Constructed on the site of the 'Monastery', the former retreat of renowned conductor Leopold Stokowski, the new ultra-modern home fully employs the historic site's stunning views of the coastal foothills and Pacific Ocean. The new landscape design recycles original plants and materials to reinforce the site's importance as a cultural touchstone, and links the home to the site through transitional gardens, including an amphitheatre that descends into a garden anchored by ancient Olive trees originally designed by Lockwood de Forrest Jr.

Elements of the initial design included a viewing courtyard facing the rear slope of the property, a small kitchen terrace with a reconstructed fireplace, vegetable garden, a greenroof over the lower level garage, new courtyard entry, and reconstructed pathways. Efforts to incorporate historical elements of the site and landscape included relocation of two huge palm clusters and a specimen Oak tree, recycling of paving material into the new paths and protection of significant trees and the lower garden. Though not a visually significant element, a crumbling section of pink wall along the rear slope was identified in historical research as the ‘Garbo Wall’, and was noted to have been part of a fragrant garden where the actress sunbathed. The wall was kept in place and new fragrant plants were incorporated into the planting.