case study houses los angeles tour

Case Study House Tours

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Explore two stunning Case Study Houses Case Study House #8 -- The Eames House (exterior only with interior visable through large open doorways) Designed, built and lived in by the world renowned mid-century designers, Charles and Ray Eames. Case Study House #22 -- The Stahl House (interior & exterior) The iconic family home featured in countless films, television shows and advertisements. Mid-century modern enthusiasts travel from all over the world to view just one of these houses. This is your opportunity to experience both homes with a uniquely qualified guide. Andrew Edelstein has been a docent for the Eames Foundation for the past three years and is the only person to give tours at The Stahl House (that is not a member of the Stahl family). With Andrew as your guide, you will delve into the fascinating stories of living in a Case Study House as well as hearing about the history of the Case Study House Program. Includes transportation and refreshments. …

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The view alone is worth the visit... The house wraps around the pool in an L shape...the layout accentuates the million dollar views from both bedrooms and living space You will feel like you are in a Dwell magazine photo shoot as soon as you step into the property (Written by husband)

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View of LA from the house

My three friends and I booked this tour as part of a birthday surprise outing for one of our friends. I had often seen this house in photos and was thrilled that we were able to see this lovely home in person. We booked a sunset tour on a spectacularly clear day in Los Angeles. The views were wonderful as well as the ability to walk around, throughout the property as the changing light from sunset to evening transpired. It was magical to watch the city lights appear and to imagine what life what like for the family who lived here. I highly recommend this fun tour and would further recommend taking the evening time to do this tour. Andrew was our tour guide. We enjoyed all the interesting inside stories he shared. I have shared a post on my blog about the visit for anyone interested in seeing some photos of the changing light on the day we visited the Stahl house. Giving this tour a thumbs up. Lots of fun to see the home. http://followbarbsbliss.blogspot.com/2012/03/stahl-case-study-house-22.html

I was given the Case Study House Tour as a birthday gift. What a great gift! I had walked through the mock-up of the Stahl house created for the show on mid-city modern aesthetics at the Temporary Contemporary several years ago. I thought I had pretty much experienced the real thing. Not so! The key to this house is the location. The glass walls makes the airliner view of the L.A. basin part of the design. The experience of being there is almost as dramatic as the different experiences of looking at architectural renderings--floor plans and elevations--and then of walking into the built structure. I enjoyed the mock-up. I was stunned by the real house. Having Mrs. Stahl and the youngest son there made it even more real. Visiting the Eames home and studio was impressive in a different way. I was disappointed we didn't get to go inside, BUT, again, the big surprise was the relationship of the house to the site. I don't think that any photo or book or video conveys how incredibly appropriate these two kinda Mondrian-abstract-appearing structures are to this Pacific-overlooking site. I had never really thought of this as anyone's HOME. The tour changed my opinion. My first surprise was the startling juxtaposition of the homey decor (think FLW's comments about the hearth, enclosure) to the austere glass and siding. Then, even from outside, it was clear the glass walls served as huge, barely framed landscape "paintings." But, of course, the "paintings aren't naturmort; the site makes it clear that this is raw nature just outside. The minimal landscaping accentuates this reaction. So, just as at the Stahl house, the big revelation was experiencing the site, the house as part of the place. The guide told several interesting anecdotes about Ray and Charles Eames that, again, made the experience of being there even more vivid.. What was it like to LIVE in these incredible homes, to be the people for whom these home were built? Want to experience these homes intimately, directly? Take the tour and find out!

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Architectural homes in Los Angeles: Eames House

Architectural homes in Los Angeles: Schindler House

Architectural homes in Los Angeles: Lummis House (El Alisal)

Architectural homes in Los Angeles: Hollyhock House

Architectural homes in Los Angeles: Sam Maloof House

Architectural homes in Los Angeles: Greystone Mansion

Architectural homes in Los Angeles: Gamble House

Architectural homes in Los Angeles: Neutra VDL Research House

Architectural homes in Los Angeles: Avila Adobe

Architectural homes in Los Angeles: Frank Gehry House

House tour: Architectural homes in Los Angeles

Visit these important architectural homes from some of LA's pioneering greats like Eames, Gehry and Neutra.

