The problem with old houses is just that—they’re old. So, while we’re indebted to our architectural past and enamored with the seeming simplicity of mid-century homes, the reality of rusted pipes, outdated electrical systems, and worn-out wood remains.
This is the dilemma that presented itself to David Gold when he came upon a masterwork of mid-century modernism by oft-overlooked architect Carl Maston. While Maston the man may have slipped under the radar, his body of work, consisting of over 100 structures, has left an indelible mark on Southern California. Maston’s unique solutions to structural issues and frequent use of concrete define many of his buildings, and the 1,600-square-foot Hillside House—often said to be his greatest accomplishment—is a prime example of both.
Also known as the St. Ives House for the street on which it sits, Hillside was designed by Maston in 1962 for his own family. The three-level house is sited on a steep slope. However, rather than level the land (a costly endeavor), Maston molded the house to fit the hill using concrete retaining walls that define the overall aesthetic of the home. This relatively simple but ingenious idea embodies (in the extreme) the tenet form follows function. The palette of concrete, wood, and glass created a house that was stunning to everyone except for one crucial party—Maston’s wife at the time.
Ray Kappe, founding director of the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) and a Maston protégé, says, “I think that house is the best work he’s ever done, but the family never lived in it.” Instead, they stayed in their Maston-designed home in Hollywood and put the Hillside House on the market. It sold quickly—and often: Maston’s masterwork changed owners three times before Gold happened upon it in 2002.
At that point, the home had been severely neglected and altered almost beyond recognition from the elegant photos from the ’60s splashed across the pages of magazines like Arts & Architecture and House Beautiful. In its place stood a structure whose defining characteristic—its clean concrete interiors—was clad in T1 panels or coated in paint. Here was a house whose original redwood ceilings and douglas fir exterior cladding were dying a slow death from neglect and whose concrete and hardwood floors had been tiled, painted, or varnished many times over.
But Gold was determined to uncover the beauty of the original and quickly retained Studio 0.10 Architects to get the restoration under way. However, returning the home to its original glory was not the only goal—Gold and project architects Andrew Liang and Li Wen wanted the house to function well in a world that had changed drastically since 1962. Now, after three years of careful modernization, restoration, and renovation, the pristine home is perfectly suited for Gold, and in such a good state that perhaps even Mrs. Maston would approve.
2 / Maston attended the University of Southern California from 1932 to 1937, where he had trouble deciding whether to pursue the piano or design. During his senior year, he finally chose architecture.
3 / After graduating, Maston worked with Floyd Rible, A. Quincy Jones, Fred Emmons, Phil Daniel, and Arthur Mann at Allied Architects before setting off on his own.
4 / Maston served in the Air Force in World War II from 1942 to 1945, quite possibly where he picked up his pipe-smoking habit.
5 / In 1946, Maston returned to Los Angeles and opened his first office in Beverly Hills. That year, he was commissioned to build the Pandora Apartments, marking the beginning of his experimentation with garden-apartment design.
6 / In 1954, Maston completed his portion of the quintessential California apartment complex, the National Boulevard Apartments. Maston designed one building, architect Ray Kappe the other.
7 / Maston struggled with diabetes his whole life—and also, apparently, with wives. He was married three times; his third wife, Edith, was part owner of Musso & Frank’s Grill in Hollywood.
8 / In 1960, Maston designed the now-demolished Valley Ice Skating Center in Tarzana, California, showcasing his inventive use of concrete structural solutions.
9 / Maston completed one of his largest projects in 1971—the College of Environmental Design building at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
10 / In 1992, at the age of 77, Maston passed away, succumbing to colon cancer.
