TABLE OF CONTENTS:
MODEL HOME EXHIBITS in LOS ANGELES as detailed in Los Angeles Residential Architecture: Modernism Meets Eclecticism by Ruth Wallach PLUS: The Locations to Which the Model Homes Were Relocated! For my birthday this past year, my stepfather gave me a copy of Ruth Wallach’s book Los Angeles Residential Architecture. Wallach documents the transformation of tastes in architecture during post-World War II Los Angeles, specifically as it related to the advent of model home exhibitions, the emergence of suburban life, and evolving expectations for homemakers, who now learned to use futuristic gadgets. The book approaches these phenomena from numerous angles, with Wallach at different times conveying her analyses from the standpoint of an architect, a landscape designer, an interior designer, a feminist scholar, and an urban planner. Wallach pens a very effective book; at a modest 130 pages, it is packed with insight and information. With regard to model home exhibitions, Wallach details an exhibition that occurred called “The California House & Garden Exhibition,” which occurred at 5900 to 5940 Wilshire Boulevard, between Genesee Street and Spaulding Avenue. The exhibition aimed to promote home ownership amongst Americans during what was a time of tremendous economic upheaval. To do so, the exhibition showcased seven economical and yet elegant model homes by prominent architects. These model homes were, per the shorthand used in the book: “California House” – Architect: Winchton L. Risley / Decorator: Harry Gladstone “New Orleans House” – Architect: John Byers, Elda Muir / Decorator: Cannell & Chaffin “Plywood House” – Architect: Richard Neutra “English Cottage” – Architect: Arthur R. Kelly & Joseph M. Estep / Decorator: Anita Toor “French House” – Architect: Paul Revere Williams / Decorator: Cannell & Chaffin “Economy Cottage” – Architect: Allen G. Siple and Gordon B. Kaufmann “Colonel Evans Package House” – Architect: Frank W. Green The exhibition opened to the public on April 17, 1936 and ran until early 1938. CLICK THE "READ MORE" BUTTON TO TURN THE PAGE! Wallach reveals that the homes were either auctioned or raffled off to a few lucky buyers. However, the new owners of these homes were not to reside on Wilshire Boulevard. Instead, the homes were lifted off their foundations and relocated to individual locations throughout the Westside and Mid-City. If you have read my blog, you know that I am a big fan of home relocations. Here, however, Wallach comes to a conclusion that is troubling to me as a planner and historic preservationist: that there is no record available as to where specifically these architectural gems were relocated, nor the identities of those who purchased them. This struck me as odd, since California Home and Garden Exhibit, Inc. was not a city agency, nor were they sponsored by the city. They couldn’t just build and relocate entire homes without pulling the associated permits. So, I took to the LADBS’s building permit and real estate record archives. And eureka, I found the addresses to which each of the model homes from the California House & Garden Exhibition were relocated, along with the “new construction” permits…with the architects’ signatures on them and everything! Five of these model homes are extant, and one has been demolished. The fate of the 7th home is unknown. NOTE: As of yet, due to the lack of photo-documentation of the each of the bungalows’ exteriors, I have only been able to ascertain the identities of some of the relocated homes. Normally, the legal description on the construction and relocation permits (e.g. “Lot 12 of Tract 345”) would be our Rosetta Stone in this situation, but not all of the permits have their legal descriptions completely filled in. Model Home #1 (Possibly Kelly & Estep’s English Cottage) Awarded to M.O. Watland. Relocated to 6207 San Vicente Avenue on December 28th, 1938. This home is a contributor to the Miracle Mile Historic Preservation Overlay Zone. Model Home #2 (Also could be be Estep & Kelly’s Cottage) Awarded to John W. Detlar. Relocated to 5860 Airdrome Street on February 24th, 1938. Model Home #3 (Richard Neutra’s Plywood House) Awarded to S.E. Gramer. Relocated to 427 Beloit Avenue on March 3rd, 1939. This rare Neutra house, sadly, does not currently have any kind of historic protection. Model Home #4 (Possibly Frank Green’s “Colonel Evans Package House”) Awarded to Adelaide Brown. Relocated to 850 South Genesee Avenue on May 9th, 1939. Model Home #5 Awarded to L.E. Kent. Relocated to 852 South Genesee Avenue (the rear of 850) on May 9th, 1939. This cottage was substantially altered later that year, and again in 1947. Model Home #6 Awarded to Ida. M. Lamar. Relocated to 2546 Corinth Avenue on October 6th, 1936. Later demolished to build the 10/405 connector ramp. The lot upon which this home was moved (Lot 16, Block 2 of Tract 5842) was located roughly underneath the westbound lane of the 10 Freeway just west of the 405 merger. Model Home #7 The fate of the 7th home is unknown. RELOCATION PERMITS: NEW CONSTRUCTION PERMITS: Allan Siple: Arthur Kelly and Joseph Estep: Frank W. Green: Gordon Kauffmann: John Byers and Elda Muir: Paul R. Williams: Richard Neutra: Winchton Risley:
1 Comment
Brian White
8/4/2023 02:30:22 pm
The image of Model Home #4 is the house moved from lot 47, and that is Winchton Risley’s house, now with the addition of a front room projecting out from what originally was the porch.
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