From tract homes to Case Study Houses, Southern California has always been at the forefront of residential home design ( even Ice Cube knows it ). Whether you’re interested in local history, celebrity digs or plain old house porn, we’ve got a spot for you. So get off the beaten museum track and check out these landmark architectural homes, all within a few mile radius and (mostly) open to the public.

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Eames House

• Historic buildings and sites
• Pacific Palisades

Designing couple Charles and Ray Eames were known for their intelligence and their joie de vivre , both of which are apparent at the Eames House nestled in the Pacific Palisades. One of Southern California’s most beloved examples of modernist residential design, with its Mondrian-style color-block exterior and environmentally-sensitive siting, this home was the Eames’ residence from the time they moved in—on Christmas Eve of 1949—until their deaths in the '70s and '80s, respectively. Visitors park a couple blocks away and walk up the hilly driveway for a self-guided tour of the exterior ($10, reservations required). Interior tours are more difficult to come by: Members are invited for an appreciation day, always scheduled near the Eames’ June 20 anniversary. Anyone can book a one-hour personal tour ($275; $200 for members), but if you’re a real Eames fan, you may want to splurge on the picnic for four in the meadow ($750; $675 for members) and recreate the opening shots of the duo’s popular Powers of Ten video.

Schindler House

• Things to do
• Walks and tours
• West Hollywood

Sleeping baskets on the roof, communal kitchens and a revolving-door salon of artists. Nope, not a Burning Man camp: This is the Schindler House, designed by Austrian architect Rudolf Schindler, who built it as a dual-family residence in which his family cohabited for a time with his frenemy and fellow influential architect Richard Neutra. A quiet, Japanese-influenced concrete building hidden behind a bamboo grove on a street of condos, this experiment in living now houses the Mak Center , a Vienna-based institute that runs a fantastic program of events in the space, including experimental fashion shows, innovative performance art and concerts of new, original compositions. During the week, visitors can wander around the empty house and imagine themselves part of the freewheeling LA bohemia of the 1920s and '30s.

Lummis House (El Alisal)

• Highland Park

Where would we be without those energetic civic boosters that built Los Angeles? The prolific Charles Fletcher Lummis founded the Southwest Museum, was an editor at the Los Angeles Times , and still managed to design this house (the name of which means “the Sycamore” in Spanish) on the banks of the Arroyo Seco. Its exterior is made almost entirely from river rock and the interior is heavily influenced by Pueblo Indian dwellings. Fans of today’s DIY movement will appreciate the rustic Craftsman charm of this home, which is furnished with hand-crafted wood pieces; it’s interesting to see how closely modern-day bohemian design mirrors that of Lummis House. The Historical Society of Southern California is now headquartered here, and it holds several Sunday afternoon programs a year, as well as an annual holiday open house in December.

Hollyhock House

This 1921, Mayan-inflected Frank Lloyd Wright house was originally built as a “progressive theatrical community” space by activist and oil heiress Aline Barnsdall. Today it’s the centerpiece of Barnsdall Park and is open for tours during the park’s popular Friday night wine tasting events . Rudolf Schindler, a protégé of Wright’s, was the overseeing architect on this project (unusual for Wright, who typically was on-site for all of his buildings) and by all reports it was a contentious building process, with the same delays and cost overruns familiar to anyone who’s attempted construction. After it was completed, frequent flooding of the living room in the short yet destructive rainy season and seismic concerns prevented Barnsdall from living in the gorgeous but impractical concrete and stucco house for long—though she did spend the rest of her life in a smaller house on the property, which the family called Olive Hill.

