Tuesday, December 5, 2017

It Is Now OK To Swim In The Italian Gardens Pool!

Condo/Apartment complex sitting on site of the former library building.


Construction on the former Ambassador College Campus has been going full steam ahead for a couple of years now.  Those who have been students, workers, or visiting church members would not recognize a lot of the property now.  However, there are still standouts from the past that are integrated into the new design plans.  One is the Italian Gardens, the formal sunken gardens that were part of the Academic Center, that are now central to the new multi-million dollar condo complex built around it.

New swimming pool in Italian Gardens. 
Elephant Ears fountain is still at the end of the pool.

Ambassador Gardens is a 70-unit luxury condominium project built amid historic mansions and gardens in four increments on the grounds of the former Ambassador College Estate on Orange Grove Ave, once known as Millionaire’s Row.  The City specifically recognized the rehabilitation of the Italian Gardens, originally built with the Merritt Mansion in 1908 and renovated by famed landscape architect Garrett Eckbo in the early 1960s.  During the design of the new development, the Italian Garden was transformed into the central community recreation center.  The shallow reflecting pool was reconstructed utilizing the historic tiles and transformed into a swimming pool, while otherwise retaining the historic features.  New pool toilets, pool equipment, and disabled access facilities were carefully inserted so as not to detract from the historic fabric and other features of the gardens which were restored to their former glory.  After more than a decade of abandonment, this beautiful asset has come back to life as the centerpiece of the estate.  The landscape was designed by C2 Collaborative and was completed by Peter Duarte of Studio PAD. 
Ambassador Gardens Recognized by the City of Pasadena

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

An opulent college run along abusive cult lines. Pharisee college.

David Rickman said...

Looks a whole lot better now than it did in the days of the Armstrong dynasty.

Anonymous said...

The city will recognize any floating turds in the pool as, 'Herbert W. Armstrong memorials"

Allen C. Dexter said...

I definitely miss that place. It was one of the most beautiful campuses of the 3 colleges.

James said...

Pasadena is turning a turd into a rib eye. Wonderful!

Allen C. Dexter said...

"I definitely miss that place. It was one of the most beautiful campuses of the 3 colleges."

Who is impersonating me? Unless I'm existing in two realities, I'm mystified. I did not write that. Yes, it brings back many memories, but saying I miss it is pure nonsense. I'm just glad to be shut of it. Whoever is writing this stuff may be getting a kick out of it, but I want to warn everybody that this is happening.

Unknown said...

Couldn't help but think of this classic scene from the movie "Caddy Shack" with Bill Murray cleaning the pool...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPxiXGr9nFM

( Highlight link, right click copy, and then paste into browser)

Anonymous said...

Allen, I was wondering about that comment saying Pasadena was one of the most beautiful campuses of the 3. Does that mean that the 2 others were also the most beautiful? or was it just bad writing? Anyway I thought it was strange that you would write something confusing as your writing is excellent generally. Or maybe it was an attempt at humor.......please own up, impersonating Allen person