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The 2026 Design Awards Event

A view from above of a circular, multi-level courtyard with ornate railings, white columns, red tile floors, and a central fountain surrounded by greenery. Spiral staircases connect the different levels.We're celebrating 24 award winning projects, as well as the Trustee's Awards for Excellence and four President's Awards at the Mission Inn in downtown Riverside. This special celebration is followed by a ticketed reception with food and drinks. Purchase your tickets before they sell out!

Charlotte & Robert Disney Bungalow

Owner / Client
Nick Reneare – Private Owner

Project Lead
John Lesak – Page & Turnbull

Lead Architect
John Lesak – Principal

Historic Architect
John Lesak – Page & Turnbull

Structural Engineer
Michael Krakower – Krakower & Associates Structural Engineering

Civil Engineer
David Beckwith – David Beckwith and Associates, Inc.

Contractor
Troy Perry – Oak Hallow Restoration, Inc.

Photographs: 
Eric Staudenmaier

Charlotte & Robert Disney Bungalow

Charlotte & Robert Disney Bungalow is a winner for the 2026 Preservation Design Award in the category of Restoration. Award recipients are selected by a jury of top professionals in the fields of architecture, engineering, planning, and history, as well as renowned architecture critics and journalists. Tickets and sponsorship options are available at californiapreservation.org/programs/awards/.

About Charlotte & Robert Disney Bungalow

The Charlotte & Robert Disney bungalow restoration celebrates Walt Disney’s initial residence after arriving in Los Angeles. In August 1923, Walt relocated from Kansas City, taking up residence with his Aunt Charlotte and Uncle Robert. It was here, in the small garage, that he began to produce his first animated projects, leading to this first professional contract.

The renovation and reconstruction return the exterior to a color scheme that is appropriate for the 1920s, along with new landscaping and site enhancements that provide additional outdoor socializing areas. An exact replica of the garage, where Walt produced short animations, was reconstructed in its original position, visible from the street along the driveway.

Inside the residence, non-historic elements were eliminated, and original finishes restored. While continued to be owned by the Disney family, the project restores a historic treasure and tells the story of Walt Disney Company beginnings.

Read more about the Preservation Design Awards
A restored historic dining room with wooden floors, a large wooden table with six chairs, built-in china cabinets, wainscoting, and decorative molding. A vase with flowers and a candlestick sit on the table.
A single-story Craftsman-style house with a wide front porch, tan exterior, red steps, and large windows, surrounded by green plants and a neatly trimmed lawn under a clear blue sky.
A cozy front porch with a wicker rocking chair, potted plants, and a wooden door. The porch has a slanted roof, hanging lantern lights, and overlooks a green, tree-filled yard with a palm tree in the background.
A bright kitchen with white cabinets, green tile countertops, a farmhouse sink, checkered green-and-white floor, and two windows with woven shades letting in sunlight. A vase with flowers sits near the sink.
A cozy living room with a floral-patterned sofa, pink and green cushions, two purple armchairs, a stone fireplace, and large windows with curtains. A coffee table with books and flowers sits in the center.
A cozy living room with a green sofa, colorful pillows, a blanket, a wooden piano with sheet music, framed art on cream walls, wood trim, and a view into a second room with a fireplace and more seating.
A classic red convertible car is parked inside a small wooden garage with its double doors open. The garage is tidy and located next to a garden patio area with outdoor seating.
A single-story house with a small porch, two metal chairs, and a table. A path leads to a detached garage with an open door, revealing a classic car inside. The yard features shrubs and well-kept landscaping.
A cozy kitchen corner features a curved, floral-upholstered bench around a wooden table with three chairs. The floor has green and white checkered tiles. Framed art and decor adorn the cream walls, including a Mickey Mouse poster.
A dining room with wooden floors, a large oval wooden table, wooden chairs, built-in cabinets with glass doors, and a wooden bench. The room features coffered ceilings, floral wallpaper, and framed pictures on the walls.
A single-story house with a large front porch and manicured lawn is framed by palm trees, with neighboring homes and parked cars visible along the street on a clear day.

Community Importance

Disney Community – Disney fans, scholars, and historians benefit from the bungalow restoration and reconstruction of the garage where Walt Disney launched his first Los Angeles animation venture and provides a tangible connection to the origins of one of the world’s most influential creative figures. The property serves as a reminder of Walt’s early days in Los Angeles and his connection to the Los Feliz neighborhood, inspiring interest in animation and filmmaking history. The new interiors and reimagined backyard create an intimate setting for education programs, small gatherings, and research opportunities for the Disney community, allowing the property to function as a living resource of cinematic history and acting as a tangible link to Walts creative past.

Local community – Restoring the residence to its 1920s bungalow style-era and recreating the garage, where Walt shaped his careers earlier steps, strengthens the cultural and architectural identity of the neighborhood, ensuring that an unassuming craftsman bungalow – once considered for demolition – continues to contribute meaningfully to the streetscape and surrounding area. The residence system improvements, landscaping, sustainable integration of discreet solar panels and stormwater capture, further demonstrate that historic preservation can evolve responsibly and sustainably. The home is architecturally significant and a cultural landmark that provides a rare chance to experience a piece of Walt Disney’s family life and pivotal creative era, connecting them to the origins of the Disney entertainment empire.

 

About CPF and the Awards

Held in conjunction with CPF’s 2026 Annual Conference in Riverside, the 2026 Mission Inn Preservation Design Awards Ceremony and Reception will spotlight excellence in historic preservation in a setting that reflects the very spirit of the work being honored. This special evening brings together award recipients, conference participants, preservation leaders, and supporters from across California to celebrate outstanding preservation projects and leadership through the Preservation Design Awards and President’s Awards.

Founded in 1978, the California Preservation Foundation (CPF) is California’s statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of historic places and cultural heritage. Through education, advocacy, and community-centered programs, CPF supports the people, projects, and policies that keep California’s historic resources vital and valued. We now support a national network of more than 36,000 members and supporters. Click here to learn how you can become a member.