Sam Maloof House

• Inland Empire

Master woodworker Sam Maloof and his carpenters designed and built this lovely, thoughtful home piece by piece in his on-site workshop; no two door openings are the same here, and each joint is a wonder of craftsmanship. A MacArthur Genius Grant recipient, Maloof has had his iconic rocking chairs shown at the Smithsonian; he also designed the chairs that were used on-camera at the history-changing Nixon/Kennedy debates. Visitors can see some of this furniture, as well as the wide-ranging collection of arts-and-craft pieces that he and his wife of 50 years, Alfreda, amassed together. The garden, which he tended, and the house are both open for tours; if you ask, you might be able to peek into the workshop, where he continued building until his death in 2009 at the age of 93.

Greystone Mansion

• Beverly Hills

Is the Greystone Mansion haunted ? The society that runs it certainly wants us to think so—haunted house tours and a popular interactive play capitalize on the 1929 scandal in which the owner of the mansion, oil heir Ned Doheny, died in a mysterious murder-suicide with his boyhood friend and employee. Doheny’s father was mired in the Teacup Dome Scandal at the time, and the deaths meant that he was excused from testifying; rumors also abounded that Ned, who was married with children, was trying to cover up a same-sex affair. Either way, a tour of this 55-room Tudor estate is a good way to get a glimpse into the lives of LA’s historical 1%—costly slate clads the façade and walkways, the windows are leaded glass and guests were entertained in the bowling alley and two movie theaters. When the home was finished in 1929, it cost a reported $3M, making it the most expensive private home in the city at the time.

Gamble House

• Cultural centers
• price 2 of 4

Pasadena may think it owes much of its traditional Arts and Crafts style to Charles and Henry Greene, the brothers and architects responsible for designing many of the city’s landmark buildings, but really, they should be honoring Thomas Greene, the architects’ father. He was the one who decided on their profession, sending them off to MIT and then demanding they move out to Pasadena once they graduated. No word on whether he determined their style as well, but no matter who the progenitor, this graceful house originally built for one of the heirs of the Proctor & Gamble fortune remains one of the best examples of their work. Programming at the Gamble House is exceptional—there are tours that focus on things like the art glass or the details and joinery in the house, as well as more casual events like Brown Bag Tuesday, when visitors bring their own picnic lunch to eat on the grounds, followed by a 20-minute tour. However you decide to experience it, don’t miss the remarkable zig-zag staircase, a joyous element that adds a bit of fun to the perfection of the house.

Neutra VDL Research House

• Silver Lake

The original Neutra VDL Research House, a living laboratory for architect Richard Neutra’s theories on residential design, was built for $8,000 (including the site!) in 1932; it burned down in 1963 and two years later his son oversaw the rebuilding of an updated version. Neutra was something of a control-freak as a designer—he made recommendations to his clients that included the ideal flowers to display, and would occasionally make unannounced visits to see how, exactly, people were living in his homes. This remodel retains Neutra’s clarity of vision and is still a stunner. Today, this glass-walled paragon of modern design overlooking the Silver Lake Reservoir is an active part of LA’s design community and home to occasional art installations. Each Saturday, students in Cal Poly Pomona’s architecture program lead half-hour tours.

Avila Adobe

Visit this 1818 home to see what life was like in California when it was still governed by Mexico. This is the oldest standing residence in the city, built by wealthy cattle rancher Francisco Avila, whose extensive 4,439-acre land grant covered much of Beverly Hills and the Miracle Mile district. Built of tar from the La Brea Tar Pits , clay from the LA River and wood from the riverbank, this adobe structure is located near the Zanja Madre (in English, "mother ditch"), the original aqueduct that brought water to the LA River for El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora La Reina de Los Angeles (the original name of our fair city). Though visitors only see about half of the original house, it’s well-preserved with an interesting mix of Spanish, Mission and ranchero influences.

