Descanso Gardens Sturt-Haaga Gallery

Descanso Gardens, a Los Angeles County park since 1953, was originally the estate of newspaper mogul E. Manchester Boddy, designed by architect James E. Dolena in the Hollywood Regency style. The new gallery complex expands the Gardens programming opportunities, especially to include the display of art.
The complex lives alongside two historic structures—the Boddy House and Garage—both constructed in the late 1930’s. We renovated the house, transforming it into a space for public events and historical displays. The garage serves as a small exhibition space that extends into the new 1,300 square foot Sturt-Haaga Gallery of Art.
Set into the hills, the new structure completes rather than mimics the existing buildings, its minimal form balancing the Boddy House’s traditional vernacular. The design honors Descanso Gardens commitment to stewardship and conservation, relying on sustainable materials and introducing a gray water system to the grounds.
Inside the galleries, skylights combine with low-voltage lighting, giving exhibitions a naturalistic brightness, and the rooftop garden expands the exhibition space from inside to out.
The design allows the Sturt-Haaga Gallery to all but disappear into the surrounding foliage and topography. Green murals, large vertical trays of lush plants, cover the gallery’s exterior walls and turn the structure itself into a garden and an artwork.