is also private enough to live comfortably. “There

is a juxtaposition between opening up the house to

showcase the dramatic view, but also creating enough

privacy for living, ” he says.

A R C H I T E C T | D E S I G N | B U I L D 2 0 1 2

DAV I D WAT S O N

D E A N N OTA D E A N N OTA

WATSON

NOTA

What is your favorite architectural icon in the world?

Dean Nota: Louis Kahn’s Salk Institute for Biological Studies aspires within its own spirit to an order achieved through

clarity, definition and consistency of application.

What architectural figure, living or historical, has made the biggest impact on your career?

Dean Nota: I graduated from the Southern California Institute of Architecture, where, after an internship with SCI-

Arc’s founding director, Raymond Kappe, FAIA, I returned as faculty. Working ten years in the Kappe Studio nurtured my

love for unique possibilities of residential architecture in the California context that has come to define my work.

If you could design your dream home, what style would it be and where would you build it?

Dean Nota: The South Bay is part of Metropolitan Los Angeles, one of the world’s foremost contemporary architectural

laboratories. So, It would be in a coastal community, in Metro LA, with a view of the ocean, not unlike Hermosa Beach.

Page 3: Architect Design Build

58 SOUTHBAYDIGS.COM | 12.14.2012

Miles Pritzkat, from Pritzkat & Johnson Architects, believes “renovation and

transformation is like a custom made suit.” Pritzkat’s and Keith Johnson’s renovation of

the Dauchot Residence in Palos Verdes reflects this philosophy in terms of elements built

especially for the tenants to support their living style.

The project started as a kitchen remodel, but became a complete transformation from

mainstream to modern. Once the tenants realized the architects could help sculpt their

dream home, they opted for a carved out wine cellar, a remodeled pool, and an office. “The

project was about understanding the potentials of the house and the clients’ lifestyle,” says

Pritzkat. “We created a better flow by determining their needs and creating solutions.”

A R C H I T E C T | D E S I G N | B U I L D 2 0 1 2

P R I T K AT & J O H N S O N

PRITZKAT &JOHNSON

What is your favorite architectural icon in the world?

Miles Pritkat: I would narrow it down to “my world”, a place with personal

relevance that can be experienced with some frequency. The Casino in

Avalon on Catalina Island is a fanciful, classical and functional. It celebrates the

promise of living in Southern California, something that we can lose sight of.

What architectural figure, living or historical, has made the biggest impact

on your career?

Miles Pritkat: I took a trip to the Grand Canyon three years ago to discover

the architect/designer who had influenced me from an early age without

my awareness: Mary Colter. When there were few women in the workplace

and design world, she shaped the perception of millions of visitors to the

American West and Southwest. Her designs celebrate the natural history of

the locale in the architecture and interior design.

If you could design your dream home, what style would it be and where

would you build it?

Miles Pritkat: I grew up in Redondo Beach, a block from the Pacific Ocean,

so my views have been slanted! Gotta be by the ocean! The specific style…

needs to allow the occupants to have an open relationship with this resort-

like setting where we live…I am gravitating to styles that find a balance

between a relaxed formality that nods to our cultural traditions but that also

allow us to live in paradise.

What is your favorite architectural icon in the world?

Keith Johnson: Having grown up in the Midwest, one of my favorite Architectural icons is

the Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower) in Chicago.

What architectural figure, living or historical, has made the biggest impact on your

career?

Keith Johnson: Mike Brady. Although a fictional character, he had a good family life and a

sense of humor. Those things keep you grounded while working in this profession.

If you could design your dream home, what style would it be and where would you build

it?

Keith Johnson: It would have secret passageways behind paintings, ladders behind

grandfather clocks to upper level rooms and a roof deck with an ocean view. I haven’t

decided which ocean yet.

Page 4: Architect Design Build

12.14.2012 | SOUTHBAYDIGS.COM 61

A man “equally passionate about architecture and interiors,” Michael Lee does a significant amount of planning to provide his clients the

perfect blend of both. In particular, the Guglielmo-Gaines Residence on 7th Street in Manhattan Beach underwent a beautiful transformation via

Lee’s efforts. Formerly a late 80’s traditional spec house, it now features open spaces built to display the tenants’ art. “We spent a lot of time

talking about what [art pieces] were going where,” says Lee. “Unique characteristics such as art placement made it a better project to work on.”

