Orchard Gables house was built in 1897 as a residence during the early days of Hollywood and changed hands several times over the years. Eventually, the building fell into disrepair and in the early part of the 21st century spent it’s last years as a convalesence health facility. Hollywood Community Housing Corporation acquired the property and restored it to serve as offices for LACER afterschool programs. M2A Architect’s lead the building’s restoration.

We incorporated an angled one-way driveway that traversed the front of the house with some required parking spaces and softened it with a generously landscaped frontage. From early historic photos for reference, we incorporated plant materials in common use during period including Norfolk Island Pine, Mediterranean fan palms, aloes, and oleander.

After many challenges, including a large City dictated 12’+ reduction in the front yard landscape area along both sides for street widening and the subsequent removal of several large Canary Island date palms, the remaining landscape still screens the traversing driveway and car parking while providing a bold, drought tolerant landscape utilizing Spear lilies and grey succulents facing the street.

Recipient of a 2013 California Preservation Foundation Award. Download PDF