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LA’s Iconic Case Study Houses (Finally!) Make National Register

• Written by Karissa Rosenfield
• Published on August 22, 2013

Ten of Los Angeles ’ Case Study Homes have been deemed historically significant an worthy of being included on US’s National Register of Historic Places . Despite the Los Angeles Conservancy’s belief that all of them deserve “equal preservation protections,” the 11th home was not included due to “owner objection.”

The Case Study Houses spawned from a post-WWII residential experiment, presented by the Arts & Architecture magazine in 1945, which introduced modern movement ideas for affordable and efficient housing. The homes - designed by the likes of Richard Neutra, Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Koenig, Eero Saarinen and others - redefined the modern home. And, with the help of Julius Shulman, placed Los Angeles as an epicenter for mid-century modernism.

The 11 homes included on the register are:

Los Angeles County Case Study House #1, 10152 Toluca Lake Ave., Los Angeles Case Study House #9, 205 Chautauqua Blvd., Los Angeles Case Study House #10, 711 S. San Rafael Ave., Pasadena Case Study House #16, 1811 Bel Air Rd., Los Angeles Case Study House #18, 199 Chautauqua Blvd., Los Angeles Case Study House #20, 2275 N. Santa Rosa Ave., Altadena Case Study House #21, 9038 Wonderland Park Ave., Los Angeles Case Study House #22, 1635 Woods Dr., Los Angeles

San Diego County Case Study House #23A, 2342 Rue de Anne, La Jolla, San Diego (determined eligible) Case Study House #23C, 2339 Rue de Anne, La Jolla, San Diego

Ventura County Case Study House #28, 91 Inverness Rd., Thousand Oaks

A selection of photos from the Case Study Homes can be found here .

References: LAist , Curbed Los Angeles

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Image / Killingsworth, Edward A. (1917-2004): Case Study House Triad #23

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Case Study Houses

Institution: UC Santa Barbara, Architecture and Design Collection, Art, Design and Architecture Museum

Case Study Houses finally added to National Register

The designation back on July 24 followed nearly a decade of work by the conservancy's Modern Committee (or ModCom), the group said in its announcement today.

"We’re proud of ModCom’s perseverance in making sure these important homes received the group recognition they so richly deserve,” said Adrian Scott Fine, director of advocacy for the Los Angeles Conservancy. “Congratulations to everyone who has volunteered their time, effort, and expertise in this historic effort.” Launched in 1945 by John Entenza’s Arts + Architecture magazine, the Case Study House program commissioned architects to study, plan, design, and ultimately construct houses in anticipation of renewed building in the postwar years. With an emphasis on experimentation and a goal of promoting good, modern, affordable design for single-family homes, the program helped to disseminate the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic through its thirty-five published plans, of which twenty-five houses (and one apartment building) were built in California and Arizona. While the Case Study House program did not achieve its initial goals for mass production and affordability, it was responsible for some of Los Angeles’ most iconic and internationally recognized Modern residences, such as the Eames House (Case Study House #8) by Charles and Ray Eames and the Pierre Koenig-designed Stahl House (Case Study House #22), famously photographed by Julius Shulman . Despite the clear significance and world renown of the Case Study Houses, their high profile does not guarantee preservation. Few of the homes have actual protections against demolition or excessive alteration. Since the nomination process began eight years ago, Case Study House #16 designed by Rodney Walker has been completely demolished, and two others have been altered to the extent that they no longer meet the requirements for designation. “With so few Case Study Houses in existence, and a few owners who do not appreciate the homes’ cultural and architectural significance, we need to stay vigilant,” said Regina O’Brien, chair of the Modern Committee. “We are so delighted to have had a part in ensuring these homes’ future, and we thank all of the owners who were integral to the process."

Certain other Case Study houses, such as the Eames House in Pacific Palisades, are already listed on the National Register of Historic Places and were not part of the latest entry. Per the LA Conservancy, these are the Case Study houses covered:

Los Angeles County · Case Study House #1, 10152 Toluca Lake Ave., Los Angeles · Case Study House #9, 205 Chautauqua Blvd., Los Angeles · Case Study House #10, 711 S. San Rafael Ave., Pasadena · Case Study House #16, 1811 Bel Air Rd., Los Angeles · Case Study House #18, 199 Chautauqua Blvd., Los Angeles · Case Study House #20, 2275 N. Santa Rosa Ave., Altadena · Case Study House #21, 9038 Wonderland Park Ave., Los Angeles · Case Study House #22, 1635 Woods Dr., Los Angeles San Diego County · Case Study House #23A, 2342 Rue de Anne, La Jolla, San Diego (determined eligible) · Case Study House #23C, 2339 Rue de Anne, La Jolla, San Diego Ventura County · Case Study House #28, 91 Inverness Rd., Thousand Oaks

Previously on LA Observed: View from Case Study House #22 Touring the sites of famous Julius Shulman photos in LA

LA Observed photos from 2009

Case Study House 23C Reception

Join us for an intimate reception and tour of the iconic Edward Killingsworth-designed Case Study House 23C. This event benefits the La Jolla Historical Society, and invites guests to explore this meticulously preserved midcentury modern residence that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Guests will enjoy guided tours of the home as well as light hors d'oeuvres and wine.

