Eugene Weston III

Gene Weston was born in Hollywood, the son of a Los Angeles architect, who had worked for Bertram Goodhue in 1923, and nephew to Joseph Weston also an architect. These two, in the mid 1930s, formed a company to design and manufacture factory-built houses, way ahead of their time.

In the 1930s the family moved to La Canada, where Gene attended Pasadena schools. Following World War II, Gene studied to become an industrial designer at the Art Center, where he also met fellow student Wanda Debes who he later married.

Following graduation, Gene worked for his father's architectural firm and later for Alvin Lustig, where he prepared residential working drawings for a building contractor client. Following his employment with Lustig, Gene worked alongside Douglas Byles for Smith & Williams Architects (ca. 1946-7). Gene & Doug left the firm at the same time to open Byles & Weston, a design / build firm. Both became General Contractors, and built a number of houses for clients and some on spec, in and around the Pasadena area. One home was for Bob Smith, Whitney Smith's brother, another was a spec house in Altadena (next door to Cal Straub's home whom Doug had studied under at USC) as well as several spec houses in La Crescenta. The latter were for a builder, who was Lustig's earlier client, for whom Gene had prepared drawings for the Lustig- designed house, that was never built.

According to Gene, “Bill Rudolph (Byles, Weston & Rudolph) worked for Doug and I for a relatively short period of time on some of our promo work. We added Bill's name even though he didn't actually participate.” Weston added, “Doug & I obtained General Contractors Licenses, to make it legal to design & build. A little later Doug got his Architectural License (he had graduated from USC School of Architecture just before joining Smith & Williams).”

While in La Canada, Gene designed and built three houses for his family - after Byles & Weston split up he continued to design/build for clients and speculation in the area.

In 1956, the Westons moved to La Jolla, and proceeded to design/build for both clients and speculation. Later when the San Diego real estate market slowed down, he approached Fred Liebhardt for a job, having met Fred years earlier while visiting a friend at Taliesin West.

Between 1950-1960 the firm was solely owned and run by Frederick Liebhardt. Gene was hired in (1958) which evolved into the partnership of Liebhardt & Weston (1960-1965), which later changed to Liebhardt Weston and Associates (1965-1967). In 1961, Gene obtained his Architectural License.

Don Goldman, a noted designer in his own right, later became a partner in Liebhardt &,Weston and Goldman (1967-1976). When Goldman left the firm, the partnership changed back to Liebhardt Weston and Associates (1976-1990). Following Mr. Weston's retirement, Bob Botton joined Fred as partner in Liebhardt, Botton and Associates (1990-1991).

Between 1974-1984 a number of animal-oriented projects were designed by Animal People Environments, a joint venture of Liebhardt, Weston and Associates (LWA), Charles Faust, Dr. James Dolan and Barry Upson all of whom worked for the San Diego Zoo, Upson later went to work for Universal Studios which was LWA's opening to design a number of "sets" for the Universal tours in both L.A. and Florida.

During this same period LWA started an extensive program of remodeling and refurbishing the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club facilities as well as the co-owned Sea Lodge Hotel & Restaurant, also remodeling & additions. LWA provided architectural services and Wanda Weston handled the Interiors where required. After leaving LWA in 1990, Gene & Wanda moved to The Sea Ranch in northern California. Another house was built there and Gene became involved in the long range planning committee for The Sea Ranch Association. In 2000, he started the Archive Committee, collecting and organizing material on Sea Ranch. In 2003, Gene and Wanda moved to Santa Barbara

Partial List of Projects

Anthony’s Fish Grotto (1965)
Harbor Drive
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Bilderback, Norman Residence (1953)
Eagle Rock
*By Eugene Weston III

Biology Building - Building 2B (1969)
UC San Diego Muir College
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Bishop Residence (1967)
Laguna Seca
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Brennan, Mike & Gertrude Residence (1960)
Camino De La Costa
*By Liebhardt & Weston

British Overseas Airways Corp (B.O.A.C.) Ticket Sales Office Remodel (1961)
US Grant Hotel
*By Liebhardt & Weston

Cardiac Catheterization (1967)
UC San Diego Medical Center
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Cluster Gymnasium, Natatorium and Playing Fields. (1966)
UC San Diego
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Cochrane Residence Remodel (1968)
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Contemporary Enterprises, Inc. Residence (1957)
8794 (or 8734) Dunaway Drive, La Jolla
*Designed by Frederick Liebhardt; remodeled by Liebhardt, Weston & Associates in 1965-66; I have attributed to this address after driving around the area with Eugene Weston in the early 2000s.