Wood furniture compliments a patio with a built in barbeque, and lighter walls to contrast the view are some of the home’s modern elements.

“It was really gratifying to see the house working the way we planned with the lighting and the artwork” Lee says. According to Lee, good

architecture and great clients “who really pushed” him contributed to the design’s success.

A R C H I T E C T | D E S I G N | B U I L D 2 0 1 2

M I C H A E L L E E LEEWhat is your favorite architectural icon in the world?

Micheal Lee: I love the Golden Gate Bridge for its muscles, lack of pretense, and absolute beauty.

What architectural figure, living or historical, has made the biggest impact on your career?

Micheal Lee: Frank Gehry has done more to change the way we think and act about buildings

today than anybody else I can think of.

If you could design your dream home, what style would it be and where would you build it?

Micheal Lee: It would be a Rustic-Modern structure integrated into a coastal hillside in Northern

Santa Barbara County. Or, I might prefer to fix up a funky little beach shack on a walk street in

North Manhattan.

Page 5: Architect Design Build

62 SOUTHBAYDIGS.COM | 12.14.2012

A R C H I T E C T | D E S I G N | B U I L D 2 0 1 2

Bryan Winters’ Baba_Haus juxtaposes typical large-scale beach cities projects. His work on this 1952 Redondo

Beach bungalow was completed on a tight budget. He was determined to create something unique, however, by

expanding the home from 800 square feet to 1200, “The real challenge was that it was small in retrospect,” says

Winters. Because of this, he paid extra attention to finite details and was “anal about every little thing.”

Honoring the notion that less is more, Winters recalls that that project was “a real experiment in space,

coordination, and an understanding of what the client wanted.” To maximize space, Winters used square windows.

To save money, he broke his own rules. “We saved [significantly] on the kitchen by going to Ikea, which is something

I don’t usually do, and used recycled materials, such as skylights from Craigslist.” In the end, the limited budget

allowed for more creativity. The client, a Swiss native, appreciates that the home’s transformation allows her to live

a simple but modern lifestyle.

B R YA N W I N T E R S

B R YA N W I N T E R S

WINTER

What is your favorite architectural icon in the world?

Bryan Winters: VILLA SAVOYE, in Poissy, France, by Le Corbusier…the villa is a renowned example of a modern

architecture international style.

What architectural figure, living or historical, has made the biggest impact on your career?

Bryan Winters: Working for Thom Mayne, the 2005 Pritzker Prize winner, founder of Morphosis Architects and a

founding father of SCI-Arc, provided me the depth and knowledge to become a well-rounded professional.

If you could design your dream home, what style would it be and where would you build it?

Bryan Winters: The structure would implement five concepts in design philosophy: an inside/outside relationship of

material and space; a there-but-not-there emphasis of transparent and translucent materials; a not-at-90-degree

parallelism of site to building context; a principle of offsetting materials to create a scope of depth; and a context of

mass to the overall concept and scope. By implementing these… and keeping true to our philosophy, we can guarantee

a provocative design and functional structure.

Page 6: Architect Design Build

64 SOUTHBAYDIGS.COM | 12.14.2012

A R C H I T E C T | D E S I G N | B U I L D 2 0 1 2

Steve Lazar’s design+build projects stand out in the way they

blend in with the earth. Lazar says he “takes an atypical approach

that comprehends design and build into the same structure.” The

method is apparent in projects such as Hermosa Beach’s Lifeguard

Tower, which is refreshingly unusual in appearance but seamless in

design and build.

Lazar approaches each project with a philosophy: “Function and

form have to be perfectly intertwined, like a braid. If form overdoes

function then you end up with just a monument that is not useful.

If it’s the other way around, you end up with something that is

mundane with no spirit.” Lazar uses materials that can withstand

time in their environment. “The closer you get to the ocean, materials

are absolutely critical to the longevity of the house.” Though a

practical craftsman to ensure durability, Lazar’s portfolio is full of

distinguished designs. He believes “there is no limit to creativity,”

which is reflected via imaginative elements found in his works.

When discussing his project titled the O’Grady Residence, Doug

Leach thinks about the clients her built it for. “They are family-

oriented, down to earth, and wanted a fun, family house with space

for living,” Leach explains. Located on The Hill in Manhattan Beach,

the residence is a wide, deep lot with downhill proportions and an

ocean view at the rear. Leach had 7,500 square feet to work with,

and was meticulous. “We spent a lot of time deciding how to level

the top floor for the wide angle view. It came down to a matter of

12 inches,” he says. The house has a tropical Hawaiian feel, with a

large pool, pool cabana and fireplace. Perhaps the most fun feature

is the spiral staircase turned into a slide that leads to the children’s

recreation room.

