Hindry House

When the City of Pasadena recognized the Hindry House as a Historic Monument in 2012, there was an important piece of the puzzle left out. While the landscape surrounding the house captures multiple periods of significance across more than a century, the grounds were not included in the nomination because little was known about their history. In 2014, Lisa Gimmy Landscape Architecture was commissioned to remedy this omission and to develop a cohesive landscape rehabilitation plan that preserves the historical significance, while honoring the client’s request to create a landscape for the next one hundred years. Informed by extensive research and onsite documentation, the firm completed a comprehensive Cultural Landscape Report (CLR), which documents the character-defining features of two distinct periods of historic significance and provided a framework for the landscape rehabilitation.

The first period of significance includes the landscape as designed at the time of construction in 1909-10, and the changes made during the time the Hindry family remained in residence, through 1941. The Hindry House is an exceptional example of the work of master architects Arthur and Alfred Heineman, who were influential in the development of the Craftsman style in California and across the country. Although the brothers were responsible for designing over a thousand buildings throughout California, only twenty of those buildings were located in Pasadena. The Hindry House represents the Heinemans’ first major commission and the pinnacle of their residential architectural career, as it displays highly distinctive design features that were utilized in a number of their later designs.

The second period of significance includes the addition of a swimming pool and surrounding landscape for owners Albert and Marka Hibbs, designed by landscape architect Courtland Paul, FASLA in the 1970s, to honor his client’s request for “an old swimming hole”.  This seminal design was influential in the evolution of naturalistic pool design; it was heavily publicized and was pivotal in Paul’s transition from working on local residential projects to international resort design.

Balancing the two periods of significance was difficult, especially when attempting to preserve both the 1970s-era privacy of the pool and the original open frontal view of the house. This required removing the 1970s fence that bisected the house façade and reducing the height of the berms in the front garden to the height originally specified by Paul. The team proposed an open wrought iron fence for the front of the property which would have provided compliance with pool safety standards and returned the original historic view of the house from the street, but this effort did not receive City approval. Consequently, the 1970s-era chain-link fence and hedge surrounding the property remain in place.

Working with the client and Kelly Sutherlin McLeod Architecture, Lisa Gimmy Landscape Architecture developed a thoughtful and balanced rehabilitation plan that retains the integrity of the two periods of significance and their respective character-defining features and spatial characteristics. The rehabilitation plan closely followed the Secretary of Interior’s Standards, and advances historic preservation by demonstrating best practices for informed rehabilitation of a cultural landscape. The project was recognized in 2018 with a prestigious Preservation Design Award and by the City of Pasadena Historic Preservation Commission. Upon completion, the Hindry House has hosted the California Preservation Foundation’s President’s Reception, a garden tour as part of the 2017 ASLA Expo, and has been the subject of The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s Garden Dialogues. Now that the landscape has been documented and rehabilitated, the client intends to add the landscape to the Historic Monument designation.

About Lisa Gimmy Landscape Architecture

Lisa Gimmy founded her practice, Lisa Gimmy Landscape Architecture, in 1992 to provide the highest quality design services by being personally involved in every project. She has developed distinction as a collaborator among allied professionals for projects that require a sensitive approach to issues of historic preservation, stewardship and social responsibility. Gimmy’s residential clients entrust her with indoor/outdoor spaces for homes designed by celebrated masters such as Richard Neutra, Heineman and Heineman, Sylvanus Marston, Carl Maston, and Eugene Kinn Choy. Gimmy thoughtfully considers the original design intent and explores the relationships between site and region, landscape and building, and environment and people to achieve an enhanced quality of life. LGLA is a member of Architects Advocate. Please click here for more information.

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Photos © Alexander Vertikoff and © Millicent Harvey