First Offering – When Frank Thomas, one of Walt Disney’s ‘Nine Old Men’ animators, began compiling a dossier of requirements for his ideal house, the collaborative 1949 design between Thomas, Criley, and landscape architect Garrett Eckbo resulted in what Thomas affectionately referred to as his ‘Rustic Modern’ house. In his modern house manifesto, Thomas called for the house to be warm and friendly, nestled in the trees, and looking as if it belonged there … where convenience and practicalness — or practicality — are of prime importance. Taking these cues from Thomas’ progressive vision, Criley incorporates them into a modern wood and glass celebration of slanting rooflines and asymmetrical layout, a design of both intimacy and light-filled spaciousness that relates effortlessly with its surroundings. Criley’s use of wide, horizontal redwood planks are a pleasant counter to the volume of the tall windows which frame the Verdugo Hills while unassumingly blending into the oak forest of the gently sloping lot. These are all features that helped to put the residence on the National Register of Historic Places. Recently awarded Mills Act contract will provide substantial tax savings.