In 2020, In addition to designating three La Jolla houses as historic, the San Diego Historical Resources Board designated the house as historic and granted Liebhardt the status of “master” architect.
Original tile in the bathrooms remains, including this reddish-burnt orange tile in the master bathroom.
Nearly all of the woodwork in the house is original, with minimal restoration required -- there were few gaps, splits, or other issues with the quality of the workmanship.
The home's darker finishes and thick stone walls were balanced by natural light from multiple windows in every space.
Paul and Jules see the home as a "museum
The stone and wood walls create a warm, textured ambiance.
The kitchen was one of the spaces that received the most updates -- but even then it was seamless with its original features and materials.
"Most people would have leveled it,
A fluidity of indoor-outdoor space was a key characteristic of the home when it was completed by Liebhardt.
Most of the home is clad in wood, creating a dark, moody atmosphere -- to the point where Paul used to wear a miners light on his head to get around before new lighting was put in.
“We’re always throwing events,” says Paul, so the indoor/outdoor style was a great fit for them.
Paul describes the home as “one of a kind” and “one of the better representations of midcentury modern in all of San Diego.”
[What space is this?]
With its sprawling layout and unique design, the couple knew the renovation would be a challenge. But the couple felt that they had to take on the project and "not put our stamp on it, it’s a work of art,” says Paul.
The home's angular forms - a pitched room, battered stone walls, and projecting eaves - gave it a distinct look, even in the 1950s when it was constructed.
“We found out soon after we visited the house that Liebhardt attended Taliesin West under Frank Lloyd Wright for two years,” explains Paul -- and it shows in the home's design.
Midcentury homes are unusual in San Diego, “especially in La Jolla which is very hilly and doesn’t warrant this type of build,” notes Paul of the 1951 home designed by local architect Frederick Liebhardt.
The home was photographed by famed architectural photographer Julius Schulman in 1953.
Whether the Go-Box is used for occasional glamping trips or a full-time nomadic lifestyle, it was made to be reliable and flexible.