L.A. architect in his natural element
John Lautner favored the use of earthy materials, such as brick, concrete and wood. The goal was to seamlessly connect a home’s indoors with its outdoor setting. His 1947 Gantvoort Residence atop La Canada Flintridge represents that sensibility.
The home faces east, capturing the morning sun through a glass wall opening onto the patio and garden. The original ocher-colored floors extend outside.
The nearly 1-acre property -- filled with mature fruit and oak trees -- provides views of the local mountain ranges. A stream flows through the property year-round, and the olive-bronze steel roof amplifies the ting-tinging of the rain, bringing nature even closer. A gazebo, koi pond and a Lautner-designed swimming pool complete the outdoors.
About this home: Is this a park or a private residence? The winding driveway and woodsy pedestrian entrance to this property -- and organic construction materials -- make it hard to tell at first. Frequent wildlife visitors and mature landscaping add to the sylvan sensibility.
From inside the home, inclined glass walls face a kidney-shaped swimming pool and gardens. The dining area opens onto a covered patio. Wood trim softens the tapered steel trusses that run the length of the house and are a signature Lautner architectural element as are the sweeping, curved, poured-in-place concrete walls, duplicating the arc of the trusses.
Asking price: $2.2 million
Size: The house has three bedrooms and two bathrooms in 1,801 square feet. The lot is 39,680 square feet. Features: The home has a curved wall of windows surrounding built-in seating in the living room; a floor-to-ceiling fireplace; stainless-steel countertops and original exotic-wood walls, cabinetry and trim in the kitchen; a den; remodeled bathrooms; radiant heat; central air conditioning; and a new irrigation system.
Where: 3778 Hampstead Road, La Canada Flintridge
Listing agent: Sam Buchanan, B&B; Properties, (818) 790-4040. Open house today from noon to 6 p.m.
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To submit a candidate for Home of the Week, send high- resolution color photos with caption and credit information on a CD and a description of the house to Diane Wedner, Real Estate Section, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., L.A., CA 90012.