The Offenhauser Residence (1978). When architect Bob Ray Offenhauser, AIA, whose work includes the Botanical Center and Chinese Garden at The Huntington Library, designed 445 Columbia Street as his own family residence, he conceived it as one of two neighboring houses designed together. The homes occupy the former grounds of… Read More the historic Tanner-Behr estate in South Pasadena, later known as Villa Arno and designated as one of the city's cultural landmarks. The adjoining residence was designed for close friends of the family. Offenhauser referred to the pair as his "Grand Pearls," conceived to evoke a European way of living in which gardens, courtyards, and architecture were inseparable. Completed in 1978 near the Arroyo Seco, the residence remained the family home for decades. A recurring presence on Architectural Digest's AD100, Offenhauser brought that same highly considered approach to his own residence. From the street, tall perimeter walls preserve the property's privacy. Beyond the gate, a fountain courtyard gives way to a formal parterre of clipped boxwood, reflecting basins, and stone urns. The single-story house unfolds as a series of pavilions, each oriented toward its own garden or courtyard, creating an intimate relationship between the architecture and the landscape. At its center, the grand living room rises to 14-foot ceilings beneath skylights, anchored by an 18th-century limestone fireplace with origins in a chateau in France's Loire Valley. A 12-foot-wide wall of glass and steel disappears into the architecture, opening the room to the garden. Terra-cotta, stone, and wood floors bring warmth and texture throughout, while mature trees give the pool and spa a remarkable sense of seclusion. Set on a broad 14,832-square-foot parcel, the residence includes three bedrooms and three baths, along with an expansive garden room, kitchen with walk-in pantry, office, laundry room, and attached direct-access garage. Featured in Bob Ray Offenhauser, An Architect's Journey, it remains a personal expression of the architect's work: formal in composition, intimate in experience, and inseparable from its gardens. Read Less
Property listed by VANTAGE MGMT, Eric Lavey 323-578-5221
Listing Snapshot
Days Online
5
Last Updated
Property Type
SingleFamilyResidence
Beds
3
Full Baths
3
Square Ft.
2,837
Lot Size
0.34 Acres
Year Built
1978
MLS Number
26102110
Additional Details
Appliances & Equipment
Dishwasher, Dryer, Washer
Building
Built in 1978, Living area: 2837.0, Levels: One
Cooling
CentralAir
Exterior Features
Patio/Porch Features: RearPorch, FrontPorch
Fireplaces
GreatRoom, LivingRoom
Floors
Brick, Stone, Tile, Wood
Garage
2 spaces
Heating
Central
Interior Features
Atrium
Laundry
Inside
Lot
0.3405 acres
Parking
4 total parking spaces, ControlledEntrance, Covered, DirectAccess, Driveway, Garage, Private
Pool
InGround
Property
Pool, TreesWoods
Taxes
Parcel Number: 5317044024, Zoning: SPR1E*
Windows
FrenchMullioned
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Based on information from California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. as of and/or other sources. All data, including all measurements and calculations of area, is obtained from various sources and has not been, and will not be, verified by broker or MLS. All information should be independently reviewed and verified for accuracy. Properties may or may not be listed by the office/agent presenting the information.
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