Crabtree, Dr. Hodge N. Residence (1962)
4521 Trias Street
*By Liebhardt & Weston

Crabtree Apartments (1967)
Pacific Beach
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Dade County Zoo Study (1965)
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Dunne, Brian and Gloria Residence (1961)
7241 Rue Michael
*By Liebhardt & Weston

DuPont, Charles Residence (1962)
4545 North Lane
*By Liebhardt & Weston

Ennis House (1952)
Eagle Rock
*By Douglas Byles and Eugene Weston III as Byles & Weston

Feher Residence (1960)
2710 Bordeaux Street
*By Liebhardt & Weston

Fischer Residence (1957)
1966 Lucile Avenue, Los Angeles
*Atttibution

Graham Apartments Project (1954)
Pasadena
*By Eugene Weston III

Harris Apartments (1963)
Liebhardt & Weston
*Unbuilt

Harris Offices & Bank Building (1969)
Downtown San Diego
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Humanities & Classroom Bldg. (1975)
San Diego State University
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Intensive & Special Care (1968)
University Hospital, San Diego
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Islandia Hotel & Restaurant (1961)
1441 Quivira Road
*By Liebhardt & Weston

Kenneth Way Spec House (1950)
Possibly located at 1611 Kenneth Way, Pasadena
*By Douglas Byles and Eugene Weston III as Byles & Weston

La Jolla Country Day School (1961)
9490 Genesee Avenue
*By Liebhardt & Weston

La Jolla Country Day School Gymnasium (1963)
9490 Genesee Avenue
*By Liebhardt & Weston

La Jolla Country Day School Master Plan Revision (1965)
9490 Genesee Avenue
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

La Jolla Country Day School Classroom Additions (1965)
9490 Genesee Avenue
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

La Jolla Country Day School Library & Playing Fields (1967)
9490 Genesee Avenue
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

La Jolla Country Day School Science Addition (1969)
9490 Genesee Avenue
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Lanaut Medical Building (1965)
528 Nautilus
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

La Jolla Methodist Church (1968)
6063 La Jolla Blvd
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Liebhardt Residence Remodel (1969)
7224 Carrizo Drive
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Lodge Residence (1967)
Pala
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Lyceum Theatre (1986)
Horton Plaza
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Marine Biology (1974)
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Marine Research Library (1976)
Scripps Institute of Oceanography
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Miller Apartments (1965)
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Mira Costa Community College (1989)
San Elijo Campus
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Mira Costa College Gymnasium Addition (1978)
Barnard Drive, San Diego
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Mira Costa College Little Theatre (1980)
Barnard Drive
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Monsees Professional Building Addition (1965)
Liebhardt & Weston office expansion
407 Via Del Norte, La Jolla
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Muir College Recreation Gym (1972)
UC San Diego
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Northwest YMCA Gym (1967)
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Ocean Science Detection Systems Laboratory (1986)
NOSC, Point Loma
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Old Globe Theatre (1982)
Balboa Park
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Old Globe Theatre Festival Stage (1987)
Balboa Park
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Page Residence (1964)
*By Liebhardt & Weston

Pearson House (1953)
1690 Kaweah Drive, Pasadena
*By Douglas Byles and Eugene Weston III as Byles & Weston

Quivira Basin Office Building (1962)
*By Liebhardt & Weston

Ragone Residence Remodel (1964)
*By Liebhardt & Weston

Richter, Armin Spec. Bldg. - Dean Marshall Interiors ( (1955)
5759 La Jolla Boulevard
*By Douglas Byles and Eugene Weston III as Byles & Weston

Rich, Palmer O. Residence (1958)
1050 La Jolla Rancho Road
*By Eugene Weston III

Roberts, John D. Residence (1951)
Malibu
*By Eugene Weston III

Roberts, Jack Residence (Addition) (1954)
Malibu
*By Eugene Weston III

Roberts Residence Remodel/ Deck Additions (1963)
Malibu
*By Liebhardt & Weston

San Diego Wild Animal Park (1973)
San Pasqual Valley
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

