Having apprenticed under the Richard Neutra in the 1930’s, architect Harwell Hamilton Harris‘s work often showcased the design elements learnt in those formative years of his career. The connection between the two can be seen in the layout of this remarkably preserved modernist house by Harris (his second build following his stint with Neutra), which recently came up for sale in Pasadena. Named ‘the Laing House’, the project showcases the architect’s fascination with modular systems, the arrangement of rectangular volumes arranged here in a tiered formation rising from the road that runs parallel with the home. 

The 1,500 square foot residence originally doubled as a lecture hall and library in its early incarnation, with the design split between two distinct volumes separated by an entrance way that leads to a vast great room, where glass doors open to a balcony where views of the San Gabriel Mountains fill the horizon. Beautifully preserved in much of its original state, the home is a fine example of the timeless design of the California mid-century house, the layout and detailing still the ideal fit for modern living. Original fixtures, cabinetry, hardware and light fittings remain largely intact. 

Stucco walls, broad eaves and boxed balconies offer a nod to inspirations taken from the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, these design elements lifted by Harris to perfectly complement his own approach. The original landscaping was planned by the renowned horticulturalist Theodore Payne, and the same layout remains today, with heavy use of California native plants rooting the home in place, an important touch for a California modernist house with one foot in the past and the other in the future.

Photography © Sterling Reed