Our Cultural Landscape Report Progresses

On Saturday, January 12^th, the Village Green Clubhouse was standing room only as the Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) Committee held the first in a series of events to engage in a community dialogue about the CLR. We wanted to know what is important to residents about our landscape and how to develop landscape guidelines that will help shape future decisions, yet maintain The Village Green as a livable National Historic Landmark property. After ten years of hard work mostly by volunteer members, the CLR is scheduled to be completed later this year. Over the course of the next several months, the CLR Committee will host more educational events, tours, and lectures, as well as distribute information gathered over the course of a decade. At this initial meeting, Tina Bishop and Shelby Sharen from the Mundus Bishop Design firm in Denver came to The Village Green for a workshop, with the goal of listening to the community, hearing what we like about the landscape as it is, what we’d like to see changed or improved, and other ways we might like to use the many acres of open green space we share. Mundus Bishop, who will be collaborating on the creation of treatment recommendations for the CLR, came highly recommended to us by the National Park Service. After the meeting on January 12^th, I asked several attendees what they thought of the event, and what we might do to improve future events. The following is what they said.

About the facilitator of the day’s events, Tina Bishop, I heard nothing but praise. In addition to her ability to listen while not imposing her own opinions, people were impressed by her command of the audience. One commenter said that they thought Tina “did one of the most amazing jobs I have ever seen keeping people disciplined and productive during the meeting.” Another remarked that “I really appreciate how she stayed in control of the question session, so that it never got out of hand. You know how folks can be here ;).”

Overall, people felt that Tina was “sharp and knowledgeable about her field and about our property. She seems like a good fit to produce this half of the CLR,” and she presented the information clearly.

I think most people love the landscape as it is, and it’s natural that some felt apprehensive or worried about the process, fearing that they wouldn’t be allowed to provide input, or that the CLR Committee was only going to try to push for a Restoration of The Village Green landscape. People were concerned that alternatives to Restoration wouldn’t be considered. After the meeting, however, everyone I spoke to felt like their concerns were heard, and felt more comfortable that the upcoming treatment plan wouldn’t be a Restoration-only recommendation; that landscape elements the community has grown to love will be retained, and that alternatives would be part of the final treatment plan.

One of the people I interviewed had initially been fearful that Tina would be pushing for a Restoration approach, “but came away with a feeling that this report was not going to be just another ‘historic preservationist dream’ document with little significance for the rest of us. It was important for me to hear from Tina that she thought input and buy-in from homeowners was necessary to produce a good report.” Someone else came to the meeting concerned that “the planning would not be open to alternative/non-historic shrubbery and ground cover planting suggestions. That concern was quickly allayed. I hope that the planning will continue to be open to planting California natives that would attract even more butterflies and birds to the area.” Another concern I heard was “that the main green turf was somehow in danger.  It turned out that they wanted to de-turf the courts, which is fine by me.”

Areas for recreation have long been a controversial topic. In the last several years, a group of homeowners have been exploring the idea reintroducing play areas for children. A homeowner with children told me that “going into the meeting I was dreading what I perceive as an intolerant attitude toward children and their parents and it seemed to me those attitudes were on display Saturday. I felt on edge and sad about our anti-children neighbors but excited by all the other ideas. I hope we can make them happen.”

Even though the session in the Clubhouse went very well overall, there were some suggestions on how we might improve future meetings. One Villager said that “it would have helped me had the power point presentation been printed for the attendees, but just listening I had a clear idea of what was and will be transpiring regarding the treatment plan for Village Green.” Another pointed out that “there was a lot of information, all important, and I became a bit frustrated because the treatment of each set of considerations was so cursory before we had to shift to another set and then another and then on so quickly to specific details and owners' concerns and suggestions.  Since, apparently, "Landscape Architecture 101" had to be the format used that day, I think it would have been helpful had we been offered copies of the background criteria and considerations so briefly introduced.  VG people are smart and perfectly capable of digesting concepts and ideas.”

One person I spoke to suggested that we post information online, because “I prefer to read documents on my own time - post details on-line and I will read it all.” All very good points, and all will be considered for future meetings.

