Veteran Architect Jan Van Tilburg Evaluates Los Angeles

"Well-constructed design guidelines are very helpful to practitioners like myself to lay out a pattern for the project. The rules should be simple: no parking allowed on the street—put it on the back of the lot; windows and entrances to buildings should be on the street."

"My dream was to create an urban housing firm. I went through the suburbs to do the work there—as we all did and had to do. But when I had the opportunity, I always wanted the urban work. And on my own, as a small-time developer developing small projects, I have done that. In Santa Monica I built four buildings, and I am very proud of them. Now, I am finding that many other firms would like to pursue my dream of doing urban housing at mid-rise and high-rise level. Our firm is still expanding. We purchased a building in Santa Monica. There are five partners in our firm; it is a multiple-principal firm. It’s not just my work anymore, because Navy Banvard and Gustaf Soderbergh are taking stronger positions in the firm."

"From extensive traveling and my personal experience, I am comfortable saying that L.A.’s townhouses, flats, open space location—just quality of life— are at the forefront. Now our cities and communities just have to stay at it—continue to work at it."