Designed by Craig Ellwood, Case Study House #16 was the first of three houses in Arts & Architecture magazine’s Case Study House program. Ellwood—who had been trained as an engineer—was a contractor with no formal architectural training and Case Study House #16 remains the only surviving, intact example of Ellwood’s designs for the program. His passion for industrial materials is evident in the use of of steel, glass and concrete.
Despite its numbering, Case Study #1 was not the first house to be completed as part of Arts & Architecture magazine’s Case Study House program. Designed by Julius Ralph Davidson, the 2,000 square foot house was completed in 1948. Situated on a gently sloping lot in the prestigious Toluca Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, the house introduced architectural elements that came to characterize the program such as floor to ceiling glass, a flat roof and an open floor plan.
The Bass House, which is known as Case Study House #20B (there were two Case Study Houses numbered 20), was constructed in 1958 in Altadena, California. The home differs from the other Case Study Homes in that it was built primarily out of wood, instead of steel. Designed by the architectural firm of Buff, Straub, and Hensman who worked closely with the owners, renowned graphic illustrator Saul Bass and his wife biochemist Dr. Ruth Bass--the architects were interested in the possibilities of wood as it pertained to mass production in home construction.
Lesser known but equally stunning is Pierre Koenig’s Bailey House, Case Study House #21. A simple one-story box with a flat roof, built mostly of steel and glass, Koenig achieved his goal of designing a home which was both affordable and beautiful. The Bailey House currently houses Seomi International Gallery which offers visits by appointment.
From the 1940s through the late 1960s, Arts & Architecture was the unofficial headquarters of California’s nascent modernist movement. It spearheaded the Case Study House Program, which produced some of America’s greatest residences. VKG furniture was used for many of the houses, and appears in photos shot by Julius Shulman, as seen above.
Floor Plan of Jennings Residence by Cover Architecture and EEK Studio
The design team added a skylight to the shower room, which has a ribbed glass partition and wall tile from Solistone.
Cover Architecture and EEK Studio designed the custom vanity, which was fabricated by Hardwood Habitat. The wood door conceals the toilet room, while a pocket door separates the bathroom from the bedroom. The terrazzo floor tile is from Cle Tile.
The home was designed by William Kesler, a pioneering architect known for his midcentury modern residential design. The original structure was retained, and the original orange front door provided inspiration for the new interior scheme.
Floor plan of Shed/House by John Redington
Another bright and airy lounge space awaits steps from the kitchen and dining area.
Large skylights, windows, and sliding glass doors allow the main living areas to be bathed in warm sunshine while also framing striking views of the nearby golf course.
The historic property sits nestled on a tree-lined street and is close to the Dominguez Gap Wetlands, presenting ample opportunity to reconnect with nature.
The historic property sits nestled in the foothills of the Verdugo Mountains, offering plenty of peace and privacy while only being about a 15-minute drive from Downtown Los Angeles.
Floor Plan of Good Taste, Good Times by Loaf
In the kitchen, designers Alfie Koetter and Luke Studebaker worked with woodworker Aaron Hauser of Mason Haus to create custom new millwork inspired by the look and feel of the original cabinetry. Hauser sourced sequence matched natural birch that was rotary cut to create the cabinets.
In the primary bathroom, Mariana picked a Portuguese marble in desert pink for the countertops and shelf. "I love the contrast of the pink with the green and the wood,
A floor plan from the 1968 remodel
Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita is an 18-room albergo diffuso ("scattered hotel") built in rock-hewn dwellings from the Paleolithic cave complexes of Matera, Italy, known as the Sassi.
Floor Plan of Wilcox Estate by Bright Designlab
The Bayshore 5 Panel Recessed Door is great for first and lasting impressions alike.
An oak staircase leads to the lofted guest room.
Bedrosians tile covers the walls and floor, with sconces by Kelly Wearstler for Visual Comfort and California Faucets.
The Bay Service Center was a bit of an oddity in the Dow canon, but the 1961 structure made of Styrofoam and concrete still stands today.
This view of the back of the Dow Home gives a much better sense of the scope of the place and how inviting the landscape into every element of the design was so critical to Dow.
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Floor plan of Reynold's Road by Side Angle Side
“We designed this home so that we can be here forever,” says Steph. Accessibility features include a ramp leading to the front door and showers with small curbs. The materials selected for the deck and roof intentionally have 40-year lifespans, while gutter protectors eliminate the need for cleaning: “There will be a point where we don’t need to be on ladders cleaning out gutters,” adds Steph.
“One of the early inspirations was Donald Judd,” says Arthur. “That’s not where we ended up, but there was a time when every choice was ‘What would Donald Judd do?’ and usually the answer was the most minimal thing possible.”
The architects at Side Angle Side added five pairs of skylights during the renovation: two pairs in the kitchen and three in the living room.
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