Frank Gehry House

• Santa Monica

The neighbors love to hate it, carloads of architecture students drop by to gawk at it: This unexpected intersection of chicken wire, plywood, corrugated metal and traditional Santa Monica house is famed architect Frank Gehry’s actual place of residence. This year the AIA gave it the Twenty-Five Year Award, for a building that has stood the test of time for 25 to 35 years. Rumor has it that when Gehry had a party for his firm here, design enthusiast Brad Pitt knocked on the door and invited himself in. You probably shouldn’t do the same, but you can take it in from the outside. There are no official visiting hours or tickets, but the house is very easy to view from the street.

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Marion Davies House - Annenberg Beach House

The site that is currently known as the Annenberg Community Beach House was originally a five-acre oceanfront property belonging to William Randolph Hearst and his mistress, Marion Davies. The lavish compound was designed in the Georgian Colonial-style by architects Julia Morgan and William Flannery and featured a three-story main house, three detached guest houses, servants' quarters, dog kennels, tennis courts and two swimming pools. The legendary parties held at the compound during Hearst and Davies’ tenure had guest lists that often numbered in the thousands. Luminaries such as Howard Hughes, Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, Bette Davis, Carole Lombard, Cary Grant, Winston Churchill, and Gloria Swanson all spent time at the massive estate at one time or another.

The site operated as the popular Sand & Sea Club for decades, then sat vacant and boarded up for years until the city of Santa Monica announced plans to renovate and reopen it as a public beach facility. Renowned philanthropist Wallis Annenberg donated $27.5 million to the cause. During the renovation, all of the remaining original structures from the Hearst days were demolished, except for a 110-foot Italian marble swimming pool and one of the guest homes, now known as the Marion Davies Guest House . The Annenberg Community Beach House opened to the public in April 2009. The site is open daily and is also used as a special events/wedding venue and filming location.

Neutra VDL Studio and Residences

The only Richard Neutra-designed house that is now open regularly to the public, the Neutra VDL Studio and Residences is a Silver Lake hidden gem that was built by the famed architect in 1932. He ran his practice out of a studio here, and along with his wife Dione, raised three sons in this house, which he designed to demonstrate that Modernist principles could be enjoyed by less affluent clients, while maintaining privacy. Natural light, glass walls, patios and mirrors are hallmarks of the Neutra VDL House. Tours of the property, given by Cal Poly Pomona architecture students, are offered on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

In January 2017, the Neutra VDL Studio and Residences was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The U.S. Department of the Interior press release describes Neutra as "a nationally and internationally seminal figure of the twentieth century Modern movement in architecture" and the VDL Research House as "the only property where one can see the progression of his style over a period of years and is among the key properties to understanding the national significance of Richard Neutra.”

Schindler House

When this residential house was built by Vienna-born Rudolf Schindler back in1922 - inspired by a recent trip to Yosemite with his wife - it was extremely unconventional at the time for a place to live. In reality, it was meant to be a cooperative live-work space between two families, much like a camp site. Having been the residence of the Schindlers and then other creatives, this WeHo hidden gem is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open to the public Wednesday through Sunday as an architectural center.

Stahl House

The Stahl House (aka Case Study House #22) was designed by architect Pierre Koenig and built in 1959. Perched in the Hollywood hills above the city, the Stahl House is an icon of Mid-Century Modern architecture. A 1960 black and white photograph by Julius Shulman, showing two women leisurely sitting in a corner of the house with panoramic views through floor-to-ceiling glass walls, is one of the most famous architectural photos in history and a quintessential Los Angeles image. In 2016, TIME named Shulman's photo one of the 100 Most Influential Images of All Time .

The Stahl House was declared Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument #670 in 1999. In 2007, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) listed the Stahl House as one of the top 150 structures on its "America's Favorite Architecture" list, one of only 11 in Southern California, and the only private residence on the list. The Stahl House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

Discover LA Newsletter

What are the Los Angeles Case Study Houses?