After the work session in the Clubhouse, the majority of the group ventured out into the Green for an outdoor working session, to talk about issues and concerns, and to hear more about the historic landscape through all of its phases. People really seemed to enjoy this portion of the day, and would like to see more walkabouts like this, as evidenced by these comments from several sources:

“I think it is a very illustrative way of showing the design concepts. I think EVERYONE should be encouraged to attend the tours; it really gives a clearer understanding of what we have planned. Maybe we can end the tour with a small picnic on the green if it is another gorgeous day?! I was reluctant to leave at the end of the last tour.”

“This gave me the visual perspective about how the historic fits into the current. It provided me an opportunity to see that more restoration is possible than I was willing to previously acknowledge. I hope another will be scheduled.”

“The tour was really an eye-opener. The concept of horizontal blocks of color and texture, which I'm sure I'd read before, became real as I was able to imagine and see advantages to decomposed granite or some similar permeable but NOT dusty and pebbly!!!! For me, the jury is still out on various other changes apparently to be suggested in the not-yet-written "treatment plan," but it was enormously helpful to see and hear the possibilities.”

Another homeowner said simply “the best vibe was when we were walking around.  Please continue to conduct meetings in that way.” And of course we will!

Some of the people I spoke with had expectations, as well as some concerns, going forward. Primarily, people hope “that the communication flow continues.” And I believe it will.

Another homeowner expressed concern that “people will reject the proposals without understanding them. Some ideas are actually money savers.  These should be highlighted in some way. I'd like to know if there is federal or state money for this, such as with the Mills Act.” Along these same lines, another homeowner told me they believe that we have bigger issues to take care of before we begin worrying about rehabilitating the landscape, saying “I'm concerned about money.  There was not a word about it on Saturday.  Okay, that's coming. I love the idea of rationalizing the chaos of our landscape and increasing its sustainability, but I really think doing something about the air leaks and inefficient heating systems in so many of our units should come first.  If grants could be secured that would cover the costs of landscape improvements that would certainly make a difference to my way of thinking.“

Tina has developed a Trip Report, detailing the information they gathered when they were here. This will be made available shortly on the Village Green's website.

Going forward, there will be more opportunity to be involved in the process. Tina and Shelby will be coming back to the Village Green for another community meeting, where the initial draft version of their treatment plan will be presented for discussion. This will be immediately followed by another walking workshop out in the Green, and hopefully, as some have suggested, by a picnic lunch on the Center Green. This will happen on Saturday, March 23, so mark your calendars now. The meeting will begin at 11am with Tina presenting a draft of their recommendations and welcoming further community feedback, then continue with a walking tour around the green. More announcements will be made in advance of the meeting to encourage as many residents as possible to attend and have a say in “their” Village Green.

Another great event will take place on Thursday, April 25^th, when Charles Birnbaum, from the Cultural Landscape Foundation, will speak at the Village Green. We had the opportunity to show him the property a few years ago, which I wrote about for this blog.

http://baldwinhillsvillageandthevillagegreen.blogspot.com/2011/05/vip-very-important-preservationists.html

I really encourage you to attend; he is a very powerful speaker!  Details to follow later.

Garden Dialogues: Pamela Palmer, landscape architect

The Horizon Garden at night. Photo by Jack Coyier Photography.

One of the byproducts of the research I've done into the life and career of Baldwin Hills Village landscape architect Fred Barlow, Jr. is the wonderful people I’ve met along the way. One of these wonderful people is landscape architect Pamela Palmer. I met Pamela through one of her oldest friends - that friend just happens to be the daughter of Fred Barlow, Jr.

Another of these great people is Charles Birnbaum. I’ve posted here before about the good work Charles Birnbaum and the staff at the Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) are doing as advocates for the education and preservation of the country's historic landscapes. That advocacy includes the National Historic Landmark landscape of the Village Green. We are fortunate to have Charles Birnbaum as one of the historic landscape experts collaborating on the creation of our Cultural Landscape Report:

http://baldwinhillsvillageandthevillagegreen.blogspot.com/2011/05/vip-very-important-preservationists.html

The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s website (http://tclf.org) explains that one of their missions is to educate, providing people “the ability to see, understand and value landscape architecture and its practitioners, in the way many people have learned to do with buildings and their designers.”