San Diego Yacht Club House (1963)
San Diego Bay
*By Liebhardt & Weston

San Diego Yacht Club Locker Building (1967)
San Diego Harbor
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

San Diego Zoo - Food Service Addition & Staff Dining Room (1967)
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

San Diego Zoo Film Stand (1968)
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Saunders, George & Alice Residence (1991)
3115 Tennyson
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Sea Lodge Hotel & Restaurant (1969)
Camino Del Oro, La Jolla
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Sease, Victor Spec Houses (1951)
2-3 houses built in a row, Tujunga
*By Douglas Byles and Eugene Weston III as Byles & Weston

Sease, Victor Hillside Spec House (1953)
Tujunga
*By Douglas Byles and Eugene Weston III as Byles & Weston

Smith, Robert Residence (1950)
320 San Miguel Road, Pasadena
*By Douglas Byles and Eugene Weston III as Byles & Weston

Soloman Residence (1955)
Pacific Palisades / Santa Monica
*By Eugene Weston III

Spec House #1 (1993)
7242 Romero Drive
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Spec House #2 (1993)
7226 Romero Drive
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Spec House #3 (1993)
7220 Romero Drive
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Spec House #4 (1993)
7212 Romero Drive
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Steel House Project (1949)
Unbuilt
*By Eugene Weston III

System Science & Software (1971)
Sorrento Valley Rd.
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Theater in the Round Project (1951)
La Canada
Unbuilt
*By Eugene Weston III

United States Naval Hospital Barracks (1968)
Balboa Park
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Goldman

Warren College Lecture Hall & Literature Bldg. (1988)
UC San Diego
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Webb Residence (1959)
Carmel
*By Eugene Weston III

Welsh Residence – Alteration & Addition (1964)
*By Liebhardt & Weston

Weston, Eugene Jr. Residence (1951)
Pasadena
*By Eugene Weston III

Weston, Eugene III Residence “StoneGlen I” (1949)
La Canada
*By Eugene Weston III

Weston, Eugene Residence #3 “StoneGlen 2” (1951)
La Canada
*By Eugene Weston III

Weston, Eugene III Residence (1955)
Santa Inez / La Canada
*By Eugene Weston III

Weston Spec House #1 (1957)
1440 Deer Hill
*By Eugene Weston III

Weston Spec House #2 (1957)
1817 Deer Hill Drive
*By Eugene Weston III

Wiley, Nevin Residence (1963)
4325 North Lane
*By Liebhardt & Weston
*Winner of House of the Year, Architectural Record Magazine in 1965

Wilkey, Roscoe Residence (1963)
2750 Bordeaux Street
*By Liebhardt & Weston

Women’s PE & Locker Building (1965)
San Diego State College
*By Liebhardt, Weston & Associates

Gene designed a line of furniture prior to moving to San Diego. "It was
around 1950... I was partially inspired by Stan Hawk who had a barbecue
designed by Whitney Smith. It was called the Hawk Brazier... I came up
with a stacking stool about 10" high & 13" in diameter, on 3 legs. A
triangle piece of canvas was the seat. The Hawks used these stools in
some of their promotional brochures. Other pieces were also in the line.
A company called Modern Color, bought the line from me, but it didn't
go over too well. Most of these items were made by a metal worker in a
one-man shop in Pasadena, a few were made by Brown Jordan who had a
small factory in Pasadena at that time," Gene recalled

From the Modern Color Inc. catalog circa 1950

Good Design Group - Designer: Weston

S-10 Stool. 12 in. high, 14 in. diameter. Canvas diaper top. Orders of 12 or more $4.25. $4.75 in smaller quantity, plus $1.00 packing charge. Canvas color selection: Terra cott, bottle green, cocoa, black, white, turquoise, yellow.

S-12 Stool. 18 in. high, 14 in. diameter. Canvas diaper top in selection of above colors. Black or white metal. Price same as S-10.

T-12 Table. Round table, indoor-outdoor. Translucent glass or plywood (red birch or mahogany). 24. in. diameter. Black or white metal. $9.75 quantities of six or more. $10.75 in smaller quantities, plus $1.00 packing charge.

T-14 Table. 24 in. square. Plywood selection, red birch or mahogany. Black or white metal. $9.75 quantities of six or more. $10.75 in smaller quantities, plus $1.00 packing charge.

Also in 1950, Gene designed the covers for March and June issues of Arts & Architecture.