Paul W. McKim

Paul McKim began his San Diego practice in 1963, shortly after graduating from the University of Illinois (in ‘61) with a degree in architecture. This house’s vertically stripped windows, and floor-to-ceiling glass facing its courtyard describe Richard Neutra’s influence on McKim’s work. Paul McKim's style was strongly influenced by the natural beauty of San Diego county's landscape. He began with simple shapes in his designs to act as a backdrop to year-round landscaping, which replaced the need for ornament on his structures. Mr. McKim's dramatic interior spaces depend on large expanses of glass allowing filtered sunlight to cast shadows across plain walls. His interiors flow horizontally by using glass walls between the indoor and outdoor spaces.

McKim Residence (1965)
3911 Portola Place
This contemporary-looking town house with balconies and lofts that become sleeping/circulation spaces, was McKim’s his first completed house (and his own). The first floor’s 18’ ceilings (in parts of living room) and H-shape plan welcome the guest through a sheltered-entry garden.

Economy in both scale and cost, privacy from homes flanking both sides, and meshing indoor and outdoor space were key design criteria in Paul McKim's own residence. For a price tag of only $21,000, McKim's 1600sq ft H-shaped plan was economized by way of simple post and beam construction and off-the-shelf materials. The H-plan's rectangular boxes, separated by a circular stairwell and twin courtyards, both embrace the outdoors and maintain privacy. In this neighborhood, most homes are placed closer to the street and focus on the backyard. With a park at its rear, Paul McKim placed the structure 50 ft. from Portola Place allowing neighbors an uninterrupted view of San Diego bay while engaging the trees of the Mission Hills park as an extension to the back- and rear courtyard spaces. The tall eucalyptus trees behind the home add to the overall impact of the design when viewed from the street.

Originally designed for the parents to occupy the right wing and the children the left (above the office space). Generous detailing and openness were created with minimal cost - two-story spaces enliven the small footprint of the original design, sun trellises provide shade and design elements while white stucco walls in the courtyard reflect sun to illuminate the living room.

Partial List of San Diego Projects

McKim Residence (1965)
3911 Portola Place, Mission Hills

Sloan Residence (1967)
4452 Brindisi Street, Point Loma

Gauthie Residence
1159 Hymettus Street, Leucadia