IN-HOME SPA FACILITIES • GATED FOR ULTIMATE PRIVACY
THE SITE
Robledal has been the owners’ home for over 30 years and, as completed, the home has never been on the market. The unusual panoramic building site was created on a promontory above the Park Oak neighborhood back in 1951, hence the name “Robledal”, which roughly translated means “Park Oak”. The unusually large site (.89 acre) includes the large “Lot 22” featuring a 280’ gated private driveway, together with the legally-subdivided upper portion of adjacent “Lot 23”, which provides additional flat yard and garden area with expansive views, where the pool area and spa/pool house are situated. A condition of the special Lot 23 subdivision back in the 1950’s was that both parcels had to remain together as one large parcel. This is most likely the reason that the site survives 70 years later as one of the few large parcels in the Oaks.
In addition to the site acquisition cost for the land and the original 1600 square foot ranch house, the owners invested over $250,000 in 1990 dollars to create front and rear retaining walls in preparation for a new and much larger residence. The wall projects included over 30 deepened concrete friction piles, and significantly expanded the usable yard area on the west and north sides of the main residence.
Another unique feature of the property is the large upper motor court area to the South of the main residence which provides parking for 12-15 vehicles within the fully-fenced perimeter of the property.
The entire width of the site features panoramic views of Bronson Canyon and Griffith Park to the west and north - including significant views of natural untouched park land that is protected from further development. Overhead utilities are thoughtfully hidden behind the residence and pool area to the east, leaving the western, northerly and southern views uninterrupted.
The site was chosen for the owners’ new residence after an exhausting 5 year search of the Los Feliz area, and is unique for the unmatched privacy, quiet ambiance, wide streets, and close proximity to all major Hollywood and Burbank studios.
THE RESIDENCE
Renowned Los Angeles Architect Ed Fickett was commissioned in 1992 to create a Spanish residence of approximately 5,000 square feet. Fickett incorporated many Old World details, some of which were handed down from his architect-father, it order to satisfy the owners’ requirement that the house “feel” like it was of the golden era of Spanish-revival architecture made famous in Los Angeles during the 1920’s and 1930’s. Construction began in August 1992 and was completed in time for July 4, 1993. The General Contractor was Bob Ruhl Construction, whose company had recently completed Cher’s Italian-styled compound in Malibu.
Some of the Fickett details include 12” thick walls on much of the ground floor, pocket-hidden screened French doors, 12’ high ceilings in the living room, a sweeping curved open main stairway under the 22’ high foyer. A second additional service stairway accesses the maid’s quarters/office. The second floor master and guest bedrooms feature tall beamed ceilings, and hand wrought “Juliet” style view balconies. Private terraces are located off the master bedroom and the South guest bedroom. All bedrooms include en-suite bathrooms and walk-in closets.
The home incorporates many details of an Andalusian country home from Southern Spain, including shaded terraces, generous terra cotta walkways and patios connecting all major rooms with the outdoors, and hand-painted “cuerda seca” tiles imported from the same ceramicas of Seville and Granada that decorated the Alcazar and Alhambra palaces.
Ground floor main rooms and stairways feature 18” terra cotta floors from Valencia, and second floor bedrooms feature solid cherry wood floors.
Except for staff areas, all main living rooms feature 8’ tall solid cherry interior doors with Baldwin hardware.
The main residence features four traditional wood-burning fireplaces, built “the old way” by Czechoslovakian masonry craftsmen, and all equipped with gas log lighters, including the Living Room, Dining Room, Library/Bar and Master Bedroom.
The Chef’s Kitchen features a center island with prep sink, breakfast bar, newer appliances including Sub Zero refrigerator/freezer, 48” DCS professional cooktop/grill, DCS double oven, Gaggenau pasta cooker, and twin Bosch dishwashers. An adjacent pantry provides plenty of storage.
The intimate Library/Bar features raised cherry-paneled walls, bookcases, and oversized crown moldings.
The period-feel of the home is enhanced by carefully chosen antique lighting fixtures, including a grand antique entry chandelier of alabaster and silver from Buenos Aires, a pewter finished country French dining room chandelier, and giant one-of-a-kind wall sconces flanking the living room fireplace.
The monumental pair of antique entry doors are crafted of solid Honduran Mahogany and hand wrought iron, also imported from Buenos Aires and incorporated into the design by the architect.
Special floor base, crown and plaster relief moldings and corbels were chosen from the archives of the Warner Bros. Staff Shop, and cast from the original molds that decorated the sets from the Golden Age of Hollywood films.
