Robert R. Jones

Robert R. Jones was an American architect in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California best known for his Modern architecture. Jones designed numerous residences and commercial buildings in the Monterey Peninsula. In the post-war period, he emerged as a prominent figure among architects and designers who played a pivotal role in shaping Carmel's modernist landscape from the middle 20th century onward. His was known for his design aesthetic that was a Modern architecture-style, combined with elements from the Second Bay Tradition. His creation, the Monterey Airport Administration building, was honored with a design award by the Smithsonian Institution.

Early life
Jones was educated at the University of California, Berkeley from 1928 to 1932. He married Elizabeth Thelma Peat on January 17, 1936, in Berkeley, California.

Professional background
Jones started his career, as part of the Economic Recovery act of 1934, as a draftsman under the tutelage of San Francisco architect Eldridge T. Spencer from 1934 to 1936. Jones then moved to the Monterey Peninsula in 1936 and worked as a designer for Robert Stanton at Stanton's office located at the Hotel Del Monte in Monterey, from 1938 to 1939. In 1939, Jones launched his own architectural practice in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Within the Monterey Peninsula, his architectural firm undertook the design of 27 canneries and reduction plants, as well as the creation of public structures in Carmel and Pacific Grove. Among these projects was an extension to the Pacific Grove Library. During World War II he designed architectural plans for wartime housing as well as Federal Housing Administration (FHA) apartments. As World War II drew to a close, Jones established supplementary offices in Merced, California, and Oxnard, California.

In 1951, Jones was extended an invitation to participate in a display of American residences at the international 7th Pan American Congress of Architects exhibition held in Munich, Germany. This exhibition showcased murals portraying two Jones-designed landmarks, Casa Munras and the Carmel Valley Inn. These structures were seen as exemplary American illustrations of "beautiful, healthy, and pleasant places for rest and recreation."

Jones was a member of the Monterey County Planning Commission (1945), Elks Club (1946), director of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Rotary Club (1952–1954), and member of the Monterey Bay Chapter (1954).

Among his portfolio, notable buildings include the Monterey Regional Airport, Carmel Valley Inn, Casa Munras hotel, and the Aeneas Sardine Packing Company in Cannery Row, Monterey. Jones was also instrumental in renovating the Saticoy Country Club and played a pivotal role in the Martin V. Smith projects, including the Colonial House restaurant and Wagon Wheel in Oxnard.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the Doud Building situated at the southwest corner of Ocean Avenue and Mission Street in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, provided a workspace for Jones. Furthermore, he designed the Elk Lodge in Monterey. Within Carmel, he designed both the All Saints Episcopal Church and the Carmel Youth Center. Jones designed numerous residences in the area as well, where he developed a signature modern style flat-roofed structures.

Cheek House
The 848 sqft M.A. Cheek House, constructed in 1940, is located on Casanova Street 5 SW of 9th Avenue. It is one of Jones' initial ventures into architecture. The house is an example of the Minimal Traditional architectural style, which gained prominence as a response to the 1934 FHA Loan program. This initiative prompted the promotion of modest, uncomplicated home designs. The Cheek House deviates from Jones' adherence to Modern architecture principles. Due to this deviation and changes made to the windows, the Carmel Context Statement, the Carmel Historic Preservation Ordinance, and historical records collectively do not endorse the M.A. Cheek House's qualification for inclusion in the Carmel Historic Inventory.

Fee Building
The two-story Fee Building was established for owner William P. Fee, in 1935 as a mixed-use retail shop and residence, located on Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Street in Carmel-by-the-Sea, next to the Harrison Memorial Library. The Spanish Colonial-style building construction cost in 1935 was $8,000 (equivalent to $ in 2023). In 1940, Jones designed the upstairs rear addition for $750.

Harrison Memorial Library
The Harrison Memorial Library opened on March 31, 1928, in a two-story wood-framed building on the corner of Ocean Avenue and Lincoln Street, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. A $40,000 (equivalent to $ in 2023) modernization was done in 1949 by Jones.

Carmel Youth Center
In October 1949, the Carmel Youth Center was established. Jones designed the center, and construction commenced later that year. The concept for the Youth Center was initiated by Bing Crosby, who resided in Pebble Beach, California at the time. Crosby's efforts led to the establishment of more than 200 private non-profit youth centers nationwide.

Monterey Regional Airport
After World War II, architect Walter Burde embarked on his independent architectural practice in 1950. During this period, he served as the chief designer under Jones's guidance, contributing to the design of numerous structures at the Monterey Regional Airport (MRY). In recognition of their work, Jones's architectural firm received an award for their airport design in 1950.

His modernist design, particularly evident in the Monterey Airport Administration Building, earned him a design award bestowed by the Smithsonian Institution. The Smithsonian considered the design of the airport as "finest small airport in the world."

All Saints Episcopal Church
On September 6, 1946, Mayor Frederick M. Godwin and the city council purchased the All Saints Episcopal Church building and two vacant lots for a permanent Carmel City Hall for $40,000. < Following the sale of the All Saints Church in 1946, a new place of worship emerged on Dolores Street and 9th Avenue, designed by Jones. Completed in 1951, the church showcased a blend of traditional and modern elements, crafted from Carmel stone and redwood. It was featured in the Architect and Engineer magazine the following year. Jones's expertise continued to shape the church's development, and in 1960, he added a 5,360 sqft addition encircling a patio. This expansion encompassed three Sunday school rooms, three offices, a multi-purpose room, and a quaint assembly area known as Grant Hall.

Pierpont Inn
The historic American Craftsman Pierpont Inn built in 1910 and located in Ventura, California was modernized by Ted Gleichmann in the 1950s. Jones designed the Mid-century modern Mattie Gleichmann House (50's Flat) in 1953 and the two-story East Wing in 1957–58. The Inn is Ventura Historic Landmark No. 80.

Doud Arcade building
Real estate developer James Cooper Doud built The Doud Arcade, a two-story commercial building built in 1961 in downtown Carmel. Plans were submitted to the Carmel planning commissioners by Jones in September 1960. Plans included half of the acade be floored with tan and brown tile. All tile is subdued hue falence type, "earth colors."

Other buildings
The Margery Lynch House is a 4055 sqft house on the NW corner Monte Verde and Santa Lucia. It was built in 1941 and designed by Jones. Lynch resided in San Francisco and utilized the house as a vacation retreat.

Jones was the architect that designed the three-story Aeneas Sardine Packing Company, located at 300 Cannery Row. It was built in 1945 and closed in 1952 because of the scarcity of fish in Monterey.

The Carmel Valley Inn built in 1946 at 102 West Carmel Valley Road, was designed by Jones as one continuous structure of angling wings. It was built just after World War II.

Jones designed the post-World War II two-story commercial building located on 6th Avenue, 3SE of Monte Verde Street, featuring the architectural style of Second Bay Tradition. The building housed an art gallery on its ground floor.

Jones designed the "Sea Ridge" house location at 3141 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. The Mid-Century Modern 3068 sqft residence has five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Crafted to maximize its surroundings, the home and its accompanying cottage have west-facing windows that unveil unrestricted panoramas encompassing the Pacific Ocean, the Cypress Point Golf Course, the Fan Shell Beach, and the Monterey Peninsula Country Club.

In 1958, architect Marcel Sedletzky made the decision to leave Victor Gruen Associates and join the Jones architectural firm in Carmel-by-the-Sea, to be closer to his mother, whose second husband was an instructor of Russian at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey.