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An Unbuilt Frank Lloyd Wright for Orinda

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Dr. Kenneth Hargrove and his wife, Jean Gray Hargrove , commissioned a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright (1950) for the Sleepy Hollow neighborhood of Orinda.  The music library at UC Berkeley is named for Jean Gray Hargrove, who was a concert pianist, and Dr. Hargrove was a prominent doctor.   1.  It was never built, but the plans for the home can be found here .  If the link doesn't work, the URL is here: https://library.artstor.org/#/public/28599807. 2. Source: http://www.steinerag.com/flw/Artifact%20Pages/Projects.htm#Hargrove screenshots below The intended location appears to be off Van Tassel and Tarry Lane. Date: 1950 Title: Dr. G. Kenneth Hargrove House, Orinda, California, Perspective View 1950 (Project 1950 - FLLW #5109). Description: Photograph of original drawing in the Frank Lloyd Wright Archives. Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1950. Perspective view of Dr. G. Kenneth Hargrove Residence from the North. Semi-circular and circular in de...
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Mid-Century Modern in Orinda

Other resources for MCM, Second Bay Tradition Also Listings and articles on other MCM homes in Orinda. The Wilkinson House in Orinda, Architect: Roger Lee SF Chronicle article from 2003 Link to the  Roger   Lee  Collection, 1949-1968 Online Archive of California (OAC),   UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design Chris Olson's  blog  about architecturally interesting listings Search in his blog for  Roger   Lee   homes:  440 Camino Sobrante, Orinda CA (the Wikinson House from the SF Chronicle).   100 Parnassus, Berkeley CA (this is the Hargrove Home, the Hargroves actually commissioned a   Frank Lloyd Wright house for Orinda on Minor Road   that never got built.  Their main residence was a   Roger   Lee designed home   in Berkeley.) 550 Highland, Danville CA 73 Tara, Orinda CA 1001 Euclid, Berkeley CA 99 Donna Maria, Orinda CA 20 Reed, Kensington CA 1081 Creston, Berkeley CA 1220 Montice...
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Photos from the Pirkle Jones collection

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We recently got access to high resolution photos of the Paul Hamilton House from the Pirkle Jones collection. Courtesy of special collections, University Library, University of Santa Cruz, Pirkle Jones collection. 1954 Paul Hamilton House.
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About Paul Lucas Hamilton (American architect)

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  Paul Lucas Hamilton (May 31, 1919 - January 28, 2015), also known as Paul Hamilton, was master American architect specializing in the Second Bay Tradition. 1   Early Life Hamilton was born in Moscow, Idaho.  His family moved to Burbank, California.  He graduated from the ArtCenter, College of Design, Pasadena.  After completing his education, he moved to Orinda to set up a successful home design and building company. Hamilton was a very well-known and respected architect in Sonoma County and California. He designed over 50 houses, and two among them were featured in Hollywood films, including "The Bodyguard." 2   He also designed commercial buildings, including the Matanzas Creek Winery building.  Hamilton’s work was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright.  This inspiration is visible in the buildings and structures designed by him.  Paul Hamilton: "More artist than advocate" by Verna Mays Text of article: Paul Hamilton: "More artist than advocate"...
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Meeting "Sandy Castle"

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 We went to Santa Cruz today and have a pleasant visit with Sandy Castle/James Mazzeo .  When he was younger, he worked on the Tallac House (Falling Leaf) in Tahoe.  The house was designed by Paul Hamilton and Roger Somers was the contractor.  As mentioned, Paul and Roger were good friends and Paul even spoke at Roger's memorial when he passed away.     James later went on to have a colorful, artistic journey.   From James Mazzeo, Summer of 1969, Fallen Leaf Lake
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Locke McCorkle: Roger Somers, Paul Hamilton and Druid Heights

This week's excitement was that I had a chance to speak with Locke McCorkle.  He's 91 and as keen-witted as ever.  He's a model for one of the main characters in Jack Kerouac's Dharma Bums.   In his oral history, he does talk about Paul Hamilton, the architect who lived in Orinda, and his wife Rita.   Paul was friends with Roger Somers, a designer, builder and jazz musician.  Roger, along with poet Elsa Gidlow, helped create Druid Heights, the bohemian counter-culture retreat in Marin, that is on the National Record of Historic Places. Along with projects at Druid Heights, the two collaborated on the Tallac House in Tahoe and perhaps other projects.  Paul is noted as the architect of the Tallac House, the house that was used for the Whitney Houston movie, "The Bodyguard" and also for "City of Angels."  Here's a real estate listing for the house from 2015: http://southtahoenow.com/story/03/27/2015/lake-tahoe-s-tallac-house-was-featured-bo...
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Article about the book "Lair" by Chad Oppenheim and what Hollywood actually gets wrong about Mid-century modern

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Graphics from https://www.cnn.com/style/article/movie-villains-modern-architecture/index.html.   Architect Chad Oppenheim published " Lair:  Radical Homes and Hideouts of Movie Villains"  in March 2020.  The premise is that modernist, futuristic and utopian architecture has been (erroneously) associated with amorality.  "Modern domestic architecture has become identified almost exclusively with characters who are evil, unstable, selfish, obsessive ..."  Joseph Rosa (CEO of the Frye Art Museum) writes in an essay in the book. "Were they still alive, this might thoroughly shock the pioneers of modernism who envisioned their movement facilitating a healthy, honest, and moral way of life."
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Historic Orinda Files

Around the neighborhood The Charles Moore House in Orinda was eaten by a McMansion (2015)-  LINK   https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/33-Monte-Vista-Rd-Orinda-CA-94563/18475709_zpid/ The Everitt House in Orinda  designed by William Russell Everett as his own home, was torn down for a McMansion (2003) -  William Russell Everitt (alternatively spelled Everett in some sources)  https://www.themodernhouse.com/journal/house-of-the-day-everett-house-william-russell-everett/ About William Russell Everitt
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