Photographs by Philipp Scholz Rittermann

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Killingsworth, Edward A. (1917-2004): Case Study House Triad #23

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LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

At one time there were several dozen of them scattered around southern California, now eleven of them in the L.A. area have been added to the National Register of Historic Places under the National Park System.

Now to another icon of Southern California life, the Case Study Homes.

These are the mid-century modern homes of your dreams. Think glass boxes with clean lines and swimming pools perched over hillside cliffs. They were designed by architects like the Charles and Ray Eames and Richard Neutra.

At one time there were several dozen of them scattered around southern California, now eleven of them in the L.A. area have been added to the National Register of Historic Places under the National Park System. Cultural critic Edward Lifson joins the show to explain their significance. 

A list of the houses included in the registry:

L.A. County Case Study House #1 , 10152 Toluca Lake Ave., Los Angeles Case Study House #9 , 205 Chautauqua Blvd., Los Angeles Case Study House #10 , 711 S. San Rafael Ave., Pasadena Case Study House #16 , 1811 Bel Air Rd., Los Angeles Case Study House #18 , 199 Chautauqua Blvd., Los Angeles Case Study House #20 , 2275 N. Santa Rosa Ave., Altadena Case Study House #21 , 9038 Wonderland Park Ave., Los Angeles Case Study House #22 , 1635 Woods Dr., Los Angeles

San Diego County Case Study House #23A , 2342 Rue de Anne, La Jolla, San Diego (determined eligible) Case Study House #23C , 2339 Rue de Anne, La Jolla, San Diego

Ventura County Case Study House #28 , 91 Inverness Rd., Thousand Oaks

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Triad (Case Study House #23C)

Intended as a pilot project for a large tract of houses in La Jolla, only this Triad was ever built.

Place Details

• Killingsworth, Brady and Smith

Designation

• Private Residence - Do Not Disturb

Property Type

• Single-Family Residential

Case Study House #23C is the simplest of the three adjacent single-family residences that form the Triad grouping, completed in 1960 as part of Arts & Architecture magazine’s Case Study House program. These three homes were intended to be the pilot project for a large tract of houses in the La Jolla district of San Diego, but only this Triad was ever built. The chief objective for the Triad was to take advantage of planning multiple units and produce a master plan and building design that created a close relationship between the houses while still providing privacy.

The site for the project was a new real estate development, the Chateau Ville by the Amantea Company, in the hills above the ocean in La Jolla near the new and growing campus of the University of California, San Diego. Two of the houses (B and C) are located adjacent to each other on one side of the street, while house A is located directly opposite the street. All were designed by the architectural firm of Edward Killingsworth, Jules Brady, and Waugh Smith.

House C is the simplest of the three houses, with a rectangular plan bisected by an entry hall.

The north end of the house is oriented toward the views and contains the master bedroom suite and original living room, while the south portion contains the family room-kitchen, a bathroom, and two children’s rooms. The garage is located off the south end of the house and is accessible through a service porch.

Similarly to House A, House C takes advantage of opportunities for outdoor living. Both the living room and family room-kitchen have patios located directly off them. The master suite has a small private patio facing the ocean view and the children’s rooms have direct access to the rear play yard.

View the National Register of Historic Places Nomination

Issues including Triad (Case Study House #23C)

Case Study Houses

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Why list Case Study houses on the National Register?

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Ten Case Study houses from Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Los Angeles Conservancy announced last week.

The listing includes homes designed by household names of California modernism, such as Charles and Ray Eames, Richard Neutra and Pierre Koenig. All were part of the Case Study program organized by John Entenza, editor of Arts & Architecture magazine, in 1945. The magazine commissioned architects to develop prototype modernist housing for a post-World War II America, and in doing so, the program popularized a sleek aesthetic that endures today. The program encompassed more than three-dozen designs, but not all were actually built and some have been demolished or significantly altered.

The L.A. Conservancy’s Modern Committee spearheaded the National Register nomination, a nearly decade-long effort that culminated with the National Park Service formally listing 10 houses on July 24.

Adrian Scott Fine, the conservancy’s director of advocacy, spoke with us about the importance of this national recognition, what it means for the historic houses and why an 11th home, Case Study House No. 23A, was deemed eligible to be listed but wasn’t because of the owner’s objection.

