November 10, 2024 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Hometown Hero: John Byers, Santa Monica Architect:

John Winford Byers, Santa Monica’s most important architect and builder in the period between WWI and WWII, told the Los Angeles Times on May 17, 1931, “Buildings of adobe are replete with a delicate and elusive charm and there is an easy plasticity about the material that makes it particularly suitable to the Spanish or California type of architecture.”

Byers was noted for his work with adobe and was a leader in its use as a California building material. Today we would label adobe “green.” It’s local. It provides great insulation – keeping buildings cool during the day and warm at night. And it is an all-natural material.

Byers was a self-taught architect. After receiving a degree in Electrical Engineering from of the University of Michigan he went on to do graduate work at Harvard University. Byers also had experience as a teacher and had worked at the North American Academy in Montevideo, Uruguay before coming to Santa Monica in 1910 to chair the Romance Languages Department at Santa Monica High School. It is thought that during his time in Latin America he became enamored with the architectural vernacular he called, “Latin Houses.”

After his working day at the High School was over, Byers would work as a translator for the Mexican workmen on construction sites and through working with them he learned how to build with adobe. He began his architectural career building residences for his own family and for his cousin. His first commissioned design, in 1916, was a house for W.F. Barnum, the principal at Santa Monica High School.

Byers relied on the building traditions of Hispanic cultures, building in the Mexican Colonial the Spanish Colonial and the Monterey styles. When he couldn’t get the curved, clay roof tiles he needed for these buildings, he established his own workshop and employed the traditional technique where workmen used their thighs as forms to shape the wet clay for the curved tile shape needed for rooftops. The workshop also produced decorative tile, wrought iron and woodwork. He named his company the “John Byers Organization for the Design and Building of Latin Houses.”

By 1926 Byers was a licensed architect. Among his clients were Norma Shearer and Irving Thalberg, Shirley Temple, Joel McCrea, Laurence (Buster) Crabbe, and King Vidor. He went on to design Ray Bradbury’s house, a ranch house at the Getty in Malibu, and the Club House at Brentwood Country Club, where he was a member and an avid golfer.

One of Byers’ important public buildings in Santa Monica is the Miles Playhouse. Designed in 1929, the Playhouse was the vision of J. Euclid Miles who wanted a memorial for his daughter, Mary A. Miles, and Miles bequeathed $25,000 to the City to fund the Playhouse.

Justin Yoffe, the Cultural Affairs Supervisor for the Playhouse, said the annual “Fireside at the Miles” event started three years ago.

“We opened up the main hall so citizens could experience the intimate auditorium the way citizens did when it was first built,” Yoffe said. This January and February, “Fireside at the Miles” will feature six weekends of music and dance at the Playhouse, located in Reed Park. Visit www.milesplayhouse.org for more information.

The Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica is another important public building designed by Byers.

Restoration architect Ralph Mechur spoke about the Church’s features.

“It’s plaster exterior and dark wood ceilings and beams create a sense of early California,” Mechur said. “The Church has kept the sanctuary building intact as the congregation has grown. It was exciting to create a campus for the Church, knitting together the church building, a modernist addition, and the adjacent 1914 bungalow.”

Carol Lemlein, President of the Santa Monica Conservancy, said the organization’s members would meet in the Church this Sunday, Jan. 29.

“We are pleased to be holding our annual meeting in the John Byers designed Unitarian Universalist Community Church of Santa Monica,” Lemlein said. “He is widely recognized as one of, if not the most, influential Santa Monica architects of the first half of the twentieth century.”

Visit www.smconservancy.org for more information about the meeting.

A third Byers’ public building is the office he designed and built, located at 246 26th Street. The building, a Santa Monica landmark, is currently a restaurant. He worked there with Edla Muir, also a self taught architect. She worked for Byers for 11 years before getting her license and then becoming his partner in the firm.

Ken Breisch, an architecture professor at USC, said during the late 1920s and early 1930s, Byers became a major proponent in Southern California for the revival of traditional adobe construction.

“In addition to designing his own houses, he acted as a consultant in this capacity for the development of Rancho Santa Fe and several other major projects in California, Nevada and Arizona,” Breisch said. “Much of Byers’ and Muir’s early work exhibits traits of the Spanish Colonial Revival, while during their later years they also worked in other American Revival styles to produce some of the most beautiful and graceful adaptations of historic revival architecture in Southern California.”

At the time of his death in 1966, he lived at 2034 La Mesa, an elegant Montery Revival design and the third home he built in Santa Monica for his own family. He was 91 years old.

In many ways, we are exploring and rediscovering how to express the respect for the landscape of California, the understanding and use of materials that adapt their buildings to the climate and, hopefully, the grace that was the Byers legacy to the City.

in News
<>Related Posts

Urth Caffé Heirloom Organic Coffee Wins Best of Santa Monica

November 8, 2024

November 8, 2024

By Susan Payne A health-conscious coffee shop in Santa Monica is stealing hearts. More than its Matcha teas, Spanish lattes...

Governor Newsom Convenes Special Session to Protect California Rights Against Future Federal Policies

November 8, 2024

November 8, 2024

Special Session Called To Defend Civil Rights, Reproductive Freedom, Climate Initiatives Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a special session of...

Chinese Chemical Company and Executives Indicted for Allegedly Fueling Fentanyl Crisis in Los Angeles

November 8, 2024

November 8, 2024

U.S. DOJ Charges Hubei Aoks Bio-Tech and Executives With 13 Counts  A federal grand jury has indicted Hubei Aoks Bio-Tech...

Renewable Energy Group to Host Scenic Hike in Palisades

November 8, 2024

November 8, 2024

The Route Is Based on a Walk Described as “The Most Scenic of All the City’s Stairwalks.” WRISE Los Angeles,...

“Caterpillar Soup” Returns to Santa Monica Playhouse for 20th Anniversary Performances

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

Written and Performed by Lyena Strelkoff, the Autobiographical Production Explores Her Journey After a Paralyzing Fall The critically acclaimed one-woman...

Megacity Review: Genaro Trejo’s Global Platform for Urban Arts and Literature Launches in Los Angeles’ Westside

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

Santa Monica, CA – A new voice has arrived on the Los Angeles literary scene with the launch of Megacity...

Film Review: Here

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

FILM REVIEWHERERated PG-13104 MinutesReleased November 1st  Here was directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright. This...

Thanksgiving 2024: The Best Places to Order Your Holiday Pies in Los Angeles

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

Get Ready for Your Thanksgiving Dinner With the Best Desserts November is the official start of the holiday season and...

The Whaler Celebrates 80 Years as Venice Landmark

November 7, 2024

November 7, 2024

Throughout November, the Whaler Will Feature Drink and Food Specials, Live Music, and Weekend Events The Whaler, a Venice Beach...

November 6 Updates: Malibu Holds Fire at 50 Acres as Schools Close, PCH Reopens

November 6, 2024

November 6, 2024

Crews Contain Brush Fire, Closures In Effect, Power Outages in Malibu The city of Malibu’s website has issued an update...

Architectural Review Board Considers Eight-Story Mixed-Use Project on Wilshire

November 6, 2024

November 6, 2024

The Development Will Include Studio, One-, and Two-Bedroom Units, 13 of Which Will Be Reserved as Affordable Housing A proposed...

Police Seek Suspect in Vandalism of Jewish-Owned Businesses in L.A.’s Pico-Robertson Neighborhood

November 6, 2024

November 6, 2024

Authorities Investigate Series of Early Morning Attacks as Hate Crime Police are actively searching for a suspect accused of vandalizing...

Latest Santa Monica Election Results as Votes Are Counted in National, State, and Local Races

November 6, 2024

November 6, 2024

Preliminary Results From Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, and National Elections Here are the latest election results, as votes are...

Topanga Canyon Blvd Closed to Non-Residents Due to High Fire Danger

November 5, 2024

November 5, 2024

Closures Run From Mulholland Drive to Pacific Coast Highway Topanga Canyon Boulevard will be closed to non-residents from Mulholland Drive...