Pamela's ingenious design for the gate, which provides just a Cinemascope sliver of what lies beyond.

As part of that education, TCLF hosts many events throughout the year, all over the country. Something new for 2012 is a series of "Garden Dialogues," one of which took place last weekend in Malibu.

TCLF explains that the Garden Dialogue initiative “has received considerable praise from participants and the media, provides exclusive access to private gardens in the Hamptons, Chicago, Newport, Sonoma and elsewhere, and opportunities to hear directly from the landscape architects and their patrons about the design process.”

COR-TEN and Lucite fence, with espaliered citrus against wall.

“How do patrons and designers work together? What makes for a great, enduring collaboration? Garden Dialogues provides unique opportunities for small groups to experience some of today’s most beautiful gardens created by some of the most accomplished designers currently in practice.”

As one of several TCLF Garden Dialogue events in Southern California, on Sunday, June 10^th I had the fortunate experience of seeing landscape architect Pamela Palmer’s glorious garden for the home of screenwriter Frank Pierson, his wife Helene, and their two charismatic standard poodles in Malibu.

I never wanted to leave!

Pamela Palmer and her husband, architect Howard Rosen, have an environmental design firm in Venice, Artecho. (http://www.artecho.com/). Pamela and Howard were joined by other members of their staff, Marisol Metcalfe and Catherine Burce, who were on hand to answer questions and share their experiences.

Pamela, who studied Art at UCLA and has a Master’s in Landscape Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, has been featured in countless magazine articles, was in the documentary “Women in the Dirt,” (http://womeninthedirt.com/) and several of her landscapes are showcased in the gorgeous book “Private Paradise: Contemporary American Gardens,” by Charlotte M. Frieze, with an introduction by Charles Birnbaum (http://www.amazon.com/Private-Paradise-Contemporary-American-Gardens/dp/1580933238).

The view as you enter the garden. Wow!

The garden on the tour, known as the “Horizon Garden,” is situated on a triangular lot high above the Pacific Coast Highway. The modest existing mid-century ranch house came with a spectacular view, a mature coral tree, and an otherwise shabby landscape. Homeowner Helene Pierson said that after working on getting the house in order, she and her husband began thinking of doing the same for the landscape. After several landscape designs around town caught her eye, she inquired, and they turned out to be the work of Pamela Palmer, and soon their collaboration began.

The horizon line, the inspiration for this garden.

The beloved coral tree was retained, and pruned to emphasize its sculptural quality. Under the dappled shelter of the tree Pamela created the functional focus of the garden, a semi-circular patio platform, paved in a blue-gray stone that blends into the horizontal blues and blue-grays of the sea and sky on the horizon.  Provisions for varied seating and lounging, and a marvelous spun stainless steel fire pit, make this outdoor living space a generous extension of the indoor rooms. The sparkling broken pieces of tempered glass in the fire pit echo the sparkling blues of the glittering sea below.

Helene's Jewel Box.

Just below the sweeping arc of the patio is a border of succulents, many of them chosen and cared for by Helene. She considers the vibrant colors of this succulent bed her “jewel box.”

The innovative infinity lawn creates an impromptu seating area.

Frank’s favorite spot in the garden is at the edge of another curved, sweeping horizontal panel - this time a panel of turf - creating an infinity lawn. A gravel path below, with a rusty COR-TEN steel retaining wall, gradually rises at the lawn’s edge, creating a seating area, from which one can contemplate the calming view just beyond. It would probably be my favorite spot too, to sit and watch the passing boats and helicopters below.

The labyrinth, with a marvelous retaining wall, created with different shades and textures of concrete.

Wonderful vignettes of color and texture are hidden all over the garden. Off to one side and behind the house is another circular space, enclosed by shrubbery and edible plants. The semi-circular panel of turf is embedded with a spiraling labyrinth of pieces of concrete.  

