John Byers (architect)
Encyclopedia
John Winford Byers was a Santa Monica
architect and builder noted for use of the Spanish Colonial revival style.
, was employed as a schoolteacher, teaching Spanish and French, at San Rafael High School
and Santa Monica High School
. Self-trained as a builder and architect, Byers completed his first commission, a house at 510 Lincoln Boulevard for W.F. Barnum, the principal of the Santa Monica High School in 1916.
, Pacific Palisades
, and Santa Monica from 1916 through 1946. He was fascinated with the native California architecture and its Mexican and Spanish roots. He was most notable for his "Adobe" designed buildings, having written several articles in the 1920s and 1930s on adobe construction and its influence in California architect. He studied the native building traditions of Hispanic cultures, and went through a phase where he built houses of adobe and stucco. He established his own workshop, employing Mexican craftsmen who were masters at creating and installing the adobe brick, the decorative tile, wrought iron and woodwork that he used in his houses.
Other dwellings were constructed in Coachella
, Victorville
, Bel Air, and Beverly Hills
. Byers also constructed an adobe memorial recreation hall (Miles Plyhouse) in Santa Monica, a clubhouse at Brentwood Park, and a building at the John Thomas Dye School
.
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
architect and builder noted for use of the Spanish Colonial revival style.
Early life
Byers was born in Michigan. Byers, a graduate from Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, was employed as a schoolteacher, teaching Spanish and French, at San Rafael High School
San Rafael High School
San Rafael High School is a coeducational public secondary school located at 185 Mission Avenue in San Rafael, California, United States.The school is part of the San Rafael City Schools school district...
and Santa Monica High School
Santa Monica High School
Santa Monica High School, informally known as SAMOHI, is located in Santa Monica, California. Founded in 1884, it is one of the oldest high schools in the state....
. Self-trained as a builder and architect, Byers completed his first commission, a house at 510 Lincoln Boulevard for W.F. Barnum, the principal of the Santa Monica High School in 1916.
Importance
Byers designed and built dozens of homes in BrentwoodBrentwood, Los Angeles, California
Brentwood is a district in western Los Angeles, California, United States. The district is located at the base of the Santa Monica Mountains, bounded by the San Diego Freeway on the east, Wilshire Boulevard on the south, the Santa Monica city limits on the southwest, the border of Topanga State...
, Pacific Palisades
Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California
Pacific Palisades is an affluent neighborhood and district within the U.S. city of Los Angeles, California, located among Brentwood to the east, Malibu and Topanga to the west, Santa Monica to the southeast, the Santa Monica Bay to the southwest, and the Santa Monica Mountains to the north. The...
, and Santa Monica from 1916 through 1946. He was fascinated with the native California architecture and its Mexican and Spanish roots. He was most notable for his "Adobe" designed buildings, having written several articles in the 1920s and 1930s on adobe construction and its influence in California architect. He studied the native building traditions of Hispanic cultures, and went through a phase where he built houses of adobe and stucco. He established his own workshop, employing Mexican craftsmen who were masters at creating and installing the adobe brick, the decorative tile, wrought iron and woodwork that he used in his houses.
Some projects
| Project | Date | Santa Monica Santa Monica, California Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and... | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donald Armstrong Residence | 1717 San Vicente | Santa Monica Santa Monica, California Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and... |
|
| J.B. Nethercott Residence | 500 25th Street | Santa Monica Santa Monica, California Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and... |
|
| Speers Residence | 270 18th Street | Santa Monica | |
| Byers Residence | 1917 | 2034 La Mesa Drive | Santa Monica |
| Byers Residence | 1917 | 547 7th Street | Santa Monica |
| Fuller Residence | 1920 | 304 18th Street | Santa Monica |
| MacBennel House | 1921 | 404 Georgina Avenue | Santa Monica Santa Monica, California Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and... |
| Gorham-Holiday Residence | 1923 | 326 Adelaide Drive | Santa Monica |
| Zimmer Residence | 1924 | 2101 La Mesa Drive | Santa Monica |
| Laidlaw Residence | 1924 | 217 17th Street | Santa Monica |
| Thompson House | 1924 | 2021 La Mesa Drive | Santa Monica |
| Tinglof Residence | 1925 | 2010 La Mesa Drive | Santa Monica |
| Bundy Residence | 1925 | 2133 La Mesa Drive | Santa Monica |
| E.J. Carrillo Residence | 1925 | 1602 Georgina | Santa Monica |
| Residence | 1925 | 1650 Amalfi Drive | Pacific Palisades |
| Byers Office | 1926 | 246 26th Street | Santa Monica |
| Barclay Residence | 1927 | 1425 Monaco Drive | Pacific Palisades |
| Miles Memorial Playhouse | 1929 | 1130 Lincoln Boulevard | Santa Monica |
| John Byers (Third) Residence | 1929 | 2034 La Mesa Drive | Santa Monica |
| Kerr Residence | 1930 | 428 N Carmelina Avenue | Brentwood |
| Hamilton Residence | 1931 | 193 N Carmelina Avenue | Brentwood |
| Murray Residence | 1935 | 436 N Carmelina Avenue | Brentwood |
| Stedman Residence | 1935 | 363 N Carmelina Avenue | Brentwood |
| Temple Residence | 1935 | 231 N Rockingham Avenue | Brentwood |
| Kenaston Residence | 1936 | 914 Corsica Drive | Pacific Palisades |
Other dwellings were constructed in Coachella
Coachella, California
Coachella is a city in Riverside County, California; it is the easternmost city in the region collectively known as the Coachella Valley...
, Victorville
Victorville, California
Victorville is a city located in the Victor Valley of southwestern San Bernardino County, California. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2010 census, the city had a population of 115,903, up from 64,030 at the 2000 census.-Geography and climate:...
, Bel Air, and Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
. Byers also constructed an adobe memorial recreation hall (Miles Plyhouse) in Santa Monica, a clubhouse at Brentwood Park, and a building at the John Thomas Dye School
John Thomas Dye School
The John Thomas Dye School, nicknamed JTD, is an independent private coeducational nonsectarian elementary day school located in the Bel-Air area of Los Angeles, California, serving students in kindergarten through sixth grade....
.