TOP TEN REAL ESTATE DEALS
The 2,000-square-foot home, built as a case study for the engineering program at Cal State, is among the few stilt homes remaining around LA. COMPASS / COURTESY PHOTOS
As California’s fortunes rose and development boomed following World War II, Los Angeles offered a proving ground for new ideas about architecture and design. Reflecting the optimism of the atomic age, the Mid-Century Modernist school of architecture is known for clean lines, geometric shapes and functional materials with an emphasis on steel, glass, and concrete. One striking variation of the typical modern aesthetic was the stilt home, designed to take advantage of small, hilly lots otherwise deemed “unbuildable.” Seemingly gravity-defying, these homes are built on supporting stilts over which the home seems to float. About 1,500 of these striking houses were built in California during the 1950s and ’60s, but very few remain standing today.
The listing of one of these unique homes for $1.599 million provides an opportunity to own a piece of LA history. In the City Terrace neighborhood, the 2,000-square-foot home was constructed as a case study for the engineering program at Cal State University, Los Angeles in 1962. In 1995, it served as a shooting location for Michael Mann’s crime drama “Heat.”
The mid-century house served as a shooting location for Michael Mann’s crime drama “Heat.”
From the 60-foot wooden deck, panoramic views stretch from Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign to Downtown LA and all the way to Catalina Island. Multiple sets of sliding glass doors and ample windows showcase the views and bring in lots of natural light. High-beam ceilings, bright white walls and hardwood floors provide a classic style, retaining original mid-century elements. There are three bedrooms and three baths. The kitchen has hand-fired orange tile, decorative stained glass, KitchenAid appliances and a wine refrigerator.
The .25-acre lot features a putting green, a 200-square-foot enclosed carport studio and a lower deck and yard. The property combines two parcels and includes the opportunity to construct a second dwelling on the lower level.
The listing is held by Sally Forster Jones and Joshua F. Smith of The Sally Forster Jones Group at Compass. ¦
COMPASS / COURTESY PHOTOS
