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by: Abrams,
Harold |
Eugene
Weston III, AIA Frederick
Liebhardt's Biography Eugene
(“Gene”)
Weston III was born in Hollywood, the son of a Los Angeles architect
who had worked for Bertram Goodhue in 1923 and nephew to Joseph Weston
also an architect. These two, in the mid 1930's, formed a
company to design and manufacture factory-built (prefab) houses,
way ahead of their time. In the 1930's the family moved to La Canada,
where Gene attended Pasadena schools.After
the war Gene studied at the Art Center to become an industrial designer.
While at Art Center, he met fellow student Wanda Debes who he later
married.
Following
graduation, Eugene worked for his father's architectural firm
and later for Alvin
Lustig, where he prepared residential working drawings
for a building contractor client. Following his employment
with Lustig, Gene worked alongside Douglas Byles for Whitney
Smith of Smith & Williams
Architects (ca. 1946-7). Gene & Doug
left Smith & Williams at the same time and formed a partnership
Byles & Weston, a design / build firm. Both became General
Contractors, and built a number of houses for clients and some
for speculation, in and around the Pasadena area. One home
was for Bob Smith, Whitney Smith's brother, another was a spec
house in Altadena (next door to Cal Straub's home whom Doug
had studied under at USC) as well as several spec houses in
La Crescenta. The latter were for a builder, who was Lustig's
earlier client, for whom Gene had prepared drawings for his
Lustig designed house, that was never built.In
La Canada Gene designed and built 3 different houses for his
family and when he and Doug split up he continued the design/
build program for both clients and speculation, in that area. Eugene
Weston III designed a line of furniture prior
to moving to San Diego. According to Eugene Weston III, "It
was around 1950... I was partially inspired by Stan Hawk
who had a barbecue designed by Whitney Smith. It was called
the Hawk Brazier... I came up with a stacking stool about
10" high & 13"
in diameter,on 3 legs. A triangle piece of canvas was the
seat. The Hawks used these stools in some of their promotional
brochures. Other pieces were also in the line. A company
called Modern Color, bought the line from me, but it didn't
go over too well. Most of these items were made by a metal
worker in a one man shop in Pasadena, a few were made by
Brown Jordan who had a small factory in Pasadena at that
time."In
1956 Gene &
family moved to La Jolla, and proceeded to design / build,
again for both clients and speculation. Later when the
San Diego real estate market slowed down, he approached
Fred Liebhardt for a job, having met Fred years earlier
while visiting a friend at Taliesin West.LIEBHARDT &
WESTON 1960-1990Over
the years, the architecture firm changed its name
several times. Between 1950-1960 the firm was solely owned
and run by Frederick Liebhardt. Gene was hired in (1958)
and a few years later they formed the partnership of Liebhardt & Weston
(1960-1965), which later changed to Liebhardt Weston and
Associates (1965-1967). In 1961 Gene obtained his Architectural
License and Fred followed shortly thereafter. Don Goldman,
a noted designer in his own right, later became a partner
in Liebhardt &,Weston
and Goldman (1967-1976). When Goldman left the
firm, the partnership changed back to Liebhardt Weston
and Associates (1976-1990). Following Mr. Weston's retirement,
Bob Botton joined Fred as partner in Liebhardt, Botton
and Associates (1990-1991).Between
1974-1984 a number of animal-oriented projects
were designed by Animal People Environments, a joint venture
of Liebhardt, Weston and Associates, Charles Faust, Dr.
James Dolan and Barry Upson all of whom worked for the
San Diego Zoo, Upson later went to work for Universal Studios
which was LWA's opening to design a number of "sets" for
the Universal tours in both L.A. and Florida.
During this same period LWA started an extensive
program of remodeling and refurbishing the La
Jolla Beach and Tennis Club facilities as well
as the co-owned Sea Lodge Hotel & Restaurant,
also remodeling & additions.
LWA provided architectural services and Wanda
Weston handled the Interiors where required.After
leaving LWA in 1990, Gene & Wanda moved
to The Sea Ranch in northern California. Another
house was built there and Gene became involved
a long range planning committee for TSR Assoc.
In 2000 he started the Archive Committee,
collecting and organizing material on this
internationally famous development. In 2003
he & Wanda moved to Santa BarbaraEugene
Weston Project List 1959 Webb Residence
(EW) Links to homeowners'
sites: http://www.andycoburn.com/apperson.htmlPartial
BibliographyArts &
Architecture
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