Irving House – MBK Launches Southern California Community
Builder
September 5, 2017
California builder MBK Homes has opened Irving House, a collection of detached homes inspired by 1900s architect Irving Gill.
Gill’s focus on clean-lined modernism is reflected in the firm’s four new home designs, each with up to four bedrooms, a private backyard, and a two-car attached garage. Upon completion, the community will consist of 25 homes with prices anticipated to start from the low $700,000s.
“We saw this development as an opportunity to incorporate timeless architectural elements into a modern, efficient home,” says Rick Fletcher, vice president of real estate operations, MBK Homes.
Irving House mirrors four different architectural styles designed by Gill in the early 1900s: The Wheeler house in La Jolla; The Bishops School in La Jolla and The Dodge House in West Hollywood; Horatio West Court in Santa Monica; and Cossitt Cottage #8 in San Diego. Design features include modern parapet walls; low-pitched shingled roofs; simplified Doric columns; exposed wood rafter tails; and encased cubistic and bay windows.
“Our approach at Irving House was to mimic the simplicity of architecture that Gill expressed in his projects, and design modern versions of it. Our concept depicts simple forms, details, full arches and broken arches, and simple color schemes,” says Art Alvarado, senior designer at KTGY Architecture + Planning. “The expression of windows was especially at the forefront of design in order to depict hierarchy of interior living spaces, allowing for ample natural lighting in each home’s interior.”
The two-story homes are offered in three floor plan options ranging in size from 1,926 square feet to 2,127 square feet. The kitchens include quartz countertops with GE stainless steel gourmet appliances, as well as tech necessities, such as a USB charging stations in master bedroom and advanced wiring with RG6 and CAT5 cables for high-speed connections. Green features include dual-glazed vinyl windows with efficient, low-E glass, tankless water heaters and water-conserving toilets.
