I was commissioned to design a residence - well, really what my clients wanted was a consummate masterpiece, fully integrated with the natural world. This is one home that will be just that, even in 100 years. My clients had seen my work in Malibu, and they felt that what I do was exactly what they wanted. They and their two young sons had very a grand dream, and a budget to match.

The property to be developed was two acres in the Malibu mountains. For the Malibu area, the slope was fairly gentle. The only problem would be the size of the house, which was to be 14,000 square feet, plus an oversized guesthouse and a four-car garage.

I resolved the problem of the slope with extensive grading, and a retaining wall as part of the foundations. The grand room would step down with the hill. There would be privacy problems in the front of the property, but the ocean view, rear, and the two sides were totally private.

I resolved the front privacy issues by designing proportionately tall walls that appear on either side of the entry, creating two large courtyards. The main entry to the house is accessed via a smaller courtyard.

Arches and iron works, as well as other detailing, give relief to the courtyard walls, therefore creating three private and secure outdoor environments for children and pets. While the front elevation offers a formal, old-style European feeling, the two larger courtyards gave me the opportunity for extensive use of glass on those parts of the building that are hidden by the walls, therefore not taking away from the overall formality. There is also an employee courtyard behind the garage.

In conference with my clients, it was determined that the style would have the feeling and look of an Italian villa. My clients presented me with a list of rooms that they would require, and a photograph of a 200-year-old painting. The painting depicted a beautiful room with a glass ceiling; the room housed a rather large pond.

The Gerens wanted the house to include both features. I was able to design around this wonderful solarium concept; it added uniqueness, beauty, and light to the interiors of the home.

The elevations are complex, especially on the rear, which is mostly glass to take in the ocean views. Cast stone moldings are used extensively on the exterior, as are many stucco details, giving relief and ornamentalism to the structure. The iron work on the balconies and railings are of my design.

Opening the front doors is a dramatic, sensory experience. The grandeur of the home and the views are breathtaking. So much to take in; expansive ceiling heights, gracious romantic stairway to the right, solarium to the left, ornate moldings and stepping down to the great room straight ahead, to what seems like miles of glass and views, views, views!

Ceiling heights vary from12 feet at the lowest, to 27 feet in the entry. Many walls are framed for extra thickness, to give a sense of the stability of the past. All of the windows and doors are much higher than standard, keeping all the proportions in balance with the higher ceiling.

This residence contains so many rooms, and so many features, that it would be impossible to describe it all here. I will say that all of the rooms, except the kitchen, breakfast room, and the elaborate spa facilities, have full ocean views. The kitchen and breakfast room open into the courtyard to the left of the entry, while the spa facilities open into the courtyard to the right. Those facilities extend out into the courtyard, with a hot tub and cold plunge.

There are many fireplaces, two of which are exterior on the ocean side. An additional hot tub is also ocean side under one of the round loggias. There is an extensive application of extra wide loggias throughout the project. As with most of my projects, there is the signature shape that appears throughout.