Judges' Comments
- N/A
Project Data:
Completion Date: 6/6/2017
Square Footage: 3725
Building Use: Residential Use
Location: Pasadena, CA
Project Description:
Ambassador Gardens has a rich and diverse history. In 1873, a group of investors from the Midwest and East Coast formed the consortium "California Colony of Indiana," a subdivision laid out with a broad north-south main road, Orange Grove Avenue (then known as Park Avenue). In the 1890s, South Orange Grove Avenue began to attract wealthy residents later becoming nationally known as "Millionaires Row."
In 1902, one of the most prominent businessmen in the nation, Otho S.A. Sprague began construction of the Frederick L. Roehrig designed Tudor Revival home (approximately 12,000 square feet) known as the Mayfair Mansion. Multimillionaire Hulett C. Merritt began construction of his home along Terrace Drive (now a walking path) in 1905. The home was designed by Merritt and architect W.F. Thompson and built at a cost of $1,100,000. While Hulett was constructing his home, his father, Lewis J. Merritt built his own large English Arts and Crafts-styled home on Del Mar Boulevard using the same architect, W.F. Thompson in 1908.
From 1946 to 1960, Herbert W. Armstrong transformed the homes and gardens for use by the Worldwide Church of God Ambassador College campus. The existing mansions were repurposed as college buildings and several new academic buildings were constructed.
Development Plan:
Working within numerous constraints related to historic preservation, building mass, urban forestry and City requirements, three new multi-family developments were designed to celebrate the influential designers that laid the groundwork for the enduring character of today's Pasadena. Each collection of homes complemented the existing mansions and recalled the classic designs from the turn of the 20th Century.
All the luxurious flats and townhomes include ten-foot or higher ceilings, spacious open kitchens, large dining rooms, great rooms that open to broad terraces, grand master suites, and special elements such as wine rooms, beamed ceilings, and libraries. A subterranean parking garage provides each unit with individual 3- or 4-car garages and a combination of private and common elevators for immediate access to residents’ units
The Bungalows at Ambassador Gardens, consists of 10 flats and townhomes located along Del Mar Avenue adjacent to the Lewis Merritt Craftsman home. The buildings were designed to appear to two individual mansions, one a California Bungalow inspired by the architecture of Greene & Greene (who designed a home across the street), and the other an English Arts & Crafts inspired by the work of Sir Edwin Lutyens.
The Grove at Ambassador Gardens, consists of 21 flats and townhomes in a Spanish style inspired by the Santa Barbara County Court House and the adjacent Rankin Mansion. The Rankin carriage house was relocated and the remnants of the former Fowler Mansion were demolished to make room for The Grove. The Grove overlooks the Great Lawn with stairs that lead down to the historic Fowler Gardens.
Jamieson Place includes two buildings with 39 Italian-designed flats and townhomes, based on the Italianate design of the Merritt Mansion. The adjacent Italian gardens fronting the Merritt Mansion were restored and the existing central Italianate fountain reconstructed into a resort-style swimming pool. The color palette used for the Jamieson buildings was derived from the Merritt Mansion.
C.O.T.E. | Committee on the Environment
Submitted By: |
Allie Martin |
Design Architect: |
Ron Nestor |
Associate Architect or Firm: |
WHA |
Landscape Architect: |
StudioPAD |
Owner / Developer: |
City Ventures |
Engineer: |
C&V |
General Contractor: |
City Ventures |
Consultant: |
|
Photographer: |
Eric Figge |
Ambassador Gardens
Category
Residential Planned Development