James Rodney 'J.R.' Youngson

Architect Rodney "J.R." Youngson was born on April 23, 1932 in McCook, Nebraska prior to the family moving to Pasadena. Following graduation from Pasadena High School (1950), JR served in the US Army (through 1958) and secured his Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture at USC (1961).

One of Youngson's early jobs in San Diego was working alongside architects Stanley Livingstone and Henry Hester (during their partnership as Hester & Livingston between 1966-1969). Stanley would join JR as Yongson & Livingston.

Not long after his Youngson Residence (1967) was published in LA Times Home Magazine, JR launched The Youngson Company, Inc. to serve architecture and interior design and landscape clients.

Youngson was married to Sydney Ashton with whom he had two children – Blair Elizabeth and Mark Christopher.

Partial List of Projects

Barret, Hibbard & Co. Apartments (1967)
2300 Front Street, San Diego
*Attribution via San Diego Union (8/6/67)

Clairemont Medical-Dental Building (ca. 1971)
4295 Gesner Street, Bay Park
*by James Youngson and Stanley Livingston

Collwood Apartments (1969)
4885 Collwood Boulevard, San Diego
*82-units designed for Barret, Hibbard & Co.; now The Plaza Condominiums; attribution via San Diego Union (5/25/69)

Condominiums (1975)
265 Coast Boulevard

Hibbard Residence (1980)
7747 Whitefield Place, La Jolla
*Attribution by real estate listing in 2023

Pacific Villa Apartments AKA The Plaza (1969)
1801 Diamond Street, Pacific Beach
*500-units designed for Barret, Hibbard & Co.; now The Plaza Condominiums; attribution via San Diego Union (1/24/69)

Private Residence (1965)
1595 Coast Walk , La Jolla

Private Residence (1973)
7732 Lookout Drive, La Jolla

Private Residence (1966)
5979 Camino De La Costa, La Jolla
*Attribution via San Diego Union (4/18/65); was likely 6003 Avenida Cresta in the 1960s.

Weseloh Residence (1977)
2315 Via Cascabel, Escondido
*Attribution via original drawings

Willis Residence (ca. 1969)
La Jolla
*Attribution via San Diego Union (4/6/69)

Youngson Apartments (1966)
2922 Bayside Walk, Mission Beach
*5-unit apartments attributed via San Diego Union (12/9/65)

Youngson Apartments (1965)
2868 Bayside Walk, Mission Beach
*6-unit apartments attributed via San Diego Union (2/17/65)

Youngson, James Rodney "J.R." Residence (1967)
7722 Ludington Place, La Jolla
*Attribution via LA Times Home Magazine; earned an AIA Honor Award in 1968

Youngson House Remodel (1969-1970)
7762 Lookout Drive, La Jolla
*”East Indian bungalow with an Oriental tile roof, built in 1913”; Attribution via San Diego Union (4/21/69); remodel earned an AIA Honor Award in 1970.