Robert E. Jones

Robert E. "Bob" Jones, AIA was born in Lawton, Oklahoma in 1930 and moved to Los Angeles in 1939. Following his graduation from high school (in 1948), he earned first place in the Illuminating Engineers Design Competition. Jones graduated from USC's School of Architecture in 1955 followed by serving as an architect in the US Air Force. Jones' architecture license was granted in 1959.

In part, working as an associate for Deems-Martin, Associates, early on, established a foundation for his design work throughout San Diego. Joining the cadre of progressive architects in San Diego, Jones would become quickly recognized for his Case Study House inspired buildings around San Diego. According to one family member, he may have been involved in some capacity with Edward Killingsworth’s La Jolla Case Study Triad.

Between several partnerships, and a stint in Ward Deems' office (circa 1960-61), Mr. Jones would, on his own, design a number of residential and commercial projects including his own office and three homes for his family. During the early 1960s, Jones partnered with Henry Hester on a number of distinguished projects including their Horizon Home design and Jones’ first home for his family on Balboa Avenue in Del Mar.

Of Jones Residence #1, one of his children remarked, “The house was pretty miraculous [as] it was built on a bad lot… [and] he didn't remove any of the trees because most were…old Torrey Pines, so he designed the house around them. John Lloyd Wright went down to the Building Review meeting [with Bob] to defend the design.” Jones hired local building contractor Herb Turner to build the cantilevered structure overlooking Bill Lewis’ (of Deems-Lewis) residence. Joe Yamada, San Diego’s top landscape architect of the era, designed the house’s surroundings as he did for other Jones projects.

Following his work with Hester, Jones and Associates (1962-64), Jones would launch Robert E. Jones, Architect (1964-67). In 1967 he would form the firm of Robert E. Jones & Edwin K. Hom. The partnership was dissolved in the mid-1970's along with Jones’ first marriage.

Following Jones & Hom, the architect joined in partnership with Iwao Koizumi (as Koizumi-Jones). Towards the end of his career, he also enjoyed short stints with Frank L. Hope and Tucson landscape architect Guy Greene. Following the dissolution of these partnerships, Bob ran his own practice Robert E. Jones, Architect until he passed away on May 22, 1992.

Jones' work received numerous awards including his inclusion in Who's Who in the World of Technology for his zero-lot-line patio homes and the first "lift slab house."

"In the 1950s, he worked with Lloyd Ruocco, another master of the disappearing box. Later he worked for Ward Wyatt Deems, designing the Crabtree Building (Third Avenue and A Street) with an outer wrap of gossamer screens that raised an ordinary building to high favor," wrote James Britton in 1980.

Partial List of Projects

Bahl Patio Homes(1972)
Sunnyvale
*Designed by Jones & Hom. Published in Home Building July, 1972

Bardoccos Residence (1974)
493 West Ocean View Avenue, Del Mar
*Photographed by Julius Shulman

Bruck, Clarence Residence (1965)
2302 Rue Adriane, La Jolla
*AIA San Diego - Award of Honor (1966). Demolished circa 1987.

Busch, Max L. Residence (1963)
2412 Ocean Front, Del Mar
*Designed by Jones & Hom. Received a First Honor Award

Calabasas Park Lakeview Homes (1968)
Los Angeles County

Casitas Capistrano (circa 1970s)
San Juan Capistrano

Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints (circa 1970s)
Encinitas

Ciudad Capistrano (1967)
San Juan Capistrano

Club Circle (1965)
3134 Club Circle East, Borrego Springs

Colony Park Homes (1967)
Westlake Village, CA
*Billed as a “Successful walled-lot subdivision” for Harlan Lee by Jones & Hom

Condominiums (ca. 1970s)
1250 Cave Street, La Jolla

Crabtree Office Building (1961)
3rd Avenue and A Street
*Jones served his employer Deems Lewis as its Project Architect. Honor Award, AIA San Diego Chapter

Dormitories (circa 1980s)
UC San Diego
*Designed by Jones and Manuel Rosen

Harbor, Hunt Residence (1967)
*Received an AIA Award of Merit

Horizon Home Contest Winner (1962)
2726 Angell Avenue, University City
*Designed by Hester & Jones; Attribution through Julius Shulman archive and San Diego Union in late 1962

Hughes, Charlie Residence (1963)
2608 Angell Avenue, University City
*Attribution by original owners of Horizon Home; reportedly based on the Horizon Home design

Huntington Beach (1967)
*Designed by Jones & Hom. “Successful walled-lot subdivision” for Deane Brothers

Johnson, Payne Residence (1962)
664 Rimini Road, Del Mar
*Designed by Hester-Jones & Associates, AIA. Built by Herb Turner. Published in LA Times Home on April 19, 1964

Jones, Robert E. Residence #1 (1962)
2041 Balboa, Del Mar
*Designed by Hester, Jones and Associates. Award of Excellence, AIA San Diego Chapter (1962). Published in Architectural Records' "Record Houses 1963." Built by Herb Turner.

Jones Residence #2 (1973)
1997 Zapo, Del Mar

Kelts Residence (ca. 1976)
*Photographed by Julius Shulman

Library (circa 1960s)
UC San Diego
*Possibly Galbraith Hall alongside Deems Lewis

Office Building (1974)
1245 Roslyn Lane, La Jolla

Parker, Mr. & Mrs. John Parker (ca. 1979)
*Published as located at 172 Torrey Pines Terrace. This may be the second owners of the Bardoccos Residence

San Carlos Fire Station (1963-64)
6565 Cowles Mt. Road
*A radical departure from fire station design, this purist post and beam design with glass infill forces the fire engines to appear as shop-window mannequins on display.

Stroll, Avrum & Mary Residence (1969)
1750 Valdes Drive, La Jolla

Sunnyvale Mercantile Built House (1969)
*Received an Award of Merit