It started out simple enough; figure out how to build economic, reliable homes in the Los Angeles area after the end of World War II, that would be suitable and sufficient for families. This quest would continue from the 1940’s to the 1960’s, and its effects are still visible and relevant to this day across L.A.

What are Case Study Houses?

The “Case Study Houses” were an architectural experiment in Los Angeles, California between 1945 and 1966 (The homes are located in the Los Angeles area aside from one in the San Francisco, California area and one in Phoenix, Arizona.) The editor of Arts & Architecture magazine at the time, John Entenza, asked architects to design and create homes that were simple, liveable, cost effective, and allowed owners to revel in the indoor-outdoor lifestyle that California is famous for ( read the magazine’s original call-out here ). In a competition of sorts, he asked for designs to be submitted for homes that would then be built and judged on their ability to live up to this criteria.

How many Case Study Houses were built?

The Case Study Houses initiative began with a total of 36 prototypes to be experimented with. The magazine set the requirement that “each house must be capable of duplication and in no sense be an individual performance.” Despite there being 36 designs, only 24 were ultimately built.

In terms of materials and layout, Entenza did not give much guidance or many instructions about what needed to be done when creating these homes, so the architects were free to use the materials they wanted. Some opted for brick whereas others opted for steel or wood.

Many architects chose to use smaller steel beams, which helped in designing homes that could be replicated easily and at a low cost. The use of cement, industrial glass, and plywood also tremendously decreased the price of building and therefore would be create a more budget-friendly option for families looking to purchase and maintain a home.

Los Angeles Case Study Houses: homes for modern families

In the end, almost every architect involved in this experimental project ended up aiming for an economically reasonable home that promoted a lot of natural light (via huge glass doors and windows that also reduced energy costs), openness, relaxation, and harmony.

Many of the homes were built with a modular layout that made the construction of them easier and quicker. The homes provided a feeling of togetherness for families, typically by rooms that we would now consider living rooms, but they also featured separate rooms to promote privacy when desired.

Famous architects of the Case Study Houses program

Entenza had such a reputation, and the idea of the Case Study Homes project was so appealing that he was able to commission several high-profile architects including Pierre Koenig, JR Davidson, and Richard Neutra.

These architects were already familiar with using these newer building materials materials and construction methods to build homes with the mid-century modernist theme, so they were perfect options for the Case Study Houses.

An announcement released by Arts & Architecture magazine stated that the architects were chosen based on “reasonableness, which they have consistently maintained at a high level.” The announcement concluded by stating that the Case Study Houses project would “assist in giving some direction to the critical thinking on housing being done by good architects and good manufacturers whose joint objective is good housing.”

The initial plan was to have each of the designs of the Case Study Houses built and then analyzed to see which ones could be recommended to be replicated based on sturdiness, structural design, appearance, economic benefit (versus losses), and public acceptance of modern architecture.

Ultimately, the goal was to find the best modern model that could be duplicated and would be reasonable and affordable for a family facing post-war challenges at that time. Many soldiers were returning home after being deployed for several years and needed places to support their families that didn’t come with exorbitant expenses. Seeing as there was a shortage of many materials and a lack of time for construction, a solution needed to be found.

Of course, the project was also geared towards finding out what construction methods and materials wouldn’t be suitable in that era.

The architects were all well aware of the Danish and Bauhaus modernist movements that were unveiled at the 1939 World’s Fair, which likely influenced the choices most of them made for their Case Study homes; many of the homes have modernist designs.

L.A. Case Study Homes today

At the time, these homes were stunning examples of ‘modern’ architecture and technology, and many of them still exist today. Several of the homes have unfortunately been demolished or completely remodeled to the point where they have lost their initial design integrity, but about 20 of the homes still exist much as they did when they were built. The most popular ones are likely the Stahl House, which was designed by Pierre Koenig in 1960 in West Hollywood, and the Eames House, which was designed by Charles and Ray Eames in 1949 in the Pacific Palisades area. Both of these homes can be toured today.

