Bold spaces, livable style and a Modernist pedigree
Conrad Buff III and Donald C. Hensman met at USC in the ‘40s, and before the end of the decade established the architectural firm Buff & Hensman & Associates, which made its mark using the post-and-beam style in its often contemporary homes.
The architects, joined in the ‘50s by Calvin Straub, another former USC student, had a following that included celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Paul Anka as well as other folks who simply liked the firm’s designs, according to research by Pasadena-based building biographer Tim Gregory.
This San Marino house, which listing agent Janice Lee described as “a classic Buff and Hensman,” was built in 1975. Hensman was recommissioned in 2001 to head a renovation of the house with the help of builder Mario Primetti and designer Bob Moore. The six-bedroom, 7 1/2 -bathroom house, on nearly 1.5 acres, was enlarged and refurbished.
About this house: Dramatic architectural touches include a bridge above the entry that leads to the master-bedroom suite. A bridge of water connecting the spa with the pool is flanked by fire pits. The house also has a step-down living room, a conferencing area, a media center, an office area and a den with steps down to a 180-bottle-capacity wine cellar. The great room has an open kitchen with a glass-enclosed indoor barbecue/wok area.
Asking price: $6.95 million
Size: The main house has 6,547 square feet.
Features: There is a 750-square-foot pool house with a view of the tennis court, a cabana with kitchenette and full bathroom, a tennis lounge and a fireplace and balcony in the master suite.
Where: San Marino, near the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Listing agent: Janice Lee of Prudential California Realty, John Aaroe division, San Marino, (626) 943-7303.
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To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, please send color interior and exterior photos with caption information on a CD and a detailed description of the house to Ruth Ryon, Real Estate section, L.A.Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. E-mail questions to homeoftheweek@latimes.com.