The landscape plan

"Garden Dialogues"

We all had a wonderful afternoon exploring the garden and all of its wonderful detail. There were "before and after" photographs, which showed how ingenious Pamela’s plan was. She had also brought the landscape plans and copies of the plant palette, which I found fascinating. During the discussion, and later in talking with Frank and Helene, it became obvious that these were very creative, dynamic and involved clients. I wondered - from the perspective of the landscape architect - how the collaborative design process differed with clients such as this (vs. the process if the client isn’t as creative or involved). I asked Pamela this question, and she said that at Artecho they enjoy working with both types of clients, though the “opportunities are different with each relationship.”

Succulents provide color and texture.

Pamela finds that “it is especially wonderful when we have the opportunity to work with clients who have flexible minds and great imagination (like Frank and Helene). When clients trust their design sense and mine, we enjoy discussing ideas and the resulting design is a true collaboration. I find that dynamic extremely satisfying. I want the client to be involved so that their garden truly is a reflection of their taste and design sense and incorporates materials and plants they love and spaces they will use. I listen carefully and bring my expertise to the table and we work to incorporate the ideas that will work together to make a unique and useful landscape that will flow and feel like it extends beyond the property so that a truly satisfying experience is created.  I am choreographing the landscape and I incorporate the moves that work for the space and program, and present the total design for comments.”

The mature coral tree, pruned into a living sculpture.

“As I think you know, I have at times worked alone in my studio, creating sculpture, prints, photographs, etc. which at some point later are shown and sometimes sold and placed in a landscape or collection. I much prefer working directly with the user and the dynamic process of putting our brains and experience together and coming up with a landscape scenario that speaks directly to the client, with the architecture on the specific site and is regionally and resource appropriate. We are working within boundaries, but our work must help the eye to travel beyond the boundaries to give a feeling of spaciousness so the mind can transcend the boundaries-out to the sea, above the treetops to hills, trees on a neighboring property, the sky. We are working on a piece of the puzzle and our design must consider the surrounding landscape and built environment.”  

The sweeping arc of the patio, protected by an old coral tree, which frames the views beyond.

“I also prefer the constraints of working within an environment to solve problems (environmental, circulation, spatial, other programmatic needs) while creating a new way of seeing space, rather then creating an isolated work.”

“The first afternoon that Helene and Frank invited me to their home, they told of a recent trip to Japan where they had visited Naoshima, a place of great contemporary architecture and art, which also considers the history of the place. Their thirst for exquisite beauty was established by that trip and I felt that set the bar for us all to strive for such beauty with a shared language; informed by the elegance of the experience they had on this trip.” 

The driveway with a glimpse of the Pacific beyond.

Bottom line is, I love the collaborative experience, and when others are into it, to collaborate with creative, can-do people - clients, architects, other landscape architects, engineers, contractors, artists, community stakeholders, maintenance people, etc. to create a landscape that is elevated because of the depth of experience brought to it results in a successful, long-lived project.”

It was a magical afternoon. The Cultural Landscape Foundation has more Garden Dialogues next month in other parts of the country - Connecticut, Indianapolis, Maine, Newport, Portland and Seattle. Check their website for more details.

What could be better?

Rico Lebrun and his mural at Baldwin Hills Village - Lecture March 11

Rico Lebrun, Self Portrait, 1950

SUNDAY MARCH 11, 3pm  

at the CLUBHOUSE  

VILLAGE GREEN

 5300 RODEO ROAD, Los Angeles, 90016

Rare Kodachrome image of the Rico Lebrun mural in the Administration Building,
prior to it being hidden for decades .
Courtesy David Lebrun and Night Fire Films.

The Rico Lebrun mural shown in the context
of the room for which it was painted, 1944
Photograph by Margaret Lowe, from Pencil Points, 1944

Please join us on Sunday, March 11th at 3pm in the Village Green Clubhouse, for a talk by Gailyn Saroyan about artist Rico Lebrun, and the mural he created for Baldwin Hills Village. This free talk is open to Village Green residents, as well as anyone else from the community who may be interested.


In 1941, Reginald Johnson, the architect responsible for two of the small number of National Historic Landmarks in the Los Angeles area, commissioned artist Rico Lebrun, an important 20th century painter, to paint a mural for the reception room of the newly constructed Administration Building at Baldwin Hills Village.  Not only did Lebrun paint this mural, but he later married Reginald Johnson's daughter Constance, and they lived for a time at the Village.