Leach designed the living and kitchen area as one big space.

He explains that more people are asking for these designs, and that

the plan fit into the O’Grady’s family-oriented lifestyle. There is also

a covered living deck, covered exterior decks, and a sun deck that

wraps around the house. A built in breakfast nook with a wooden

table is the ideal weekend dining area.

S T E V E L A Z A R

LAZ

AR

What is your favorite architectural icon in the world?

Steve Lazar: Frank Lloyd Wright’s homes. They look as if they’ve come from the earth instead of being been put upon the earth.

What architectural figure, living or historical, has made the biggest impact on your career?

Steve Lazar: Frank Lloyd Wright for his use of materials and how he integrates indoor and outdoor spaces to create a home.

If you could design your dream home, what style would it be and where would you build it?

Steve Lazar: It would be nestled into the side of a mountain or hillside incorporating the earth right into the house. Hopefully

it would also have some sort of a natural water feature that I could incorporate into it; really organic.

LEACHD O U G L E AC H

Page 7: Architect Design Build

66 SOUTHBAYDIGS.COM | 12.14.2012

A R C H I T E C T | D E S I G N | B U I L D 2 0 1 2

James Meyer of Lean Arch, Inc., is the principal architect on a team that prides

itself on design+build delivery. His project on 34th Street in Manhattan Beach was

a renovation of a multi-story, single-family residence. “We designed it as we were

building it,” Meyer explains. “It was a stew of ideas.” One cannot help to marvel at

the building, made from both glass and steel. Its vertically oriented connections

result in a seamless flow, from room to balcony to staircase. One main focus was the

top floor of the three-story house, which was small and served no purpose. Meyer

and his team tripled its size, maximizing the space’s usability. “It’s not the kind of

project we would normally do, but it was dynamic,” he says.”

The tenants were very engaged in the space during the remodel, which

is reflective in the property’s personal elements. “The house is fun to be in and

reflects the beach lifestyle,” says Meyer. “We were able to mix extreme elements of

creativity at a reasonable cost.”

L E A N A R C H LEA

N A

RC

H

Page 8: Architect Design Build

68 SOUTHBAYDIGS.COM | 12.14.2012

A R C H I T E C T | D E S I G N | B U I L D 2 0 1 2

Louie Tomaro used his clients’ love for traveling, and photographs they took

in Bali, as inspiration to create their home on Braeholm Place in Hermosa Beach.

“They were inspired by indoor and outdoor shots of lanai-type rooms,” he explains.

Tomaro built a wide-open palette of entry space that flows into the outdoors and is

ideal for entertaining. Furnished indoor-outdoor spaces, and Fleetwood doors and

windows, give the space a resort-like feel. Detailing includes extensive woodwork

and exposed roof structures.

Perhaps the most stunning aspect of the house is the top-level master suite,

deemed The Treehouse. It is made of expansive glass and provides a 280 degree,

panoramic ocean view.

LO U I E TO M A R OTOMARO

What is your favorite architectural icon in the world?

Louie Tomaro: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie-style work such as

Robie House, with its linear kind of lines and handle on geometry

What architectural figure, living or historical, has made the

biggest impact on your career?

Louie Tomaro: Frank Lloyd Wright

If you could design your dream home, what style would it be and

where would you build it?

Louie Tomaro: A building in The South Bay because of its climate

and surroundings. There is no place better than home. We are

currently working on a more modern style glass project with

horizontal floor plans. I’d lean towards something like that with

minimalistic touches.

Page 9: Architect Design Build

12.14.2012 | SOUTHBAYDIGS.COM 69

A R C H I T E C T | D E S I G N | B U I L D 2 0 1 2

An eco-conscious and skilled contemporary

architect, Patrick Killen used sun angles,

contemporary materials, and rough materials

to design Linda Flora – 1239, a Bel Air home. The

structure has plenty of open space, including a living

area that blends into the kitchen, but does not have

an empty feel. Sun angles fill up the vacant spaces,

as do rooms mad of wood materials from top to

bottom. The natural warming and cooling system

includes an 8-foot overhang that allows the sun to

naturally heat the home.

