A.E. Hanson: Calendar landscaping (Los Angeles, Calif.)
The Harry Calendar garden, in the Windsor Square neighborhood in Los Angeles, was one of Hanson's first landscape architecture commissions. In the images above, the bird house holds a spotlight to highlight the lily pond. The colonial style pergola anchors the far end of the garden with statuary.
A.E. Hanson, landscape architect Frederick Martin, photographer
A. E. Hanson papers, Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara
Architecture and Design Collection. Art, Design & Architecture Museum; University of California, Santa Barbara
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A.E. Hanson: Cochran landscaping (Los Angeles, Calif.)
George Cochran, head of Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company, commissioned Hanson to create a garden on his multi-lot estate between Hobart and Harvard streets in Los Angeles. A long, narrow garden was created, with fully-grown trees brought in to complete the landscape vision.
These two images of Hanson show him at different points in his career. The first one from circa 1927 shows him while he was working on his most famous project, the Harold Lloyd estate. The second image shows Hanson as a well established land developer, circa 1955.
A.E. Hanson: Johnson landscaping (Montecito, Calif.)
For the Kirk Johnson landscaping project, Hanson was introduced to the Johnson's by the architect of the house, George Washington Smith. The 8-acre property already contained many mature oak and cypress trees; Hanson utilized the existing trees to frame different garden 'rooms' and to highlight the natural landscape.
A.E. Hanson, landscape architect George Washington Smith, architect Fredrick Dapprich, photographer Wayne McCall, photographer
A.E. Hanson: Hanson landscaping (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Hanson designed this landscape for the backyard of his own home in Westlake, Calif. The design shows how a sculpted landscape can fit into a smaller suburban yard.
A.E. Hanson: Murphy landscaping (Los Angeles, Calif.)
For the Mrs. Dan Murphy garden, Hanson worked with architect Lutah Maria Riggs on the overall design for the landscape. Hanson had worked with Riggs previously on the Johnson estate in Montecito. The garden design was based on an Italian garden, since the Murphy's had two Italian temples reconstructed on the extensive estate grounds.
A.E. Hanson, landscape architect Fredrick Dapprich, photographer Wayne McCall, photographer Lutah Maria Riggs, architect
A.E. Hanson: Young landscaping (Pasadena, Calif.)
George Washington Smith designed the home for Archibald Young in the Andalusian style. Hanson complimented this style with a similar landscaping, by utilizing various fountains and water features to highlight the design.
A.E. Hanson, landscape architect George Washington Smith, architect
A.E. Hanson: Lloyd landscaping (Beverly Hills, Calif.)
The Harold Lloyd estate, also known as Green Acres, was a 15-acre property with golf course, swimming pool, 900 foot long canoe racing area, handball court, and many additional outbuildings and features. Hanson designed all of the landscape features, and worked with architect Sumner Spaulding on the placement of the Tuscany-style house on the grounds. Harold Lloyd was a very famous actor and producer in the 1920s, but whose fortunes declined over the years; he lived in the house until he died in 1971. The estate was then subdivided into multiple lots and sold off.
A.E. Hanson, landscape architect Sumner Spaulding, architect