The image you see today of the mural is just a photograph printed
on canvas. The actual mural is still there, underneath layers of plaster
and paint. Through a grant from the Getty, it has been
determined that it would be possible to restore the mural to
its original glory.

This work of art would be a kind of crowning touch on a residential project designed to be a showcase of Garden City Movement principles. It was this elegant achievement in urban planning which would become one of Los Angeles’s National Historic Landmarks 60 years later.

A detail of a section uncovered by art conservators.
You can see that the mural does have subtle colors.

Located in the first of the two community buildings, this mural was to carry the inspirational message behind the project.

Did you know Rico Lebrun
taught animal anatomy to the
animators at the Walt Disney
Studios, as they prepared
"Bambi"?

A talk by Gailyn Saroyan will consider the mural’s subject matter, technique and immediate setting, and also explore the economic and historic currents unfolding in Los Angeles at the time it was created.  A brief survey of the artist’s life and career will be highlighted by some of the artist’s own eloquent statements. 

Photograph of the artist
Rico Lebrun, circa 1950

New Beginnings

Now that most of you have gotten the Annual Election materials from Ross Morgan, you have seen that there are four open seats for the upcoming election. Three of the incumbents are running again – Joe Khoury, Dan Frank, and Ben Ginsburg. I have decided not to run again this year, so I’ll be retiring. I have truly enjoyed serving on the Board of Directors for the last six years, it has been an honor and a learning experience. I originally ran with several goals in mind, and I am happy to be able to say that I was able to meet nearly all of them. I truly believe that through collaboration and compromise, in addition to a lot of hard work, we’ve turned this ship around. I hope you agree with me that the Village Green is a better place now – I believe that we are on the right track to move forward.

It has been a pleasure serving with this current Board, and I wholeheartedly endorse all three of the incumbents. We may not have seen eye to eye on every issue, but I know that they all have the best interests of the Village Green in mind. I encourage you to vote for Joe Khoury, Dan Frank, and Ben Ginsburg.

Of the other two candidates running, I believe that Gabriela Worrel would be a wonderful addition to the Board. I don't know her well, but from what I've seen, she has a good, positive energy, and from her successful work on the Community Garden here, I know that she has good ideas, initiative, organization, and the drive to see them through. She has my full endorsement, and my vote to fill my seat on the Board.

Whatever you believe, and whoever you personally endorse, please remember to exercise your right, and VOTE!

Please submit comments on the Wyvernwood Draft EIR - Deadline December 19th, 2011

Here is a copy of the letter the Village Green Board of Directors has sent to the city of Los Angeles, with our comments regarding the Draft EIR for the Wyvernwood project.

Please take a few moments to draft your own letter, describing what you enjoy most about living in our community. The thousands of residents of Wyvernwood, who love their quality of life in such a similar community, live with the threat that their way of life will soon be destroyed.

For more information about how you can help, please see the excellent information on the Los Angeles Conservancy's website:

http://lac.laconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=wyvernwood_main

Village Green

National Historic Landmark

5300 Rodeo Road, Los Angeles, CA 90016

323-294-5211

December 11, 2011

Sergio Ibarra

City of Los Angeles, Major Projects

200 N. Spring Street, City Hall, Room 750

Los Angeles, CA 90012

RE: File Number ENV-2008-2141-EIR

Dear Mr. Ibarra:

We, the Board of Directors of Village Green, a National Historic Landmark community in Los Angeles, are writing to urge the City of Los Angeles to preserve the thriving and historic Wyvernwood community.

Both Wyvernwood and the Village Green were designed as new paradigms for middle-class housing in Los Angeles. Both were carefully and intelligently planned to successfully foster community, provide ample access to fresh air, light, and recreational facilities, using urban planner Clarence Stein’s Garden City principles. Their innovative designs work as well today as they did when they opened in 1939 and 1941. These Garden Apartment communities can’t be duplicated today, and should be preserved. While the Village Green is a National Historic Landmark, listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, and is a City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, Wyvernwood doesn’t have the benefit of such designations, but is largely intact and equally eligible.