Question: Why did the L.A. Conservancy go through the trouble of getting these Case Study houses listed?

Answer: It was such an innovative program, instrumental to influencing the design of residences, not just in Southern California but also all over the country. Listing them was to give them the recognition they so dearly deserve.

How did the conservancy choose which homes to nominate?

It was a long process done mostly by volunteers. We focused on properties in Los Angeles County, since we’re an L.A.-based organization. We also looked outside of the county. We eventually trimmed down the list once we met with the owners or saw the property and realized it had too many changes already.

What protection does this listing offer the houses?

It’s pretty limited. Any building on the National Register could, in theory, be demolished. There are different types of designation for historic buildings from the national level down to the local level. It’s most often the local designation that provides real protection. However, we hope that knowing these houses have achieved this level of distinction, homeowners wouldn’t do something that would be detrimental to the home.

To what extent does the National Register listing protect the design?

Being listed doesn’t mean you can’t change anything on the house. You certainly can. The nomination calls out character-defining features. Case Study House No. 18 and No. 22 have innovative glass walls. Case Study House No. 28 has a great interior courtyard. Hopefully, owners wouldn’t change features like that. It would compromise the integrity of the house.

One home that the conservancy nominated was found eligible for designation but wasn’t included in the final listing. Why would an owner object to adding a home to the register?

Some owners were just uncomfortable with people knowing about their house. The other factor was the perceived level of government bureaucracy, which isn’t the case. The former [privacy] was the reason with the one owner who objected. It wasn’t that they didn’t care about the house or that they hadn’t done a good job preserving it.

What benefits are there to being designated?

They get the distinction of being able to say they live in a nationally historic property. Not every property can achieve that level of significance. The property would be eligible for a conservation easement because it’s listed. Owners would then receive a one-time charitable tax deduction for that.

There is also a federal tax credit program that credits 20% of the investment in the properties, but it only applies to income-producing properties. Most of the Case Study houses are individual residences, so this wouldn’t apply.

Considering the conservancy’s submission was a multiple-property nomination, what are the implications for the other Case Study homes not registered?

If any of the houses that were left off want to be included, it would be a really streamlined and easy process to be listed because the hard work has been done. Why these houses are important has already been established. The homeowners can do the specific write-up on their house alone. They don’t have to make a bigger case.

THE LIST: ADDITIONS TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER

Case Study House No. 1, 10152 Toluca Lake Ave., Los Angeles

Case Study House No. 9, 205 Chautauqua Blvd., Los Angeles

Case Study House No. 10, 711 S. San Rafael Ave., Pasadena

Case Study House No. 16, 1811 Bel Air Road, Los Angeles

Case Study House No. 18, 199 Chautauqua Blvd., Los Angeles

Case Study House No. 20, 2275 N. Santa Rosa Ave., Altadena

Case Study House No. 21, 9038 Wonderland Park Ave., Los Angeles

Case Study House No. 22, 1635 Woods Drive, Los Angeles

Case Study House No. 23A, 2342 Rue de Anne, La Jolla, San Diego (eligible but not added)

Case Study House No. 23C, 2339 Rue de Anne, La Jolla, San Diego

Case Study House No. 28, 91 Inverness Road, Thousand Oaks

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LA's Most Famous House Finally Makes the National Register

The Case Study Houses have finally made the National Register of Historic Places (well, 11 of them have). The modest, modern, houses--built through an Arts & Architecture magazine program launched in 1945--helped establish Los Angeles as the American center of mid-century modern architecture (participants included Richard Neutra, Charles Eames, Pierre Koenig) and of mid-century futurist living (they were meant to be easily replicable, made with "new materials and new techniques in house construction," and were of course car-centric and single-family). The newly-landmarked include Pierre Koenig's Stahl House (aka CSH #22), which might just be the most famous house in Los Angeles, thanks to a photograph by Julius Shulman, along with the Entenza House in Pacific Palisades and Koenig's CSH #21 in the Hills. Here's a map guide to all the extant CSHes in the greater Los Angeles area.

