Frank A. Vanderlip, president of the National Bank of New York, hired Olmsted Brothers to help transform 16,000-acres of the rugged Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California into the “most fashionable and exclusive residential colony” in the nation. Framed by sweeping ocean views, Palos Verdes Estates was conceived as a series of planned communities, each with its own style.  

Olmsted Brothers’ work on Palos Verdes Estates spanned decades, starting in 1913 under John Charles Olmsted and finishing in the 1940s under Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. The project was so extensive that it spurred Olmsted Brothers to open their first West Coast office in 1922 and required principals Olmsted, Jr. (08046) and James Frederick Dawson (05950 00358) to live in the community while it was under design and construction. The firm took an interdisciplinary approach, calling on scientists, engineers, horticulturalists and other professionals to help navigate the steep terrain and Mediterranean climate, which was different from projects designed by the firm in other parts of the United States. The resulting design married beauty and utility.  

Palos Verdes Estates comprised approximately 3,200 acres divided into four districts: Valmonte District on the northeast, the Malaga Cove District on the west, the Lunada Bay District on the south and the Miraleste District to the southeast, overlooking the Los Angeles Harbor. Each district was home to its own schools, commercial and civic areas and a combination of modest and luxury homes.   

Swaths of green spaces linked Palos Verdes Estates’ communities together. The open space served as a social amenity, but it also employed a critical design function in managing stormwater runoff. At the time, it was the largest unirrigated development in the country. Curvilinear roads were used to avoid damaging the rocky terrain, and homes were terraced into the steep grade to protect them from hillside erosion.  

Restrictive covenants were put in place to control development and maintain aesthetics. Under Vanderlip, the Art Jury was developed to preserve community character and ensure upkeep.  

Today, Palos Verdes Estates is one of the wealthiest communities in the nation, known for its ocean-front properties and beloved trails. The Palos Verdes Homes Association and the Art Jury continue to oversee architectural integrity and landscaping across the city.  

Malaga Cove Plaza Library and Farnham Martin’s Park, which adjoins the Library Building, were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and 1996, respectively. In 2021, Malaga Cove Plaza was also listed.  

The area increasingly faces climate-related issues, such as bluff erosion and invasive eucalyptus. Landslides occur sporadically. Olmsted, Jr.’s home was razed after an earthquake caused significant damage to the bluff and compromised the safety of the house.