The Draft EIR’s narrow definition of project objectives favors new construction over preservation, while claiming that the new community will come to include “dozens of LEED-approved design features, embracing conservation and environmental responsibility.” However, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Association for Preservation Technology International have established that the most environmentally responsible building is one that is already standing. Furthermore, Wyvernwood’s thoughtfully designed structures allow for cross-ventilation cooling, which is only further encouraged by the mature tree canopy that now shades the oasis of green space.

We believe that Wyvernwood’s existing buildings can be rehabilitated and sensitively upgraded to address the project’s sustainability goals and objectives. The Village Green, which received Mills Act status last December, has entered into a contract with the City of Los Angeles to restore and rehabilitate our 629-unit facility. We have created a 10-year plan to replace the majority of our aging and increasingly failing infrastructure, all while our owners and residents remain in their homes. We believe the same can and should be done at Wyvernwood. Wyvernwood has suffered neglect at the hands of its current owners, but we have shown that this sort of deferred maintenance can be successfully reversed.

Influential architecture critic Lewis Mumford wrote that Garden City communities like Wyvernwood “dared to put beauty as one of the imperative needs of a planned environment: the beauty of ordered buildings, measured to the human scale, of trees and flowering plants, and of open greens surrounded by buildings of low density, so that children may scamper over them, to add to both their use and their aesthetic loveliness,” all of which would be destroyed if the plan to replace this historic cultural resource is approved.

Please evaluate a greater range of viable preservation alternatives that can still retain Wyvernwood’s eligibility as one of Los Angeles’ most important historic districts. Because only one preservation alternative was considered in the Draft EIR (Alternative C), this undermines the purpose of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In addition to the destruction of an entire community of people proud and passionate to live at Wyvernwood, the project as described would have a negative environmental impact which would take decades to pay off in terms of energy, carbon, water, materials, toxicity, etc.

Sincerely,

Village Green Homeowner’s Association

Board of Directors

Steven Keylon

Joe Khoury

Steve Haggerty

Robert Nicolais

Dan Frank

Dee Dee Chapelle

John Keho

Robert Creighton

Village Green Floorplans

Here are Floor Plan illustrations created for the Condo Conversion sales packet. The conversion to condominiums happened in stages between 1973 and 1978. While this is a good representation of Village Green floor plans, there are variations to these, and of course each one of these has a mirror image.

Three Bedroom Townhouse

Two Bedroom Townhouse - Fireplace, Laundry Room/Service Porch, and Balcony

Two Bedroom Townhouse - Fireplace and Half Bath downstairs

Basic Two Bedroom Townhouse

Two Bedroom Flat - Upper

Two Bedroom Flat - Lower

One Bedroom Flat D - Lower

One Bedroom Flat D - Upper

One Bedroom Flat C - Lower

One Bedroom Flat C - Upper

One Bedroom Flat B - Lower

One Bedroom Flat B - Upper

One Bedroom Flat A - Lower

One Bedroom Flat A - Upper

One Bedroom Bungalow - End unit with Fireplace

One Bedroom Bungalow - Center Unit

The Complete Wyvernwood Series

Wyvernwood in the Boyle Heights section of Los Angeles, was the first large-scale, privately funded multiple housing development on the West Coast when it opened in 1939. Designed by architects David J. Witmer and Loyall F. Watson, in collaboration with landscape architect Hammond Sadler, this fine and thriving sister city to Baldwin Hills Village is now threatened with demolition.

To facilitate reading the recent series of blog posts about Wyvernwood, here are links to each one in order:

INTRODUCTION: Garden Cities at Risk

CHAPTER ONE: Clarence Stein 101

CHAPTER TWO: The Wyvernwood Architects - Witmer & Watson

CHAPTER THREE: Hammond Sadler, Wyvernwood Landscape Architect

CHAPTER FOUR: Wyvernwood and the "Hostetter Tract"

CHAPTER FIVE: Creation of a Garden City

CHAPTER SIX: "Community of Rental Homes in Park Opens Today"

See also the article I wrote for the Cultural Landscape Foundation's website, about the possible demolition of Wyvernwood, and how you can voice your opposition:

http://tclf.org/landslides/wyvernwood-losangeles-garden-city-complex-threatened