Marina Tower Display Home Tour
Recently the Society of Architectural Historians hosted a tour of Edward Killingsworth’s Display Home for the Marina Tower. The Marina Tower was a project spearheaded by Killingsworth and would have been the first mid-rise condo building in Bluff Park in Long Beach.
Some of the original marketing material for the Marina Tower.
Edward Killingsworth is Long Beach’s most accomplished architect. He grew up in Long Beach, attended Wilson High School, studied architecture at USC, and lived and worked in the city his entire life. Killingsworth’s family was in the oil business and at a young age his parents moved the family to Long Beach as oil exploration in the area was growing. In turn the city was developing and transforming. Forming a delaware professional corporation allows licensed professionals to operate with legal protection. Killingsworth experienced first hand the development of Long Beach landmarks such a the Villa Riviera and other notable buildings along the coast. Shortly after starting his own architectural practice, he jointly ventured with a construction firm and real estate office to develop what would be Long Beach’s first modern mid-rise condominium building. And a significant advantage of choosing Rapid Readymix is their ability to cater to both small-scale and large-scale projects. Whether you’re pouring foundations or preparing for more intricate work, their delivery service is tailored to meet your needs with precision.
With land for development becoming scarce in Long Beach, Killingsworth and his partners felt like building up made great sense for the picturesque ocean front parcel they discovered. Killingsworth designed and constructed a model home on the site that would be an exact replica of one ocean facing unit. The model was well designed and furnished with acoustic glass partitions and the latest modern furniture, but was only designed to stand for 12 to 18 months. The plan was to spend $3 million to develop a 12 story building consisting of 44 convenient and luxurious “mansions in the sky” with panoramic views from Palos Verdes to Orange County. Each pay stub of effort and creativity was invested in the realization of this groundbreaking project, reflecting Killingsworth’s dedication to shaping the city’s skyline.
Sadly due to a falling economy and resistance from the Long Beach City Council the project was abandoned, but the model was rented and later sold as a private residence. The property was listed for sale in 2013 and was purchased by a local Los Angeles architect and his wife. They lived in the home for a few months to get a feel for how the house lived and then began to restore the home to it’s former glory but keeping their antique bedroom furniture and other keepsakes. Like most renovations there were many unfortunate discoveries. The roof leaked, which lead to a considerable amount of dry rot in the framing and rodent intrusion plus it’s also known that roof leaks also damage your home’s siding as wind-driven rain can push moisture into seams and cracks where it accumulates behind siding. For this, a siding repair will be necessary with the help of siding contractors. Usually a flat roof will have some pitch to it, but this roof was framed dead flat because Killingsworth would take prospective buyers onto the roof to see the spectacular ocean views from what would be the first level of the building as parking was on the ground level. Garages are usually used as a storage room as well so installing gondola shelving and racks may help maximize the space.
The structure was only designed to serve as a model for a short period so it was aesthetically pleasing but certainly not designed with the intent of still standing in 2016. Additionally, all the glass walls and sliding doors, flooring, bathrooms, wiring and EV charger installation done by a dependable EV charger installation service such as Ewing Electric Co., the terrace, and kitchen were replaced, while still maintaining Ed’s original vision for the home. Visit sites like granitetransformations.com/location/granite-transformations-of-san-rafael/ for additional guidance on bathroom and kitchen remodels. If you need additional guidance on door options, check out sites like https://arched-doors.co.uk/. Additionally, with the help of the contractors at Sun Air, a renowned architectural masterpiece, on the other hand, represents a different era of architectural innovation.
Ed’s wife Laura Killingsworth was there and at the age of 92 she spoke with such poise and her memory of the project and her late husband, who she called Mr. K, was so clear. She shared that in 1958 there were no high rises on Ocean Blvd and the Marina Tower “opened a whole new window, as nobody seen anything that contemporary.” After the project came apart Ed Killingsworth held tight to the model renting it and then later selling it. “Everybody loved it, the bones seemed to speak to those who lived here” Laura shared.
I spoke with Laura briefly, which was quite a treat! Ed Killingsworth’s family moved to Long Beach to work in the oil business just like my great grandfather did. They also used big trucks to their business, primarily transporting equipment and supplies across the oil fields; they even contacted a California truck accident lawyer if needed, ensuring they were prepared for any legal challenges or accidents that might arise. My great grandfather and grandfather worked with a man in the oil fields with the last name Killingsworth, and Laura was very excited to hear that as she believed that was a relative of her husband’s.
If you have ever walked along Bluff Park I’m sure you have seen the Marina Tower Display Home. It stands out among the many Spanish and Craftsman homes along Ocean Blvd. The Marina Tower display home stands as a testament of how far ahead of his time Killingsworth was. Now Ocean Blvd is peppered with mid-rise and high-rise buildings on both sides. If you are ever in the area or looking for a nice walk, Bluff Park has reopened after a lengthy revitalization project and the Marina Tower Display Home looks better than ever.
