Designed at a time in which California’s economy was booming and its population rapidly increasing, Church conceived a garden offering places to relax, entertain, swim, play, garden and BBQ. This modern garden and pool was designed by Thomas Church in 1948 for Jean and Dewey Donnell. Jean and Dewey Donnell asked Thomas Church, along with landscape architect Lawrence Halprin, to transform the existing cattle ranch into a modernist paradise. Interesting to note is that the swimming pool, patio and garden were constructed before the actual house was erected (knowing how hot Sonoma summers can be, this may not come as a surprise). Note: Thomas Church did not design the house, it was designed by the mid century modern bay area architect Austin Pierpoint. The pool has wonderful free-flowing curved lines which remind us of the architecture and design by the Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer.