Conservancy News

SALON AT THE KAPPE HOUSE
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15   4 – 6 PM.

The Santa Monica Conservancy is pleased to invite members and friends to a Salon at the home of visionary architect Ray Kappe, FAIA.  Mr. Kappe has become a driving force of the local architectural scene during his 60-year architectural career and as founder of the innovative school SCI-ARC (Southern California Institute of Architecture) in Santa Monica in 1972.  His own home, an award-winning masterpiece in Rustic Canyon (1965-1967), is considered one of the most exciting works of architecture in the region.  Through its structural and design innovations as well as its breathtaking beauty, it has inspired many architects and students since it was built.  This event, a fundraiser for the Conservancy, includes a house tour, a reception with elegant hors d’oeuvres, and a conversation with Ray and his wife, Shelly Kappe.

Built on a steep hillside over a running brook, six concrete towers rise into the trees, carrying the structural loads of the house as well as containing rooms and bringing light inside through skylights.  Immense laminated wood beams run horizontally to create complex multi-levels of interconnected living spaces.  Rooms merge into the surrounding landscape with dramatically cantilevered decks, extended beams and glass walls, creating the ultimate tree house.  A bridge over the creek leads to the front door.  After climbing stairs in a confined space – Kappe’s trademark wood butcherblock stairs – the space opens up dramatically to different levels and heights. All the furniture and cabinetry, except for the Eames chairs, was designed by him.  A visit to the Kappe House is an unforgettable experience.

• Tickets for the Salon are $150 for Conservancy members, $175 for the general public. Click here for tickets or click here to print our ticket reservation form.
• Join, upgrade or renew at the $1000 patron level and receive two complimentary tickets to this event.

Space is limited; early reservations are advised and must be made by September 5.

About Ray and Shelly Kappe:

Throughout his career, Ray Kappe has received numerous awards for both his architecture and his commitment to education.  His residential designs blend innovative technology in materials and structure with practical solutions calibrated to each specific site.  He initiated the architectural program at Cal Poly Pomona and in 1972 founded the acclaimed SCI-ARC (Southern California Institute of Architecture), serving as director and faculty member. Kappe’s interest in modular construction, pre-fab housing and energy conservation have led to new ventures with LivingHomes.  This collaboration resulted in the design of their first model home which became the first LEED certified platinum house in the country – the highest possible ranking for energy-efficiency.

Shelly Kappe also served as a faculty member at SCI-ARC, and is professor emeritus of architectural history there, having accomplished a successful career in education over four decades. Her research, publications and field study projects with students have helped to shape SCI-ARC into a top-ranked architectural school. Her extensive photo collection of world architecture will soon be digitized.

The Friends of Heritage Preservation (FOHP) recently awarded the Conservancy a $7500 grant toward the rehabilitation of the Shotgun House as a Preservation Resource Center.

Founded in 1998, FOHP is a small, private association of individuals who seek to promote cultural identity through the preservation of significant endangered artistic and historic works, artifacts and sites. Past grants in the U.S. have been made to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House in Los Angeles and Taos Pueblo in New Mexico. More information about the Friends can be found on their website www.fohpinfo.org.

The FOHP grant, like that received from the National Trust’s Los Angeles County Preservation Fund in 2011, will be applied toward rehabilitation of the landmark building. This work will be done according to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, following the recommendations of a report prepared for the Conservancy by Historic Resources Group and partially funded by an earlier grant from the National Trust. It will include removal of glass block and other non-historic elements, rehabilitation of the porch including replacement of the missing corbels, and new double-hung windows compatible with the one remaining original window. A small addition will be built on the rear of the structure with additional work space and an accessible bathroom.

The Shotgun House has been in storage since it was removed from its original site at 2712 2nd Street in 2002. It will be relocated to the parking lot adjacent to the Ocean Park Library at 2520 2nd Street. The parking lot is presently being reconfigured to accommodate the house and expand the parking capacity from 11 to 12 spaces.

When the rehabilitation is complete, the Shotgun House will be operated by the Conservancy as a Preservation Resource Center. It will be a place where workshops and technical assistance are provided to the public and where Conservancy board members and volunteers will meet to plan educational programs and other activities that promote the preservation and reuse of historic structures.

Individuals or organizations who are able to help with this project in any capacity –- as volunteers, by providing in-kind services and materials, or as early financial contributors — may contact the Conservancy by email to info@smconservancy.org or by leaving a message at 310-496-3146.

The Santa Monica Conservancy has been awarded a $7500 grant by the National Trust for Historic Preservation from its Los Angeles County Preservation Fund. The funds will be used to to support a portion of the rehabilitation costs for the adaptive reuse of Santa Monica’s 1890s Shotgun House as a Preservation Resource Center.

The Shotgun House is a survivor from the early days of Ocean Park when many simple cottages were built for the visitors and new residents attracted by the City’s beaches and coastal climate. The small board and batten structure was formerly located on private property at 2712 Second Street and was landmarked by the City of Santa Monica in 1999. It will be moved out of storage to City-owned property at Norman Place and Second Street, only two blocks from its original site. When the rehabilitation is complete, the new Center will be a base of operations for the Conservancy, offering programs and resources to help the Santa Monica community and its visitors understand the methods and benefits of historic preservation.

“We are delighted with this grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation,” said Conservancy President Carol Lemlein. “The rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the Shotgun House speaks to a core value that we share with preservationists everywhere: even the simplest structure can be repurposed to fill present-day needs, preserving the character of our neighborhoods while minimizing the impact of demolition and new construction on our environment. The grant from this prestigious national organization is intended as a fundraising catalyst and is a huge vote of confidence in the Conservancy’s plans.”

According to board member and project architect Mario Fonda-Bonardi, “the grant will be applied toward costs such as protection and rehabilitation of historic interior surfaces rehabilitation of the porch including replacement of the missing corbels, and new double-hung windows compatible with the one remaining original window.” Fonda-Bonardi recently submitted plans to the City of Santa Monica in order to obtain building permits for the relocation of the Shotgun House to the parking lot adjacent to the Ocean Park Library, where it will be rehabilitated. A small addition will be built on the rear of the structure to support its use as a Preservation Resource Center.

Rendering of the Preservation Resource Center at the Shotgun House, Fonda-Bonardi and Hohman Architects.

Individuals or organizations who are able to help with this project in any capacity – as volunteers, by providing in-kind services and materials, or as early financial contributors – may contact the Conservancy at 310-496-3146 or by email to info@smconservancy.org.

About the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Los Angeles County Preservation Fund

The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately-funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. The Trust’s Los Angeles County Preservation Fund was established in 2009 by a gift from the Getty Foundation, with subsequent gifts from the Ahmanson Foundation, the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and the National Trust Board of Advisors. Funding for the current round of grants was provided by a further gift from the Ahmanson Foundation, as well as an individual gift.

The Santa Monica Conservancy was one of 12 organizations selected in a competitive process that included applications from historic and culturally significant sites and programs across Los Angeles. Other grant recipients include the Episcopal Church of the Advent in the West Adams district, the Charles and Ray Eames House Preservation Foundation, Hollywood Heritage, and the Friends of the Chinese American Museum of Los Angeles. The grants are intended as fundraising catalysts, to give momentum to community preservation projects by providing capital in early stages and at critical junctures.
Further information on the National Trust and the Los Angeles County Preservation Fund may be found at www.PreservationNation.org.

The house where Bertolt Brecht resided between 1942 and 1947 is the first landmark designation in Santa Monica recognizing the home of a major cultural figure. Brecht resided here at a time when our city and adjacent communities became a place of refuge for German writers, artists and intellectuals, many of them Jewish, who fled tyranny and persecution in Hitler-controlled Europe in the years leading up to and during World War II.

The residence at 1063 26th Street was Brecht’s home and workplace for five eventful and productive years. Considered by many to be one of the most influential playwrights of the 20th century, Brecht wrote five plays and a large body of poetry during these years. These included The Life of Galileo, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, and others. During this time, he also wrote the screenplay to Fritz Lang’s anti-Nazi noir classic, Hangmen Also Die.

The home itself is a prominent visual landmark along 26th Street, where it stands out as one of the oldest homes in its immediate area. Architecturally, it is a unique variant of the American Foursquare style, typical for the period 1910-1920. Its distinctive architecture, and its setting on a larger than usual parcel, make it a prominent feature of the neighborhood. With the recognition and protection afforded by its new landmark status, the house stands now as a vivid reminder of an important time in the political and cultural history of our city.

Note: As this news article is written, the house is for sale, a great opportunity to own a house of historic importance on a large, over-sized lot that could accommodate another building. As a Santa Monica landmark, the home is eligible for a Mills Act contract.

The Santa Monica Conservancy’s 2011 Preservation Awards were presented to a host of projects at its Annual Meeting in the historic Church in Ocean Park on January 23.

“It is very gratifying to see the efforts of so many giving our architectural heritage new life,” said Carol Lemlein, President of the Board of the Conservancy. “By recognizing these accomplishments, we provide the community with excellent examples of how historic preservation can contribute to Santa Monica’s vitality and attractiveness.”

The Restoration Award was presented to Myra and Earl Pomerantz for exemplary restoration of their Craftsman Bungalow, known as the landmark John and Anna George House, at 2424 Fourth Street. This project pioneered a growing appreciation for historic preservation in Ocean Park in the early 1980s.

American Commercial Equities LLC, the owner of the historic Edwin Building at 310-312 Wilshire Boulevard, received the Rehabilitation Award for preserving and rehabilitating this small-scale jewel of a commercial building designed by renowned architect Paul Williams in 1928. The building was designated as a city landmark in 2008.

The Renovation Award was presented to Sam Simon, who preserved and renovated Case Study House #20, designed by Richard Neutra in 1948. This landmark of mid-Century design had deteriorated significantly over the years, but thanks to Mr. Simon who rescued and renewed it, the home continues as an important contributor to the architectural heritage.

The Adaptive Reuse Award recognized the Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica for converting an adjacent Craftsman Bungalow into classrooms and meeting space for its congregation, choosing preservation and adaptive reuse to retain a link to Santa Monica’s heritage. The church, located at 1260 18th Street, is also architecturally valuable, designed by local architect John Byers in the 1920s.

Deborah Levin received the Stewardship Award for her dedication and leadership in preserving Hollister Court on Fourth Street, a dozen Craftsman Bungalows grouped as a courtyard complex and designated as a city landmark. Since Ms. Levin purchased one of the bungalows 17 years ago, she has worked to save the homes from demolition, protected them from inappropriate remodeling, and provided guidance to other property owners in respectful rehabilitation of the homes.

Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Service went to the seven docents who lead the Conservancy’s weekly downtown walking tours every Saturday morning: Julie Berger, Winston Chappell, Dorothy Jewel, Kay Pattison, Jerome Robinson, Thomasine Rogas, and Rita Schneir. The popular tour has been in operation since the spring of 2007.

In other business at the Annual Meeting, Ocean Park resident Cristyne Lawson was elected to the Board of Directors and current Board members David Kaplan, Sherrill Kushner, Carol Lemlein and John Zinner were re-elected. The meeting was concluded by an illustrated talk on “Ocean Park and its Amusement Piers” by author and historian Jeffrey Stanton.