Gerard Colcord (1900–1984) was an American architect. He designed over 300 residences and 100 residential remodels in

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

Biography

Early life

He was born in

St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis () is the second-largest city in Missouri, United States. It sits near the confluence of the Mississippi River, Mississippi and the Missouri Rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a population of 301,578, while the Greater St. Louis, ...

, on November 1, 1900.Pacific Coast Architecture Database
/ref>Gerard Colcord book
/ref>Aaroe Architectural
/ref> He was educated in the United States and Europe, and moved to

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, in 1924.

Career

He designed private residences in

Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. B ...

, and in Bel Air, Los Angeles.Gerard Colcord's 20th century homes still beloved in these modern times
''

The Los Angeles Times ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' In 1930, he designed the Trippet House in

Pacific Palisades, California Pacific Palisades is a neighborhood in the Westside Los Angeles, Westside region of Los Angeles, California, situated about west of Downtown Los Angeles. Pacific Palisades was formally founded in 1921 by a Chautauqua, Methodist organization, an ...

. In 1952, he converted a morning room into a screening room in the Beverly Hills residence of film screenwriter and producer Jerry Wald (1911-1962). The Horton house in Bel Air was the private residence of stand-up comedian and actor Bob Newhart (born 1929) for twenty years. His Harris house in Bel Air has been the residence of actors

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

(1917-1995) and Nicolas Cage. Shortly before his death in 1984, he was remodeling

Harrison Ford Harrison Ford (born July 13, 1942) is an American actor. His films have grossed more than $5.4billion in North America and more than $9.3billion worldwide, making him the seventh-highest-grossing actor in North America. He is the recipient o ...

's house in Brentwood, Los Angeles.Jennifer Exley
Harrison Ford Sells Gerard Colcord-Designed House After 30 Years
''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

'', May 31, 2012 He was known as "Hollywood's society architect," designing traditional homes and shying away from Modernism.

Personal life

He resided in Encino, Los Angeles. He died on February 19, 1984, in Ventura County, California.

Bibliography

Secondary source

*Bret Parsons, ''Colcord: Home'' (Angel City Press, 2008)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colcord, Gerard 1900 births 1984 deaths Architects from St. Louis Architects from Los Angeles 20th-century American architects