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Rare Air: Case Study House Hits the Market in Los Angeles for .5M

Case Study House #21, a modern marvel of steel and glass built in 1959, has landed on the market for $4.5 million. Renowned architect Pierre Koenig worked on the design of this Hollywood Hills steel–framed stunner not once, but twice.

According to the L.A. Conservancy, the home was originally “envisioned as a prototype for modern housing that could be produced on a large scale, perfectly in keeping with the goals of Arts and Architecture magazine’s Case Study House program.”

And just in case you need to catch up: the Case Study House program, commissioned by Arts and Architecture magazine in 1945, challenged up-and-coming architects to create experimental prototypes using modern and low-cost materials.

The idea was then to replicate these groundbreaking designs to house soldiers returning from World War II. Thirty-six model homes were designed by stars of the architecture world, but only 24 were actually built—including this prime example.

Also known as the Bailey House, the innovative design is essentially a simple 1,280-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath, one-story box with a flat roof. It’s a savvy use of steel and glass that’s deceptively simple. The residence manages to look just as modern and groundbreaking today as it did in the ’50s.

The front of the house and carport are opaque, keeping it private from the street. The back of the home is open and showcases floor-to-ceiling glass, which creates a melding of indoor and outdoor space. Reflecting pools add to the serene feeling.

The home was considered “a success visually as well as functionally,” according to the L.A. Conservancy. But over the decades, after the original owners moved out, the home’s design became obscured by ill-advised changes to the interior, including skylights, a fireplace, a kitchen renovation, and ’90s-era monstrosities like wide-grout ceramic floor tiles.

In 1997, the current owner purchased the home and brought Koenig back to restore the structure to its original glory. The improvements and restorations were completed a year later.

A modern-focused buyer with a few million to spare can now reap the reward of Koenig’s second pass at the home and live in an iconic structure that carries a rare pedigree.

• For more photos and details, check out the full listing.
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