The LA Conservancy's Modern Committee spent nearly a decade trying to get some of the CSHes recognized and last month the National Park Service officially listed 10 of the houses (see below); an eleventh "was determined eligible for listing but not formally listed due to owner objection," according to the Conservancy. And about time: "Few of the homes have actual protections against demolition or excessive alteration. Since the nomination process began eight years ago, Case Study House #16 designed by Rodney Walker has been completely demolished, and two others have been altered to the extent that they no longer meet the requirements for designation." Here's the full list of newly-protected houses (Some of the CSHes, including the Eames House in Pacific Palisades, were left off this landmarking because they're listed individually.):

Los Angeles County: -- Case Study House #1, 10152 Toluca Lake Ave., Los Angeles -- Case Study House #9, 205 Chautauqua Blvd., Los Angeles -- Case Study House #10, 711 S. San Rafael Ave., Pasadena -- Case Study House #16, 1811 Bel Air Rd., Los Angeles -- Case Study House #18, 199 Chautauqua Blvd., Los Angeles -- Case Study House #20, 2275 N. Santa Rosa Ave., Altadena -- Case Study House #21, 9038 Wonderland Park Ave., Los Angeles -- Case Study House #22, 1635 Woods Dr., Los Angeles

San Diego County -- Case Study House #23A, 2342 Rue de Anne, La Jolla, San Diego (determined eligible but not officially listed) -- Case Study House #23C, 2339 Rue de Anne, La Jolla, San Diego

Ventury County -- Case Study House #28, 91 Inverness Rd., Thousand Oaks

The Conservancy has a lot more information on all the houses. · Case Study Houses [LA Conservancy] · The Case Study House Map of Los Angeles [Curbed LA]

Stahl House

Next up in case study houses.

• Case Study House No. 21 in Laurel Canyon returns asking $3.6M
• Case Study House No. 18 asking $10M in Pacific Palisades
• Kristen Wiig picks up Pasadena’s Case Study House No. 10 for $3M
• Long Beach's midcentury modern tour will showcase 9 era-defining homes
• Stahl House at the Center of an Ugly Legal Battle
• Late Simpsons Co-Creator's Pac Pal Compound Comes With Case Study House #20, Wants $18M

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Historically Designated Modern Buildings in San Diego County

As you consider historically designating your own modern home; hoping to purchase a designated property; or buy a home and apply for its designation you can refer to the following list of homes and buildings that have secured historic designation.

Adams, S. Janet Residence (1936) Designed by architect Charles H. Holmstrom, built by Southard Electrosteel Structures. Located at 3122 Curtis Street.

Andrusson, Mr. & Mrs. Uno Residence (1965) This Delawie & Macy design is located at 4726 Panorama Drive in University Heights.

Bailey, Wheeler J. Residence (1907) This Irving Gill design is located at 7964 Princess Street, La Jolla

Barron, Ellis & Nancy House (1956) Designed by Henry Hester and located at 6632 Avenida Manana, La Jolla

Bascomb, Edward and Iris House (1954) This Sim Bruce Richards design is located at 887 Golden Park Avenue, Point Loma.

Bishop's School (1910-45) This Irving Gill design is located at 7607 La Jolla Boulevard.

Bond House (1960) This Richard Neutra design is located at 4449 Yerba Santa Drive, College Area.

Bronowski, Jacob and Rita Residence (1965) Designed by Russell Forester . Located at 9438 La Jolla Farms Road.

Brown, Michael and Clara House (1968) This house, designed by Richard Lareau , is located at 5645 Taft in La Jolla.

Byerly, James and Doris House (1949) Designed by Russell Forester . This house is located at 1949 Paseo Dorado in La Jolla.

Casady, Simon & Virginia House (1960) Designed by Arthur Decker . This house is located at 10010 Shadow Road in Mt. Helix.

Case Study House 23 – Triad House A (1960) Designed by Killingsworth, Brady & Smith . Located at 2342 Rue De Anne, La Jolla.

Case Study House 23 – Triad House C (1960) Designed by Killingsworth, Brady & Smith . Located at 2329 Rue De Anne, La Jolla.

Cassitt, Mary House (No. 4) (1906) This Irving Gill design is located at 3526 7th Avenue.

Clitsome, Donald & Gladys Residence (1938) Designed by Lloyd Ruocco . Located at 2228 33rd Street in South Park.

Cole Residence (1952) Designed by Lloyd Ruocco . Located at 5628 Nokomis Street in La Mesa.

Compton, Frank and Gloria House (1948) Designed by John Lloyd Wright. Located at 7840 East Roseland Drive, La Jolla.

Conard-Arrington House (1949) Designed by Roy Drew . Located at 809 San Antonio Place, Point Loma.

Cornelius House (1958) Designed by Henry Hester . Located at 10385 Bonnie Lane, Mt. Helix.

Cory, Mitchel & Malvena House (1958-1960) Designed by Hal Sadler . Located at 10364 Bonnie Lane, Mt. Helix.

Darley, Helen Ruth House (1948) Designed by Russell Forester . Located at 7750 Ludington Place, La Jolla.

Delawie, Homer Residence II (1963) Designed by Homer Delawie . Located at 1833 Neale Street, Mission Hills.

Delawie, Homer Residence III, The Village (1973) Designed by Homer Delawie . Located at 2749 Azalea Drive, Point Loma.

Del Prado Condominiums (1973) Designed by William Krisel . Located at 666 Upas Street, Hillcrest.