The Master Suite is spread over almost 1,000 square feet, and includes a double door entry foyer, cathedral ceilings, master bath with separate vanities, steam shower, whirlpool-jetted Kohler bathtub and private toilet room with Toto Neorest. The Master Closet features cherry wood and glass built-ins, and leads to the private loft office and attic storage which is accessed via a circular iron stairway. The Master Suite enjoys a full width covered terrace with a handmade tiled wall fountain from Sevilla’s famous Ceramica Santa Ana. The terrace features spectacular views of the pool area below and the hills of Griffith Park to the North.
Despite all the period details, the house is built to modern earthquake standards, and features all newer operating systems, including a 600 amp electrical service, copper plumbing, central vacuum system, full alarm coverage, and with 5 separate HVAC systems with all bedrooms having their own zone controls.
THE GROUNDS AND POOL
First impressions of the property are of the massive stuccoed columns and wrought iron gates that lead up the 6,000 square foot cobblestone paver driveway and parking area.
At the top of the driveway near the residence is a traditional Andalusian entry courtyard and its hand-wrought iron gates, leading to the entry reception area with its brightly tiled fountain, traditional olive and red Japanese maple trees, and a secret garden off the living room with cafe table and shaded by large Raphis palms.
The West side of the residence features expansive canyon views, the shade of a 50+ year old Chinese Elm tree, a generous lawn and play area with California Pepper trees, over 80 feet of terra cotta tiled walkways and patios, and a built in DCS Barbeque island with granite counter. Intimate seating and dining areas are accessible from all the major ground floor rooms. The West patio and lawn area has been the site of multiple family weddings and cocktail parties, and the indoor/outdoor flow via 8 sets of French doors make the entire space surrounding the main residence comfortable for events of 100-300.
The large flat North yard of the residence features an incredible perspective of the classically-styled oversized and elevated pool and spa, that is flanked by 8 majestic King Palm trees, and fully tiled with cobalt colored glass mosaic tile.
A generous flat lawn area adjacent to the pool and patios offers plenty of private playroom space for kids and pets.
The pool area includes an outdoor shower and fountains, meticulously cut and tiled from cuerda seca “azulejos” in colors of blue and yellow.
A delightful pergola-covered patio area adjacent to the Pool House and Spa is shaded by Sapphire-blue Sunbrella canvas covered awnings, and features outdoor draperies and a cozy outdoor fireplace.
Behind the Pool House and Spa lies a secret pocket garden with a gurgling granite bird bath and sheltering Lime and Arbutus trees.
THE SPA AND POOL HOUSE
The Spa and Pool House were conceived and built in 2006. The owners worked with architect Anthony Stark of Corsini Stark architects. Tony is a great admirer of Ed Fickett’s work and set out to make this project match the quality and finish details of Fickett’s main residence.
The Pool House features the same Valencian terra cotta floors and stairway with oak nosings and cuerda seca riser tiles. A large second floor window frames views of the main residence from the upper landing and features a deepened exterior reveal and WB-sourced plaster moldings. Antique hand wrought iron fixtures from Spain and elsewhere in Europe complement the full beamed ceilings.
Stark worked hard to accommodate all the owners’ wish list items, including a two story vaulted living area with relaxation bar and Sub Zero beverage center/icemaker. A Moorish-themed arched alcove frames views to the West with built in seating.
The fully-equipped Spa takes its design cues from La Mezquita in Cordoba, Spain. The floors and the horizontal striped hexagonal columns are clad with Jerusalem Gold Limestone and Turkish “Noce” Travertine. The ceiling arches create a groin-like grotto feeling, leading left to the shower and generously sized steam room, right to the Yellow Cedar-lined Swedish Sauna and private toilet room, or straight ahead to the twin cherry wood lockers and towel storage, and finally to the oversized Whirlpool Tub surrounded by garden windows. Lounging in the Spa with its peaceful views of the bird bath garden and taking a quick steam or sauna before a massage treatment is the perfect way to end a hectic work day.
The upper level of the Pool House features a generous overlook landing perfect for a massage, and access to the covered view terrace, the guest bedroom and the upstairs 1/2 bath.
The Guest Bedroom features double-arched solid cherry doors (mimicking the Main Residence Master Bedroom), oak floors, natural beamed ceiling, king-sized bed, and restful views overlooking Bronson Canyon and Griffith Park.
The covered terrace is perfect for a pre-massage workout on your favorite cardio machine, or simply to enjoy the peaceful views with a glass of wine
The adjacent 1/2 bath is a carefully tiled jewel box featuring an ancient Moorish wainscoting design of brilliant blue and white tiles. This was one of the last details completed in the Pool House, for Ceramica Santa Ana in Triana, Sevilla had run out of blue dye for several months. When the delivery day finally arrived, the wood crates were carefully unpacked with straw and the beautiful cobalt azulejos, undamaged from the long trip from Spain.
The entire 1177 square foot Pool House and Spa creates a “compound feeling” to the property, and perfectly bookends the North end of the rectangular pool with Main residence to the South.