Pierre Koenig’s Case Study House #21 has been altered but was initially praised for being completely surrounded by water, and Case Study House #10 is now owned by the actress Kristen Wiig. The Case Study House in Phoenix, Arizona, is an apartment that is still in existence today.

The Case Study Houses are a testament to how the United States tried and succeeded in leading the architecture and building industry after the war. Building economic, sturdy homes with advanced (for that time) technology, modern materials, and lower cost was critical for Americans looking to restructure their lives post-war, and the Case Study Houses project turned out to become one of the most memorable and inspiring ventures in architectural history.

How to tour Case Study Houses: Architecture tours

Coming soon, we will be creating tours for these and other important homes in Los Angeles. To inquire, please click here .

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Case Study Houses

Filed under:

• The beginner’s guide to Los Angeles

The Case Study houses that made LA a modernist mecca

Mapping the homes that helped to define an era.

Case Study House No. 21 in Laurel Canyon returns asking $3.6M

Also known as the Bailey House, the steel and glass residence was designed by Pierre Koenig.

Case Study House No. 18 asking $10M in Pacific Palisades

Called West House, the 1948 residence was designed by influential modernist Rodney Walker.

Kristen Wiig picks up Pasadena’s Case Study House No. 10 for $3M

Built in 1947, the house was designed by Kemper Nomland and Kemper Nomland Jr. for Arts & Architecture’s influential design series.

Long Beach's midcentury modern tour will showcase 9 era-defining homes

On October 15, nine homes will open their doors to the public in an event to benefit an upcoming exhibition on influential furniture dealer Frank Bros. The store’s sophisticated offerings made it a magnet for architects and decorators.

Stahl House at the Center of an Ugly Legal Battle

The owners of Pierre Koenig's midcentury masterpiece are suing the producer of an abandoned documentary about the house. Previously, the filmmaker had filed a lawsuit alleging they had derailed the film because of its portrayal of their family.

Late Simpsons Co-Creator's Pac Pal Compound Comes With Case Study House #20, Wants $18M

Case Study House #18, On National Register, For Sale as Possible Teardown

Case study house #25 is for sale on the long beach canals, la's most famous house finally makes the national register, mapping 10 iconic la buildings up for state landmarking, see pasadena's case study house #10 start its big restoration, architect a. quincy jones's old brentwood home, designed by case study architect rodney walker, buy nomland & nomland's case study house #10 in pasadena, wouldja believe this hollywood hills house is a case study by buff & hensman yeah, us neither, simpsons co-creator selling rustic canyon house designed by and for architect thornton abell, the case study house map of los angeles, case study designer rodney walker's ojai shangri-la, entire eames house living room being moved into lacma, big drop for case study no 9 estate in the pacific palisades, mid-century modernist and case study architect kemper nomland, jr. dies.

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AD Classics: Stahl House / Pierre Koenig

• Written by Andrew Kroll

• Architects: Pierre Koenig
• Year Completion year of this architecture project Year:  1959
• Photographs Photographs: Flickr User: dalylab

Text description provided by the architects. The Case Study House Program produced some of the most iconic architectural projects of the 20th Century, but none more iconic than or as famous as the Stahl House, also known as Case Study House #22 by Pierre Koenig. The modern residence overlooks Los Angeles from the Hollywood Hills. It was completed in 1959 for Buck Stahl and his family.

Buck Stahl had envisioned a modernist glass and steel constructed house that offered panoramic views of Los Angeles when he originally purchased the land for the house in 1954 for $13,500. Stahl had originally begun to excavate and take on the duties of architect and contractor; it was not until 1957 when Stahl hired Pierre Koenig to take over the design of the family’s residence.

