scheurer architects, newport beach, calif.
The judges applauded the romantic contextuality of the Mansion Condominiums at Playa Vista. “It is L.A.,” said one. The folks at Scheurer Architects would be happy to hear that; according to director of design Bob White, that’s exactly what they were going for. “We used the L.A. courtyard buildings of the 1920s and ’30s as our inspiration,” he says.
The Mansion Condominiums’ one-acre site is located at the intersection of two major streets in this ambitious Neo-Traditional community. In addition to modeling the 35-unit complex after classic L.A. courtyard buildings, White and his team opted to give the project its own personal history. “We wanted it to look like an old house that’s been converted into condos,” he explains.
The three street facades each resemble a Spanish villa. Inside the arched entry, the “mansions” are carved up into condominiums with courtyards, gardens, and other semi-private outdoor spaces.
project architect/land planner: J. Robert White, Scheurer Architects
developer: Playa Vista, Los Angeles
project size: 1,500 to 2,500 square feet per unit
site size: 1 acre
construction cost: $110 per square foot
sales price: $400,000 to $600,000 per unit
units in project: 35
