The estate's architect, Wallace Neff's chief draftsman before opening his own office, is well noted for his plan for Pasadena City College and many other buildings of regional significance. Here, he carefully sited the structures on almost an acre in the estates section of San Marino. This rare offering shares its history and prestige with some of the most significant historic homes in Southern California....

The  curvilinear private drive ascends to an exceedingly rare ridgetop plateau site. Here the architects draw the public space across the ridge to allow for remarkable vistas where the rake of the nearly 40 foot roof beams carries the sight lines from inside out & up to Mount Wilson, or down to the Pacific Ocean coastline. The spacious light-filled open plan interiors incorporate the kitchen at the...

Gold Medal winner John Kewell, AIA likely met Merle Schipper, who was an art critic, writer, and curator, through their mutual academic associations. Although Kewell is best known for his larger projects such as a masterplan for Cal Tech, his design for Merle's hillside site in Westwood, which is easy walking distance from U.C.L.A., is a classic of the period. Merle did much of her work at home so a plan...