Multifamily – Janus Welton Design Works

Hillcrest Meadows – Palos Verdes, CA

As real estate prices escalated in California in the1990’s, land became scarce, and developers started building zero lot line homes and villas. At Vitto Cetta / Randy Washington Group Architects in Santa Monica, CA, I served as Senior Architectural Designer on Hillcrest Meadows in Palos Verdes where we designed two story villa homes just a stone’s throw away from its neighbors.

The art of creating private outdoor spaces like loggias and narrow pool escapes in the side yards enhanced the privacy of the occupants’ while other landscaping amenities are shared by the community. Dramatic open vertical spaces and cathedral ceilings flooded with daylight enabled a feeling of expansion in these narrow and closely spaced million-dollar zero lot line homes.

Portofino Place Apartments – LA, CA.

This project on the corner of Wilshire Blvd. and Amherst Ave. in Los Angeles presented a real site design problem with high-rises towering over the site. As Senior Architectural Designer at Vitto Cetta / Randy Washington Group Architects in Santa Monica, CA, I oriented the entire apartment complex away from the towers and created a private covered entry into the complex to shield the residents from its imposing neighbors. The complex has thirty-three units on three floors over a secured parking garage.
Once inside the private interior courtyard, complete with water features, landscaping, and sunlight washing in from above, the residents found the entries to their individual units. The apartment balconies and windows skewed and focused away from the busy boulevard to enhance privacy and reduce noise.
These deluxe apartments featured space enhancing architectural angles in the living room and offered cozy fireplaces. The master suite and second bedrooms featured true walk-in closets, and each has a luxurious bathroom. The main hallways offer conveniences of a washer/ dryer and linen closet.

McCulloch Townhomes – for University of Southern California Faculty- LA, CA.

The McCulloch Townhomes offer affordably priced two- and three-bedroom units near USC, just north of campus at the intersection of Hoover and 30th. Tenants at the townhomes enjoy a gated community with secured underground parking, private patios, a short walk to campus, and proximity to USC Village.
Designed by our design team at Vitto Cetta / Randy Washington Group Architects in Santa Monica, CA, I served as Senior Architectural Facade Designer- developing all the building elevations and establishing the Craftsman style community, reminiscent of nearby Craftsman homes flanking the tree lined residential streets of Pasadena, CA.

Falling Water – Prairie Style Cluster Home Concept – Burr Ridge, IL.

This development company came to Vitto Cetta / Randy Washington Group Architects in Santa Monica, CA. for a distinctive Prairie Style cluster home development in Burr Ridge, Il. The clients’ program consisted of multifamily cluster homes that feel like large single family home estates.
As Senior Architectural Planner and Designer, I planned and designed the duplex and cluster townhomes portion of the project.

The site plan created distinct and private enclaves of clusters with a branching circulation plan surrounded by heavily wooded areas. Each driveway leads to a large facade that reads as one large estate but is composed of duplex and triplex clusters. The floor plan designs have hidden garage fronts with side entries and multiple courtyards that lead to each private unit entry.

The Prairie Style elevations feature overhanging eaves and patios, expressed beams, abundant light, and low-profile hip roofs. Characterized by open floor plans, natural materials, mixed with walls of windows and seamless indoor-outdoor living, they embrace mostly horizontal elements that celebrate the long, low landscape of the Midwest balanced with vertical elements.