Luxury LIFE &STyLE...mires mid-century modern architecture,” he explains. “He specifically mentioned Richard Neutra when we talked. Mitra wanted a Mediterranean style house, but

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22 Luxury Life & Style moontidemedia.com July/August 2009

HOME

It was a neighborhood in transition,” re-

calls architect Michael Lee, AIA, refer-

ring to the recent past of Sunset Park.

“It was a collection of non-descript houses

from the 60’s and 70’s and even earlier, that

people were buying and renovating, or tearing

down and starting over completely. A tired little

house stood on this lot originally; not quite the

Unabomber’s shack, but close.”

Owner Scott Herron remembers the old

house a little more kindly. “It was small: two

bedrooms, one bath,” he says. “A traditional,

1940’s house, built like all the other houses

in the neighborhood as housing for the aero-

space workers in the factories near the Santa

July/August 2009 moontidemedia.com Luxury Life & Style 23

by Lynn Morgan

Photography by William MacCollum

artful modernismStyLe and Synergy in SunSet Park

“

Herr

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Monica airport. The same family had owned it

from the day it was built until we bought it.”

Demolition began immediately. Once the

original 1,000-square-foot structure was re-

moved, Lee was presented with a wonderful

blank canvas: a flat, 60 x 160 lot upon which

to build the Herron family’s new house.

“The lot was the perfect template,” says the

SCIARC-trained architect. Specializing in resi-

dential architecture and custom homes, he

was the perfect choice for Scott and his wife,

Mitra Herron, who brought a wealth of ideas

of their own to the project.

“First and foremost: they wanted a family

home,” Lee explains. “They have two kids…

energetic little boys. They wanted a house that

would be comfortable for them and accom-

modate them as they grow.”

The Herrons had some very adult require-

ments as well, Lee recalls. “Scott really ad-

mires mid-century modern architecture,” he

explains. “He specifically mentioned Richard

Neutra when we talked. Mitra wanted a

Mediterranean style house, but she was will-


advantage of the pristine coastal light, Lee built

a linear skylight, framed with a wooden, lattice

work trellis that traverses the entire length of

the house. “It creates great shadows, and

the ambience changes constantly during the

course of the day.”

It was a close collaboration in every way.

The landscape architect, Dirk Gaudet of

Gaudet Design Group (GDG) in Santa Monica,

was involved from the time demolition began.

“The clients had a fairly aggressive pro-

gram in mind for their exterior space design,”

of materials, the relationship between indoor

and outdoor spaces, and both styles accom-

modate a California lifestyle.”

Michael Lee drew inspiration from Neutra

when designing the Herron’s new home. “A

lot of Neutra’s houses have large, free-floating

exterior planes, large areas of glass, and he

made abundant use of natural light,” he ex-

plains. “I incorporated those elements into

my design.”

The Herron house now stands on a shel-

tered interior lot, facing east to west. To take

ing to ‘try on’ modernism.”

It didn’t create a conflict for the architect

who is clearly inspired by creative challenges.

“Architects who do custom homes get to ex-

periment a lot,” Lee says happily. “It can be

exhausting because you do a lot of projects,

and you’re constantly starting over with new

clients who may or may not know what they

want. These clients knew what they wanted

and were able to express their ideas to me

very clearly. There’s more overlap in the two

styles than most people realize: the simplicity


artful modernism

Gaudet recalls. “Within a fairly conservative lot

size, they wanted a full-sized lap pool, a spa,

an outdoor kitchen/barbeque area and a fire

element, as well as some open space. It was

my test to bring all those things together so

they could still feel they had some lawn space

around them.”

The minimalism of Lee’s design provided

ample inspiration for Gaudet’s garden plan,

and the two men worked closely together, and

in concert with the Herrons. “There was great

synergy between Michael, the clients and I,”

says Gaudet. “Michael had very strong feelings

about how the house should be presented.”

Gaudet created a simple, yet lush garden

setting for the Herron house. He used a hardy,

water-efficient hybrid bermuda grass for the

lawn. “It’s very wear-tolerant,” he explains. “The

kids can run and play on it without doing much

damage.” Black Mexican river rocks create a

surprising, yet soothing Asian vibe, with the

smooth stones evoking a Zen garden.

He deployed minimal plantings in harmony

with Lee’s modernist design. The clients had

requested a “tropical” motif, and Gaudet re-

sponded with five different species of bamboo,

and ornamental shrubbery, including ginger

and peppermint geraniums. In front of the

house, a thorsia speciosa tree blossoms in

season with abundant pink flowers.

The most striking aspect of Gaudet’s gar-

den design merges dramatically with Lee’s

architecture: the horizontal fire sculpture that

borders the pool and spa.

“The house is on an axis that leads straight

to it: a linear, poured-in-place sculpture in col-

ored concrete,” says Lee. “You can look com-

pletely through the house and see it; it’s visible

from the front door.”

Transparency was essential. “We didn’t

want a bunch of little, chopped up rooms

strung together,” says Scott. “We wanted the

space to flow from the front door into the great

room, into the kitchen and dining area, and

then into the backyard.”

The great room is Scott’s favorite space.

Lee did the interior design of the house as well,

working closely with Mitra to create a multi-

functional environment: a family home, a space

to entertain, and a showcase for the couple’s

growing collection of contemporary art.

Mitra surprised the architect with her

choice of a pair of bright orange sofas from

Roche-Bobois for the great room. “It’s a very

bold statement,” says Lee, “but they work

well in the space.”

The architect continues, “Mitra wanted the

kitchen to be the center of everything.” He

created an inviting, eat-in space with a wrap

around center peninsula with a CaesarStone

countertop, lit by orange, blown glass fixtures

for the family to cook, eat and entertain.

“It’s a wonderful house for showing art,”

says the architect. In the family room, he and

Mitra placed more playful, pop art-inspired

pieces: bowling pin and bowling ball sculptures

by Allison Wright, and an abstract painting

by Venice artist Gerladine Neuwirth above the

leather sofa. On another wall, they hung Ken

Pagliaro’s iconic photograph of the Hollywood

sign. “We used the art to reinforce the intention

of each room,” Lee explains.

The house is still evolving…a work in prog-


artful modernism

COLLABORATORS

Michael Lee Architects

310-545-5771

mleearchitects.com

Gaudet Design Group (GDG)

310-828-4908

gaudetdesigngroup.com

with the project long after it’s completed is the

mark of good work.” •ress. The couple’s children are growing, and

the Herrons are adding to their art collection.

The interior design and landscape will continue

to evolve as well, but for now, the owner and

the architect are both satisfied.

“Michael gave us exactly what we wanted,”

says Scott. “It’s bright, open and airy, and yet,

everything feels connected.”

Michael is pleased with the results as well.

“What’s most gratifying is returning to a house

I’ve designed a year or two later and seeing it

again, and appreciating it more. Being happy


Luxury LIFE &STyLE...mires mid-century modern architecture,” he explains. “He specifically mentioned Richard Neutra when we talked. Mitra wanted a Mediterranean style house, but

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