Dalla Valle

During the mid-1970s, when I was in my early teens, I had the opportunity to spend some time at the Dalla Valle residence. Conveniently located just down the street from our family home, which my father had designed a few years prior, it was an architectural project that allowed my dad a considerable amount of creative freedom, thanks to the trust and similar tastes of client and family friend Gustav Della Valle. Such liberty was a rarity indeed.

More recently, I had the chance to revisit the house under the ownership of Allen Mandell, its second owner, just before he prepared to move out. Allen expressed concerns about the house potentially being demolished, as it was part of a collection of properties sold to the new owner of the Los Angeles Times, Patrick Soon-Shiong, who had plans to construct an impressive estate across the combined lots. However, I heard that Patrick Soon-Shiong recognized the uniqueness of this house and decided to preserve its existence. There's a palpable change in the way one feels when you cross through the cobalt blue doors of this hypnotic dwelling. 

Once inside, you are confronted with this vast space, 20-foot ceilings, and impossibly large windows that present a canvas of eucalyptus trees. The grandeur of the living room stands in stark contrast to the cozy bedrooms, which align harmoniously along a concealed hallway. The master bedroom, nestled amongst the trees, boasts a welcoming peach-colored bathroom. Gustav's scuba diving treasures, antiques, and fine art effortlessly blend into the cubist shapes. Richard's houses skillfully balance form and function without compromising either aspect. To me, this dwelling holds a certain sacredness. I find it comparable to an inspired piece of music. There is poetry to every house my father has designed. They blend into their surroundings so unassumingly yet seem to say so much about how to live one's life in the most satisfying way.

— Jeff Martin