THE MONASTERY

Knitting Together History and Modernity

***WINNER***

2021 Top Honor Award - Southern California ASLA Quality of Life Awards - Residential Category

High on a hill overlooking the Pacific is the “Monastery”, a seemingly enchanted garden, planted with majestic trees and exotic plants but wild at the edges. Originally the home of the renowned conductor Leopold Stokowski, it was for many years the discreet hideaway for he and his lover Greta Garbo.  Later, other celebrities made the house their private refuge from the world. During the 1940’s Lockwood de Forest Jr. was engaged by Stokowski to create a garden at the lower portion of the site, which featured a simple oval lawn framed by a low hedge, and anchored by six ancient Olive trees.  In 2004 plans began to replace the now ramshackle house with a modern residence designed of steel and glass.  Our firm was engaged to help site the new building into the landscape without diminishing the garden’s historic nature or rich landscape character.  The resulting design knits the site together seamlessly, embracing the existing landscape, and connecting the historic elements together in a way which highlights their significance as part of the overall experience.