![The Via Del Rey House
was built in 1971 in South
Pasadena; the inside is just
over 510 m2. Ernest
A. Vargas, the original client
who still lives in the home
today, recounts: “Jim was
not the kind of guy to follow
tradition for the sake of
tradition. He thought: ‘Why
have a Lamborghini in your
garage if you could have it in
your living room?’” The Via Del Rey House
was built in 1971 in South
Pasadena; the inside is just
over 510 m2. Ernest
A. Vargas, the original client
who still lives in the home
today, recounts: “Jim was
not the kind of guy to follow
tradition for the sake of
tradition. He thought: ‘Why
have a Lamborghini in your
garage if you could have it in
your living room?’”](/content/dam/domusweb/en/architecture/2012/01/26/the-maverick-modernism-of-james-walter/big_372390_4455_DO1201190021.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
![James Walter in
front of the portable toilet he
designed for the construction
sites of his buildings. Photo courtesy of Laura Walter James Walter in
front of the portable toilet he
designed for the construction
sites of his buildings. Photo courtesy of Laura Walter](/content/dam/domusweb/en/architecture/2012/01/26/the-maverick-modernism-of-james-walter/big_372390_2518_DO1201190151.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
I don’t use the word ‘easy’. Nothing I’ve ever done has been easy. I march to the beat of my own drummer
![Via del Rey House Via del Rey House](/content/dam/domusweb/en/architecture/2012/01/26/the-maverick-modernism-of-james-walter/big_372390_9358_DO1201190121.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
![Built in 1967 in South
Pasadena for Doreen
and Geoffrey Siodmak,
La Fremontia House has
a floor area of 204 m2 and
a garden of 65 m2. In 1969
the house appeared in the Los
Angeles Times Home Magazine
with pictures by Leland
Y. Lee and an article by Barbara
Lenox, who described it
as “an open residential plan
with exceptional privacy” Built in 1967 in South
Pasadena for Doreen
and Geoffrey Siodmak,
La Fremontia House has
a floor area of 204 m2 and
a garden of 65 m2. In 1969
the house appeared in the Los
Angeles Times Home Magazine
with pictures by Leland
Y. Lee and an article by Barbara
Lenox, who described it
as “an open residential plan
with exceptional privacy”](/content/dam/domusweb/en/architecture/2012/01/26/the-maverick-modernism-of-james-walter/big_372390_6675_DO1201190061.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
![A-Frame House. Photo Marvin Rand A-Frame House. Photo Marvin Rand](/content/dam/domusweb/en/architecture/2012/01/26/the-maverick-modernism-of-james-walter/big_372390_6993_DO1201190161.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
![A-Frame House. Photo Marvin Rand A-Frame House. Photo Marvin Rand](/content/dam/domusweb/en/architecture/2012/01/26/the-maverick-modernism-of-james-walter/big_372390_2087_DO1201190171.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
![La Fremontia House La Fremontia House](/content/dam/domusweb/en/architecture/2012/01/26/the-maverick-modernism-of-james-walter/big_372390_5222_DO1201190181.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
![Situated on a lush hillside,
the Nolden Home was built
in 1965. The loft-style interior
measuring 103 m2 offers
a panoramic view over the
terrace through a 3.6-m-high
glazed wall Situated on a lush hillside,
the Nolden Home was built
in 1965. The loft-style interior
measuring 103 m2 offers
a panoramic view over the
terrace through a 3.6-m-high
glazed wall](/content/dam/domusweb/en/architecture/2012/01/26/the-maverick-modernism-of-james-walter/big_372390_6809_DO1201190211.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
Graduate, Art Center School of Design, Los Angeles Industrial designer, architectural designer, builder, inventor-artist, writer, philosopher, photographer, furniture designer, graphics designer, designer of exotic clothing, automobile collector, illustrator, master craftsman, circus acrobat and aspiring helicopter pilot.
James Allen Walter discovered an interest in architecture while growing up in Ohio on a farm. Rearranging bales of hay up in the loft of the old tobacco barn, he created magic castles with hidden rooms and secret tunnels. This early imprint on his vivid imagination has inspired a wonderful sense of adventure into many of the various disciplines that still guide him into unchartered territories of exciting opportunity today.
![“You might need a
telescope, but the Nolden
Home does have an ocean
view,” gripped Walter with
the owners Jaime and Dana
Rummerfield “You might need a
telescope, but the Nolden
Home does have an ocean
view,” gripped Walter with
the owners Jaime and Dana
Rummerfield](/content/dam/domusweb/en/architecture/2012/01/26/the-maverick-modernism-of-james-walter/big_372390_4328_DO120119011bis1.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)
![the
Grandview property, James
Walter’s final project, was the
house that he designed and
built for himself. Work on site
began in 1987 and was still in
progress when Walter moved
into the house, remaining
incomplete even at the time of
his death in 2009, at the age
of 78. the
Grandview property, James
Walter’s final project, was the
house that he designed and
built for himself. Work on site
began in 1987 and was still in
progress when Walter moved
into the house, remaining
incomplete even at the time of
his death in 2009, at the age
of 78.](/content/dam/domusweb/en/architecture/2012/01/26/the-maverick-modernism-of-james-walter/big_372390_1611_DO1201190221.jpg.foto.rmedium.jpg)