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Project posted by Joan Gand

The Liebner/Ivans House

View 14 Photos
Location
La Jolla, San Diego, California
Year
1961
Structure
House (Single Residence)
Style
Midcentury
The original sculptural fireplace floats on 3 small supports, decor is all vintage from the owners collection
The original sculptural fireplace floats on 3 small supports, decor is all vintage from the owners collection
Photos of the original cabinets inspired the new design
Photos of the original cabinets inspired the new design
A historic photo of the structure
A historic photo of the structure
The side view coming up from the canyon
The side view coming up from the canyon
The new open kitchen was based on the original design and built by hand by John Vugrin
The new open kitchen was based on the original design and built by hand by John Vugrin
Looking 60 feet down at the restored canyon garden
Looking 60 feet down at the restored canyon garden
A good view of the back of the house from the canyon
A good view of the back of the house from the canyon
The street view of the house
The street view of the house
The lower level is reached by a spiral staircase
The lower level is reached by a spiral staircase
A deck surrounds the lower level and the steel structure
A deck surrounds the lower level and the steel structure
A side view of the steel beams and structure
A side view of the steel beams and structure
The music room features mid-century modern instruments including a Baldwin Acrosonic piano and a Hammond B3
The music room features mid-century modern instruments including a Baldwin Acrosonic piano and a Hammond B3

Credits

Posted by
Architect
Robert Liebner

From Joan Gand

Aerospace design engineer Robert Liebner designed this house in 1961 for himself and his family, turning an "unbuildable" lot into a creative challenge. His confident solution - set three giant international orange T-beam steel supports in the canyon, and perch his modernist post and beam treehouse on top. Fast-forward to 2019 when the one-owner house went up for sale for the first time. The new owners, musicians and preservationists Joan and Gary Gand, outbid tear-down offers to save this unknown but amazing house that their realtor described as “wow…just wow!” It took two years to turn back the clock and recapture the spirit of the original decor, with restorations done personally by master craftsman John Vugrin, who was taking a break from his long-time gig at the Kellogg Doolittle House. Per the owners, “one of the magical experiences is when the fog rolls in from the ocean and you feel like you’re living in a cloud.”