D by D Magazine Spread

Professional Photos by Tatsu

These pictures were taken By Tatsu B-Ikeda for an article in a Spanish on-line magazine called DbyD.

A Significant Modification (a detail that got away)

It was a big job taking two men almost two weeks to finish but in October Fred did it: he added flashing to all the facia. It's changed the look of the house, more in keeping with my original vision. Years before construction I had thought about different finishes figuring we would do it while under construction. Never got around to it and as the year wore on I watched the wood on the facia deteriorate.

With this flashing I will never have to stain or take care of it again. Same thing with the stucco finish; there is no paint to maintain.

She is Finished!

I moved into Montana Alegre in November of 2009 but the final details, including furniture, landscaping, and a sound system, were not done until two weeks ago. That is 25 months since the first shovel of dirt was turned over on the property and 10 1/2 years since I bought the vacant lot.

Montana Alegre took two public hearings, a property line adjustment, a formal written determination by the City stating it complies with the zoning laws of the area; a construction loan which went 5 months past the due date at $89 a day in interest, and a change in contractor. I spent 3 1/2 years playing with the designs (the fun part), even commissioning designers to try it, but ended up with my own design.

Montana Alegre is the feminine version of my last name which means 'happy mountain.' The house is also on the top of a mountain ridge. I will be very happy here

Final Comments -- (maybe)

The construction phase of Casa Montana Alegre is more or less over. Except for the yard, stuff remaining to do revoles around the houses's service systems and correcting what is already in place. I've started tackling the grounds and landscaping but can see that, like a house, it will never be complete. Houses evolve.

This photo may be the signature image of Montana Alegre.

Over a Saturday and Sunday last week-end, I hired two guys to help me lay out a possible yard design. They moved over 400 concrete pavers up 30 steps and into the yard. I've done a lot of thinking about this yard even though most of the plantings were chosen on the availability of plants during three trips to the nursery last August and September. I have a landscape plan but decided to do my own plan, starting with the pavers and existing plants. The pavers have made a big difference.

I work for the City of Los Angeles as a planner in the City's Construction Service Center. As far as I know I'm the only person, in my 17 years there, who has ever done their own house: design, entitlements, permits, financing, and construction. People ask me what I thought of the experience.

Don't do it yourself, hire someone who knows the system.

It is it an incredible amount of work to build one's own home and quite complex to get through the approval processes. Designing was fun but plan check nerve-wracking; organizing plan correction details was overwhelming as well as getting sign-offs from other City departments for the building permit. Financing was okay even though I hit it just as the mortage industry was imploding. These comments are from someone who worked in the system but I also think it was worse because it was my own home.

I am going to carve the Casa's name on this rectangle of raised stucco. I haven't worked out the details but I know I prefer something very simple, almost imperceptible. Perhaps when this is done I will feel the house is finished.

One final comment about creating something that is entirely of one's own imagination. I asked advice from everyone but I made all the site planning, architectural, and interior finish decicions--everything--so if it didn't turn out well the responsibility was squarely on my shoulders. I was a little nervous about that. However, I needn't have been. There are a few things I would change, and I made a few changes during construction, but overall I am quite pleased with the result.