In an interview about the design+build project,

Killen says that he likes to build work that is

“timeless, not trendy.” Linda Flora’s design, views of

the ocean, mountains and Getty Center and level of

sophistication in its build, create a timeless trio that

make it an supreme work of art.

PAT R I C K K I L L E N

PAT R I C K K I L L E NTOMARO

KILLEN

What is your favorite architectural icon in the world?

Patrick Killen: Eiffel Tower

What architectural figure, living or historical, has made the biggest impact on your career?

Patrick Killen: Le Corbusier

If you could design your dream home, what style would it be and where would you build it?

Patrick Killen: Santa Monica Mountains. To be considered architecture and not just a building

design, it must be 2012 modern, because all other styles were modern when invented. Once that

style is outdated or historic, it is example of modern for that period; later copies of that style

cease to be architecture...

Page 10: Architect Design Build

70 SOUTHBAYDIGS.COM | 12.14.2012

What is your favorite architectural icon in the world?

Matt Morris: The Empire state building. They built a floor

every three to four days. It is an unbelievable feat to do it

that fast with that much detail.

What architectural figure, living or historical, has made

the biggest impact on your career?

Matt Morris: There is no one single person. I pull from

many different influences. I admire Frank Lloyd Wright’s

organization of space; his designs are cutting edge and

he took risks.

If you could design your dream home, what style would

it be and where would you build it?

Matt Morris: I like a mixture of eclectic styles.

Hamptons meets New York loft with modern and

European influences.

A R C H I T E C T | D E S I G N | B U I L D 2 0 1 2

Matthew Morris designed the Kallis residence to be a traditional style house with a contemporary

edge. The first project of its kind to be done on a flat walk street in Manhattan Beach, the design

brings a modern style influence to the Beach Cities. Although dynamic because it is the first of its

kind to be built on a flat walk, the home also stands out because of creative choices. It is truly the

ideal Cape Cod or Hampton’s vacation home on the West Coast. To compliment the feel, Morris

designed and built a full outdoor kitchen and an outdoor fireplace. He included a media recreation

room with an 80-inch television and two smaller TV’s on each side. Artworks with red and green

hues cover these smaller TV’s when they are not being used.

(Morris cont. on next page)

MORRIS

Page 11: Architect Design Build

72 SOUTHBAYDIGS.COM | 12.14.2012

A R C H I T E C T | D E S I G N | B U I L D 2 0 1 2

J O N S TA R R

When Jon Starr purchased a property on

25th street in Hermosa Beach, he knew that

“taking advantage of it would be a challenge.”

It was located near valley park on an irregularly

shaped hillside. To fully utilize this non-typical

space, Starr used non-typical materials to

create a play between old and new. Barn wood

and Corten steel make up parts of the exterior,

ensuring the property will age gracefully.

“Corten steel develops a uniform rust but also

forms an anti-corrosive barrier. It gives the

look of an old, weather barn,” Starr says. He

contrasted stucco and mahogany to further

contribute to the “old and new” look. Warm

lighting and windows that reflect natural light

work well with these outside materials.

Inside, there is a lot of outdoor living space,

including a deck with a bar and an area to

dine. “It was a lot of fun to build,” Starr says.

Though he did not make the house for anyone

in particular, the current homeowner is happy

with his purchase. After looking for two years,

he set foot in the 25th street property and

knew it was the one.

With a first floor for living that includes a private entry, this place is great for

both family time and entertaining. “Since it’s a flat walk, it is all about the kids,”

Morris explains, referring to the kid-friendly area.

The interior design truly adds the finishing touches to this dream home. Vibrant

blue furniture, and an indoor kitchen featuring sky blue tiles, are small details that

truly complete the home.

What is your favorite architectural icon in the world?

Jon Starr: There is one particular architect my dad was friends with while I was growing up. All of his work was in our little town in Laguna Beach. I modeled what I do after him.

What architectural figure, living or historical, has made the biggest impact on your career?

Jon Starr: That Laguna Beach architect, and of course lots of other great architects. Also, my clients drive the design.

If you could design your dream home, what style would it be and where would you build it?

Jon Starr: It changes every week; maybe when I was in school, there was one. I don’t try to imitate, creative people who do creative stuff drive me.

STARRPHOTO BY: TOM SANDERS