Occupation Architect | Name James Dolena | |
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Died June 12, 1978, Los Angeles County, California, United States | ||
James Dolena (1888-1978) was a Russian-born American architect.
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Early life
He was born in Russia on May 17, 1888. He emigrated to the United States in 1905. He was trained as an architect and a painter.
Career
He first moved to Los Angeles to install a mural with Hubert Valentine Fanshaw, and spent the rest of his career there.
In 1926, he designed the private residence of silent actor Hobart Bosworth (1867-1943), a 3.2-acre mansion located at 809 North Hillcrest Road in Beverly Hills, California. The interiors were designed by William Haines (1900-1973) and the landscape by Benjamin Martin Purdy. In 1933, it was purchased by William Powell (1892-1984) and Carole Lombard (1908-1942), and the following year, Dolena redesigned it. In 1969, it became the home of producer Albert R. Broccoli (1909-1996). Since 2005, it has been owned by interior designer Kelly Wearstler (born 1967).
In 1931, he designed the Garden Apartment and Retail Shop, an apartment house in Westwood, Los Angeles. The following year, in 1932, he designed the private residence of film director Richard Wallace in Bel Air, Los Angeles. Later in 1932, he designed the private residence of actress Constance Bennett (1904-1965) in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles. In 1936, he designed the home of Ingle Barr (1880-1969), a renowned book collector, in Beverly Hills, California. From 1934 to 1937, he designed the Farmers Market in the Fairfax District, Los Angeles.
From 1937 to 1939, he designed Casa Encantada located at 10644 Bellagio Road in Bel Air, Los Angeles for Hilda Boldt Weber, heiress to the Charles Boldt Glass Co.. The interiors and furniture were designed by T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings (1905–1976). It spans 8.4 acres and has sixty-four rooms. In 1950, hotelier Conrad Hilton (1887-1979) purchased it for US$225,000. He sold it to David H. Murdock (born 1923) for US$12.4 million in 1979. Later, Gary Winnick (born 1948), the current owner, purchased it for US$94 million.
From 1937 to 1940, he designed the Boddy House for Manchester Boddy (1891–1967) on the grounds of Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge, California. In 1939, he designed the private residence of George Cukor (1899-1983). William Haines was the interior designer. The same year, he designed the house of Col. David L. Reeves in Santa Barbara, California. In 1940, he designed the B.T. Gate House in Brentwood, Los Angeles.
In 1949, he designed the Walt Disney Estate, a 5,669-square-foot, seventeen-room mansion, for Walt Disney (1901-1966) and his wife Lillian Disney (1899-1997) in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles.
Personal life
He lived in Brentwood, Los Angeles, in a house he designed in 1935.
Death
He died on June 12, 1978 in Los Angeles County, California.