Project Details Page

synopsis

The Palos Verdes Library was designed by architect Myron Hunt in 1929 and the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm in 1930. Adjacent to Farnham Martin’s Park, key circulation and material elements make these two designs cohesive. The library’s north garden design has a more formal layout with nine Pittosporum tobira trees and a decomposed granite path that frame a small lawn panel.

The Palos Verdes Library was designed by architect Myron Hunt in 1929 and the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm in 1930. Adjacent to Farnham Martin’s Park, key circulation and material elements make these two designs cohesive. The library’s north garden design has a more formal layout with nine Pittosporum tobira trees and a decomposed granite path that frame a small lawn panel. Planting design was drought tolerant and largely red and pink colors.

Adjoining the Library is Farnham Martin's Park which is included in the National Register listing with the Library. Built in 1928, Farnham Martin’s Park is an example of the way the Olmsted firm designed with the regional climate through a minimized use of grass turf, and plants brought in from Palos Verdes’ on-site nursery. Drawing from Moorish design features, the profuse use of local Palos Verdes stone creates the major water feature and grand stairway.

The park was named after the Superintendent of Parks who was killed in a car accident in 1928 while the Palos Verdes community was under construction. Farnham Martin had been an employee of the Olmsted firm since 1908 and was an important part of the team assembled by the Olmsted Brothers to carry out the Palos Verdes development.

more