A Mondrian-Like Craig Ellwood Midcentury Home Hits the Market For $2.95 Million

Built in 1956 by influential Los Angeles–based architect Craig Ellwood, Casa Kundera is currently on the market after a full remodel in November 2018.

Text by

Michele Koh Morollo

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Craig Ellwood’s career ran from the early 1950s through the mid-’70s, and although he was not formally trained as architect, he was known for fusing Mies van de Rohe formalism with the informal aesthetics of California modernism. Casa Kundera, which was commissioned by a graphic designer client, is a great example of Ellwood’s signature style.

Sited on a gated and private 12,741-square-foot lot overlooking city and canyon views, 2977 Passmore Drive is a 1,688-square-foot, two-bedroom, three-bathroom property with a pool. The home was carefully renovated by Philippe Naouri of Maison d'Artiste using the archives of Jim Tyler, the architect who worked with Ellwood on the original house.

Carpenter Timothy Brooks worked on the kitchen and closets, and staging was designed by Converso.

The interior is awash in Mondrian-like color blocking.

The renovation restored the original brick and steel fireplace.

Resembling a 3-D Mondrian painting, the steel-framed house is marked by black lines, white rectangular walls, and and splashes of red and yellow.

Floor-to-ceiling jalousie windows bring in plenty of natural light.

Walnut veneer walls warm up and unify the open-plan spaces.

The original floor-to-ceiling jalousie windows, the brick and steel fireplace, and the George Nelson pulls and soft close drawers were restored, and the yellow color of the exterior spiral stairs were preserved.

The most intriguing update to the property is the floating studio located over the carport.

The property was also upgraded with a refreshed guest house kitchen featuring formica countertops and new Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. The renovation added new bathrooms, terrazzo flooring, and refreshed the floating studio located over the carport.