The Design Center (1949-50) Designed by Lloyd Ruocco . Located at 3601-3635 5th Avenue, Hillcrest.

Dirks, John & Ruth House & Studio (1945) Designed by John Dirks . Located at 5120 Alzeda Drive, Mt. Helix.

Dixon, Dr. Frank House (1953) Designed by David C. Tatman. Located at 2355 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla.

Eales, Rodney House (1971-1983) Designed by Sim Bruce Richards . Located at 391 Catalina Boulevard, Point Loma.

Eason, Fred S. Residence (1964) Designed by Cliff May . Located at 4777 Avion Way, College Area.

El Pueblo Ribera (1923) Designed by Rudolph Schindler. Located at 230–248 Gravilla Street, La Jolla.

Feller, Louis & Bertha House (1960-62) Designed by Lloyd Ruocco & Homer Delawie . Located at 3377 Charles Street, Point Loma.

First Church of Christ Scientist (1909) This Irving Gill design is located at 2442 2nd Avenue.

Ford Building (1935) This Walter Dorwin Teague designed pavilion for the Ford Motor Company was open to visitors of the California Pacific International Exposition held in Balboa Park in 1935-36. Located in Pan American Plaza in Balboa Park.

Gill, Irving House (1905) This Irving Gill design is located at 3776 Front Street.

Gill, Irving Spec House #1 (1909) This Irving Gill design is located at 1345 Granada Avenue.

Gill, Louis House (1930) This Louis Gill design is located at 3404 Front Street.

Gleich, Martin and Enid House (1958) Designed by Henry Hester. Located at 5120 Norris Street, College Area.

Goldzband, Dr. Mel House (1964) Designed by Homer Delawie . Located at 4709 La Rueda, Mt. Helix.

Goodman, George and Iris House (1968) Designed by Rex Lotery . Located at 5330 Le Barron Road, College Area.

Guy, Marie Schumann-Heink & Hubert Residence Designed by Richard Wheeler . Located at 5310 Valle Vista.

Herman, Edmund and Elsie House (1961) Designed by Russell Forester . Located at 1262 Fleetridge Drive, Point Loma.

Hindman House (1962) Designed by John Mock . Located at 10636 Snyder Road, Mt. Helix.

Hines House (1963) Designed by John Mortenson . Located at 9701 Sierra Vista Avenue, Mt. Helix.

Holmgren House (1948) Designed by Lloyd Ruocco . Located at 10037 Ward Lane, Mt. Helix.

Hope, Frank and Barbara Jr. House (1967) Designed by Frank L. Hope Jr. Located at 3430 Bangor Place, Point Loma.

Hubbell, James Complex Designed by James Hubbell . Located at 930 Orchard Run, Santa Ysabel.

Hufbauer, Clyde and Arabelle House (1952) Designed by Clyde Hufbauer . Located at 1821 Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla.

Jach, George & Mercille Residence (1962) Designed by John Mortenson . Located at 10446 Russell Road, La Mesa

Jackson, David and Susan House (1964) Designed by Ronald K. Davis . Located at 3455 Charles Street, Point Loma.

Jackson, Richard & Helen House (1949) Designed by Lloyd Ruocco . Located at 4421 Mayapan Drive, Mt. Helix.

Jackson Johnson III House (1961) Designed by Lloyd Ruocco & Homer Delawie. Located at 8272 El Paseo Grande, La Jolla.

Jones, Burton I. House (1942-49) Commissioned by Frank E. and Mae I. Bleecker, this project was published as the Three Wishes House by Good Housekeeping. The home was designed by Lloyd Ruocco and is located at 9830 Edgelake Drive, Mt. Helix.

Kautz, George House (1913) This Irving Gill design is located at 7753 Draper.

Keller, James Don & Rita H. House (1947) Designed by Lloyd Ruocco . Located at 1433 Puterbaugh, Mission Hills.

Kunzel, Herbert House (1951) Designed by Robert Mosher . Located at 3250 McCall Street, Point Loma.

La Jolla Recreation Center (1915) This Irving Gill design was commissioned by Ellen Browning-Scripps. Located at 615 Prospect Street, La Jolla.

La Jolla Women’s Club (1914) This clubhouse building was designed by Irving Gill . Located at 715 Silverado Street, La Jolla.

Lanthorne, Russell and Rosemary House (1963) Designed by Homer Delawie . Located at 7520 Mar Avenue, La Jolla.

Lard, Robert and Alma House (1965) Designed by Homer Delawie and Lloyd Ruocco. Located at 2218 Vallecitos, La Jolla.

Ledbetter, Richard & Olivia (Rosa) Residence (1966-1968) Designed by Kendrick Bangs Kellogg . Located at 3545 Inez Street.

Lee, Alice Residence (1905) This Irving Gill design is located at 3578 7th Avenue.

Lee, Alice/ Irving J. Gill/ Hazel Wood Waterman House (1905) This Irving Gill design is located at 3574 7th Avenue.

Lee House No. 2 (1905) This Irving Gill design is located at 3353 Albatross Street.

Lee House No. 4 (1913) This Irving Gill design is located at 3367 Albatross Street.

Liebner, Robert & Rebecca House (1961) Designed by owner/engineer Robert Liebner .

Lightner, John and Joan House (1969) Designed by Roy Drew . Located at 420 Silvergate Avenue, Point Loma.

Lillie, T.W. House (1958) Designed by Lloyd Ruocco . Located at 4410 Carmen Drive, Mt. Helix.

Lindstrom House (1933) Designed by Cliff May . Located at 4669 East Talmadge Drive, Kensington.

Mabee, John and Betty House (1963) Designed by William Lumpkins . Located at 4545 Yerba Santa Drive, College Area.

Macnofsky, Stuart and Susan House (1968) Designed by Barton Kauffman. The house is located at 10000 Pandora Drive, Mt. Helix. County of San Diego Historical Landmark Number 2020-04

Melville-Klauber House (1907-08) This house designed by Irving Gill hosts several trademarks of the architect's later works. Located at 3060 Sixth Avenue, Hillcrest.

Mills, Mansfield and Katherine House (1957) Designed by Dale Naegle . Located at 7105 Country Club Drive, La Jolla.

Montgomery Memorial - Silver Wing Monument by Lloyd Ruocco (1946) This park honors John Joseph Montgomery whose 1883 glider, flown at Otay Mesa, was the first successful flight of a heavier-than-air craft. The monument wing marks the event and symbolizes his continued flights in the region during 1884–1886. Designed by Lloyd Ruocco . Located at Palm Avenue, Beyer Boulevard and Coronado Avenue.

Neece, Ruth Smith and Louise Duplex (1960) Designed by Lloyd Ruocco & Homer Delawie. Located at 8015-8017 El Paseo Grande, La Jolla.

Nicol, Frank and Jean Residence (1982) Designed by Sim Bruce Richards . Located at 15405 Pauma Valley Road, Pauma Valley.

Olney, Richard House (1954) Designed by Sim Bruce Richards . Located at 1644 Crespo, La Jolla

Oxley House (1958) Designed by Richard Neutra . Located at 9302 La Jolla Farms Road, La Jolla.

Park Garden Apartments Building (1960) Designed by Lloyd Ruocco and Homer Delawie. Located at 1740 Upas Street, Hillcrest.

Park Prospect Condominiums (1964) Designed by Russell Forester . Located at 800 Prospect, La Jolla.

Peterson, Robert O. House (1965) Designed by Russell Forester . Located at 567 Gage Drive, Point Loma.

Price, Peter M. House (1908) This Irving Gill design is located at 1355 Granada Avenue.

The Prospect Center Building (1966) Designed by Ladd and Kelsey . Located at 1020 Prospect Street.

Ratner, Abraham and Anne House (1958) Designed by William R. Stephenson. Located at 541 Silver Gate Avenue, Point Loma. *Original landscape design by Garrett Eckbo of Eckbo, Royston and Williams

Reed, David and Beverly Residence Designed by John August Reed . Located at 1541 Garrison Place, Point Loma

Residence for The Guild Company (1955) Designed by Richard George Wheeler, Architect & Associates. Located at 3551 Garrison Street.

Richards, Sim Bruce & Janet Residence I (1948) Designed by Sim Bruce Richards . Located at 977 Albion Street, Point Loma

Richards, Sim Bruce & Janet Residence II (1952) Designed by Sim Bruce Richards . Located at 3360 Harbor View Drive, Point Loma

Rosenberg, Nate and Beverly House (1961) Designed by William R. Stephenson. Located at 742 Armada Terrace, Point Loma.

Rubin, Norman and Toba House (1971) Designed by Kahn, Kappe, and Lotery (1968-73). Located at 3950 La Cresta, Point Loma.

Salk Institute for Biological Studies (1965) The only design in San Diego County by architect Louis Kahn . Located at 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla.

Salomon, Colonel Irving Apartments (1959) Designed by Henry Hester . This building, now condominiums, is located at 3200 6 th Avenue in Hillcrest.

Schmock, Lt. Cdr. Donald L. and Maj. Joyce Residence (1953) Designed by Sim Bruce Richards . Located at 7345 Remley Place, La Jolla.

Scripps, George. H. Memorial Biological Laboratory (1909) Also known as the ‘Old Scripps Building’, this is the oldest oceanographic research building in continuous use in the United States, this Scripps Institution of Oceanography building dates back to the institution’s founding. This Irving Gill design is located at 8602 La Jolla Shores Drive within the Scripps Institution of Oceanography campus in La Jolla.

Spicer, Raymond, Jr. and Avery House (1961) Designed by Sim Bruce Richards . Located at 379 San Antonio Avenue, Point Loma.

Styles, Hugh B. and Zula B. House (1953) Designed by Cliff May. Located at 8545 Chevy Chase Drive, La Mesa.

Teats House No. 1 (1905) This Irving Gill design is located at 3560 7th Avenue.

Teats House No. 2 (1912) This Irving Gill design is located at 3415 Albatross Street.

Teats House No. 3 (1922) This Irving Gill design is located at 3407 Albatross Street.

Ullman, Dr. Milton House (1964) Designed by Hendrick and Mock Architects. Located at 4786 Mount Helix Drive, Mt. Helix.

Urey, Dr. Harold C. & Frieda Daum House (1954) Designed by Russell Forester. Located at 7890 Torrey Lane, La Jolla.

U.S. Post Office Facility (1972) This brutalist design by Deems Lewis won an AIA Award of Merit from the AIA San Diego Chapter. Located at 2535 Midway Drive, San Diego.

Vollmer, Rose House (1964) Designed by Richard Lareau . Located at 4515 Ladera Street, Sunset Cliffs.

Vondracek, John & Joan House (1959) D esigned by Hanis Lloyd Therkelsen Located at 851 Amiford Drive

Watson, Maurice and Jacqueline House (1951) Designed by Sim Bruce Richards. Located at 2744 Azalea Drive, Point Loma.

Wetherell, Mr. & Mrs. J.G. Residence (1954-55) Designed by C.J. Paderewski. Located at 8760 Alpine Avenue, La Mesa.

Wexler, Sidney & Henrietta House (1962) Designed by Lloyd Ruocco . Located at 10088 Sierra Vista Avenue, Mt. Helix.

Wright, Mr. & Mrs. Warren House (1959-61) Designed by John N. Mortnenson . Located at 4431 Palo Verde Terrace, College Area

Wright, Dorrit & Albert House (ca. 1955) Designed by Ted Paulson and Clyde Hufbauer . Located at 8445 Avenida de Las Ondas, La Jolla. Youngblood, James H. Residence (1972) Designed by Cliff May . Located at 17538 El Vuelo, Rancho Santa Fe.

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La Jolla Light | ‘So much enduring history’: La Jolla’s Casa de…

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La Jolla Light

La jolla light | ‘so much enduring history’: la jolla’s casa de manana celebrates site’s first 100 years, the retirement community has been both a hotel and a church-related residential facility..

Ashley Mackin-Solomon

The Casa de Mañana retirement community in La Jolla originally was a hotel that opened in 1924.

Courtesy of the Athenaeum

The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library presents its 23rd annual Summer Festival with pianist Gustavo Romero beginning at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 5, in La Jolla.

La Jolla Historical Society

Casa de Mañana is seen in 1924 on La Jolla's Coast Boulevard.

Casa de Mañana is pictured after an expansion and renovation project in the 1960s.

Casa de Mañana as it stands today

The community, at 849 Coast Blvd., is celebrating the site’s centennial this year.

Resort hotel

Casa de Mañana originally was opened in 1924 by Isabel Hopkins and was considered an upscale seaside resort for visitors to San Diego. The main building included several cocktail lounges (some of which were referred to as “private dining rooms” during Prohibition) and a restaurant.

During World War II in the 1940s, the hotel business struggled, so Hopkins opened Casa’s doors to Navy personnel coming home from combat and operated the hotel as a rest and recuperation center.

Ultimately unable to bounce back from the downturn, Hopkins sold the hotel for $5 million to Pacific Homes in 1953, which turned the resort into an upscale senior-living community. At the time, Pacific Homes was affiliated with the Methodist Church.

Brigid O’Farrell, a Casa de Mañana resident, historian and member of the centennial celebration committee, said the facility at that time was mostly for ministers and others associated with the church.

“In 1954, they began to expand and built the Casa Loma and La Casita and made lots of renovations,” O’Farrell said. “They really kept the architecture and design of the exterior pretty well intact, which is really impressive. As more buildings were added over the years … they were built to be like cottages so it created a home-like setting.”

But “when the hotel was first sold, the town was not happy,” O’Farrell said. “They saw [the loss of] a hotel that was bringing wealthy visitors. But pretty quickly, the people who moved in engaged with … the larger La Jolla community. A lot of La Jolla residents moved here and maintained ties to their service organizations. They saw pretty quickly that it was a good thing.”

As adjoining properties became available, Pacific Homes acquired them to expand Casa de Mañana. In 1965, six “Loma” cottages were opened and quickly occupied. In late 1967, Casa de Mañana held a groundbreaking ceremony for what would be the Riviera Cottages.

After a series of delays, permits to build the Villa de Este were granted in 1972, and the two buildings that make up the Villa were constructed in 1973.

In late 1987, Casa de Mañana was added to San Diego’s list of designated historic landmarks.

In 1999, Pacific Homes merged with three other not-for-profit organizations to form what is now Front Porch Communities. No longer affiliated with the Methodist Church, Front Porch Communities operates Casa de Mañana to this day.

The community now spans five acres and has accommodations for 200 residents. It offers independent and assisted living services.

Brushes with fame

Before he got behind the keys for the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library’s annual summer concert series, pianist Gustavo Romero performed for some of his earliest audiences at Casa de Mañana.

“The first time I played at the Athenaeum when I was 11 years old,” he said. “My teacher wanted me to play at Casa de Mañana as a tryout. So I played there and it was one of the first places I would play in public.

“Since that performance, I have played there every year. … From the beginning, it was an encouraging and comfortable place to play before I had to play somewhere else with a little more expectation. It was a great rehearsal space. I’ve always remembered that, and that’s what it continues to be for me now.”

Romero, now 59, said he enjoys going back to perform on the same piano he played when he was young.

“It’s part of a long history that I have in La Jolla,” he said. “I’ve seen how [Casa de Mañana] has been renovated and developed and evolved … over the years. It’s nice to be connected to something with so much enduring history.”

Casa de Mañana has hosted other notables as well. A La Jolla Light article dated Sept. 30, 1937, reported that “J. Edgar Hoover, head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, visited Casa de Mañana for a week with Clyde Tolson and Guy Hattee, all of Washington, D.C. They spent most of their time in seclusion at one of the hotel’s cottages and left … by plane to Washington. Mr. Hoover expressed himself as highly pleased with the scenic conditions here and the high moral tone of the community, promising to come again.”

Another article reported that British actor Arthur Treacher also visited the hotel. Treacher was best known for his role as Constable Jones in the 1964 film “Mary Poppins,” roles in several Shirley Temple movies, as the announcer and sidekick on “The Merv Griffin Show” and for giving his name to the Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips restaurant chain.

At least two movies were filmed in or in front of Casa de Mañana. One of them, 1980’s “The Stunt Man,” starring Peter O’Toole, paid residents $25 a day to be extras.

‘Fun facts’

In preparation for the centennial celebration, six-year resident Sue McLeod took it on herself to research the history of Casa de Mañana and find more “fun facts” about her home.

Every week for the past year, one of her facts was printed on the back of the Friday dinner menu and posted around the facility in places like the laundry room.

“At one point in Casa’s history, somewhere around 1930, there was a dog that took the hotel’s daily deposit to the bank,” according to McLeod. “The dog in question was a Dalmatian named Tug, owned by the hotel’s assistant manager, A.W. Brown. Each day, as soon as the bank opened, Brown would open the Casa vault and give the impatient dog the pouch containing cash and checks from the day before. Tug (followed closely by his owner) would make his way to the bank and give it to a teller.”

Additionally, McLeod said, “in the 1930s, one of Casa’s hotel guests was Jane Addams of Hull House fame. Addams was a leader in the history of social work, women’s suffrage and the rights of minorities and the poor. Among her many honors, she was the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.”

Famed La Jolla philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps gave a dinner party for Addams at Casa de Mañana and, according to the Light of March 31, 1931, invited “those who are actively engaged in local education and social service work.”

Hopkins attended the party, along with Helen and Mary Marston, daughters of San Diego department store owner and philanthropist George Marston.

‘Culture of caring’

McLeod said she wanted to get other residents excited about the centennial as part of the “culture of caring” that drew her to the community initially.

“There are wonderful residents here,” she said. “Newcomers are treated like rock stars; everyone wants to get to know them.”

O’Farrell noted things like the Trading Post shop, where residents can donate household items they no longer need for other residents to buy at a discount.

There also are committees and other groups that raise money for scholarships, support the staff and their children, and provide entertainment and holiday events for Casa residents.

“It’s a very welcoming and friendly community, and the staff is wonderful,” O’Farrell said.

Celebrating the centennial

Casa de Mañana will commemorate the site’s 100th anniversary Monday and Tuesday, July 1-2.

The festivities will begin with a full day of programming, including a social hour with local leaders, a history talk, remarks from representatives of Front Porch Communities, performances and more.

The following day will feature a concert and reception with a 1920s and ’30s theme, followed by a dinner with plates meant to look like those used in the original hotel.

For more information about the celebration, email [email protected] .

For more about the community, visit frontporch.net/community/casa-de-manana . ◆

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