The two-bedroom, 2,200 square foot residence is a true testament to modernist architecture and the Case Study House Program.  The program was set in place by John Entenza and sponsored by the Arts & Architecture magazine.  The aim of the program was to introduce modernist principles into residential architecture, not only to advance the aesthetic, but to introduce new ways of life both in a stylistic sense and one that represented the lifestyles of the modern age.

Pierre Koenig was able to hone in on the vision of Buck Stahl and transform that vision into a modernist icon.  The glass and steel construction is understandably the most identifiable trait of architectural modernism, but it is the way in which Koenig organized the spatial layout of the house taking the public and private aspects of the house into great consideration.  As much as architectural modernism is associated with the materials and methods of construction, the juxtaposition of program and organization are important design principles that evoke utilitarian characteristics.

The house is “L” shaped in that the private and public sectors are completely separated save for a single hallway that connects the two wings.  Compositionally adjacent is the swimming pool that one must cross in order to get into the house; it is not only a spatial division of public and private but its serves as the interstitial space that one must pass through in order to experience the panoramic views. 

The living space of the house is set back behind the pool and is the only part of the house that has a solid wall, which backs up to the carport and the street. The entire house is understood to be one large viewing box that captures amazing perspectives of the house, the landscape, and Los Angeles.

Oddly enough, the Stahl house was fairly unknown and unrecognized for its advancement of modern American residential architecture, until 1960 when Julius Shulman captured the pure architectural essence of the house.  It was the night shot of two women sitting in the living room overlooking the bright lights of the city of Los Angeles.

That photo put the Stahl House on the architectural radar as being an architectural gem hidden up in the Hollywood Hills.

The Stahl House is still one of the most visited and admired buildings today.  It has undergone many interior transformations, so you will not find the same iconic 1960s furniture, but the architecture, the view, and the experience still remain.  You can make reservations and a small fee with the Stahl family, and even get a tour with Buck Stahl’s wife, Carlotta, or better recognized as Mrs. Stahl.

This building is part of our Architecture City Guide: Los Angeles . Check all the other buildings on this guide right here.

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• Eames Foundation

find us on:

• Eames House
• Charles and Ray
• Eames House and the CSH program
• Case Study House Bluff
• Photo Gallery

How to Visit

• Covid-19 Safety Protocols
• Guided Exterior Tour
• Group Guided Exterior Tour
• Interior Tour
• Members Appreciation Day
• Small Wedding
• Specialty Events
• Visitors Submissions
• Memberships
• Corporate Sponsorship
• 250 Year Project
• Collections
• On-going Studies
• Conservation Management Plan
• Team Thanks
• Twilight Interior Tour

Welcome to the Eames House!

Before you arrive, you may wish to download our Visitor Flyer for reference during your visit.

Please be aware:

• Reservations are required for ALL visits.
• There is no parking at the Eames House; free public street parking is available on Corona del Mar, which is the street just up the hill from the House.
• The Eames House is a five-minute walk down the hill to the shared private driveway entrance, marked with signs for 201, 203 and 205. Walk all the way to the end : the only house with a wrought-iron gate. There is NO BUZZER! For more information, visit our Directions page.
• No interior photographs are permitted. Exterior photos are for personal use only, not publication of any kind.
• We continue to monitor Covid-19 news, particularly case surges and hospital capacity. If necessary for the safety of staff and visitors, we may need to close to visitors or to add additional visitor restrictions. We thank you for your understanding. Visit our Covid-19 Safety page for full details.

Eames Foundation 203 Chautauqua Boulevard Pacific Palisades, CA  90272

Standard Tour Hours:

Mondays, 2:30 pm Tuesdays, CLOSED to visitors Wednesdays, CLOSED to visitors Thursdays, 12:30pm and 2:30 pm Fridays, 10:30 am, 12:30pm, and 2:30 pm Saturdays, 10:30 am, 12:30pm, and 2:30 pm Sundays, CLOSED to visitors

Types of Visits:

Monthly tours released Guided 90 minute visits

More/Reserve

Guided and private 90 minute visits, limited to 25 visitors

More/Request Reservation

Interior Tours:

CURRENTLY CLOSED Limited to 4 visitors

CURRENTLY CLOSED Limited to 6 visitors

Private exterior tour Site to yourselves, bring your own food

$2,500+ for small wedding Reservation one month in advance

Specialty Events: 

We offer cocktail and other group events, with pricing determined by event. Feel free to ask about any other possibilities; we would love to hear your ideas, so you may tailor an event to your particular needs.

