Arizona State University Bachelor of Architecture 1968 California Architectural License and Studio established 1972.
Applebaum was influenced by architects Frank Lloyd Wright and John Lautner. He studied under architectural visionary Paolo Soleri and was mentored by Calvin.C. Straub FAIA, professor of the University of Southern California, Arizona State University Schools of Architecture. Mr. Straub was a famous Pasadena residential architect. Applebaum later befriended the late Cliff May, the master of the California Ranch House.
Taking the California Modern ideal of indoor-outdoor living in a highly individualized manner, Applebaum's timeless designs spring from Modernism's ideal of truth in function and materials. His Zen-like approach to the site respects nature. Believing that real architecture grows out of the land, he integrates his structures into the surroundings so that they blend harmoniously with the natural environment.
While his architectural style has been described as California Modernist , Applebaum's designs defy categorization. His elegant, stylish, sophisticated homes set the standard for contemporary California architecture. He has been called a designer of a "masterwork of drama" by Michael John Pittas, dean of the Parsons School of Design and creator of the quintessential San Diego home.
An Applebaum home takes on a sculptural form as cantilevered roof lines, clerestory glass and transparent roof lines come together. Exposed structural steel and wooden beams support soaring ceilings that appear to float in space. Natural wood, concrete block and large expanses of glass embrace the outdoors, creating a sense of freedom. Interior spaces open into one another, creating an intriguing interplay between light and shadow.