Gerald Casale of Devo puts his Neutra trophy home up for sale
Gerald Casale of Devo has listed his Richard Neutra-designed house in Hollywood Hills West at $3.5 million.
Sited on a steep hillside with views of the Los Angeles Basin, the restored International-style home was designed by Modernist architect Neutra and built in 1936 for Los Angeles Examiner printer Joseph Kun. The Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument is considered a prime example of the architect’s prewar style.
The imposing white house has a top-level entry from the street, a rooftop deck, dining and living rooms, an office, a bonus room, three bedrooms and two bathrooms. There are 1,732 square feet of living space on three-and-a-half stories.
Horizontal bands of windows let in natural light and frame panoramic views. The steel-framed casement windows are among the restored features.
Reflecting technological advances at the time it was built, the Kun house was the first home Neutra designed with all-electric fixtures.
The top-floor deck and wraparound decks are intended to blur the line between interior and outdoor spaces -- a signature of Neutra designs.
Colorful and exotic plants, a paved walkway, a landscaped path, a meditation area and bamboo plantings complete the grounds.
Casale, 66, is a founding member of the new wave band Devo. He co-wrote much of the band’s material, such as the hit song “Whip It.” The singer and bass guitarist turned his own design talents to helping create the band’s energy dome hats and radiation suits. He has scores of television and film soundtrack credits.
After spending $2 million to buy the house in 2007, Casale took seven years to research and complete the restoration work, which included stripping and staining the wood floors to match their original color, replacing missing metal doors and built-ins and removing any post-1930s materials.
Original and period fixtures were either fabricated or found to restore the space. Much of the original cabinetry was preserved. Furniture such as the living room sofa and king-sized master bed were made following the original plans of the house.
Aaron Kirman of Aaroe Estates, the luxury properties division of John Aaroe Group, is the listing agent.
Twitter: @LATHotProperty