More/Request Information

All special event proceeds support conservation work under the 250 Year Project.

Help us share the Eameses’ joy and rigor with future visitors, so they may have a direct experience of Charles and Ray’s approach to life and work.

• Uncategorized

The Eames House, or Case Study House no. 8

I am sticking around the Pacific Palisades to talk about another one of my favorite places in Los Angeles–The Eames House and Foundation. But first a film.

I hope this video gave you some context about why the Eames House is such an important part of Los Angeles’ cultural landscape. I love taking my friends here who love architecture and Mid-Century design. The Eames house is a marvel in making do with what you have and testing the limits of what an object can do.

Table of Contents

The Case Study House Program

The Case Study House program, which the Eames House is part of, was ahead of its time in many ways. The idea came from a group of editors at Art and Architecture Magazine who posed a question to architects on how to produce homes cheaply and quickly. The program coincided with a projected population boom in the Western states after the end of WWII. One of the criteria was using materials that were readily available during the war. Think of the 3 Rs-Recycle/Reuse/Restore before it was cool.

The Case Study question was brought to several architects and designers that now read like a who’s who of the Mid-Century aesthetic: Richard Neutra, Eero Saarinen, Pierre Koenig, and Craig Ellwood, to name a few. In all, thirty-six houses were designed. Many of these were never built or were demolished before they could be protected. Luckily, two of these homes are on tour to the public in Los Angeles. Case Study House no. 22, or the Stahl House, and Case Study no. 8, built by Charles and Ray Eames.

The name Eames may not be familiar to you, but I assure you that you have seen their work copied again and again by places like Design Within Reach and West Elm. In addition to being architects of Case Study House No. 8, this husband and wife team designed all the furniture and textile pieces featured in the home. All the Eames designs are both aesthetic and functional.

The Eames’ home

What you notice about Case Study No. 8, which ended up being the Eames’ home, is that the house is separated into two buildings made from sections of shipping containers. A working space that served as their design studio and another larger space which I will talk about more in-depth in a second. The walkway between the two buildings is a green space meant to leave the worries of work at work.

The Eames were purveyors of the guest/host relationship. The home was designed so that it has a natural flow and puts guests first in the kitchen, then to the dining room, and ending the evening in the living room. After dinner, they can sip their after-dinner drinks with a spectacular view of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean. This house was definitely planned with dinner parties in mind. The floor-to-ceiling windows really showcase the nature surrounding the property. The meadow outside is lined with milkweed that attracts Monarch butterflies that flit around the property. Tall eucalyptus trees with peeling bark reveal new colors and smell sweet on the air. Looming in the distance is the outline of Catalina Island.

Hours, cost, and information

Case Study No. 8 is now run by The Eames House Foundation who offers tours of the home and grounds.

• Website: http://eamesfoundation.org
• Location: 203 Chautauqua Boulevard, Pacific Palisades
• When: By appointment, closed on Wednesdays and Sundays
• Cost: As of this update, 4/6/23, they are only offering guided exterior tours at $30 per person. Check the website for all costs and to make an appointment
• Ages: All are welcome on the exterior tour. People under 15 years of age are not allowed on an interior tour

[Getting there: Driving: Just an FYI that although the directions to the place are good, please note that this area straddles two cities–one side of the street is Vance while the other is Corona Del Mar, a helpful hint since there is no place to turn around once you have missed the street.  By Public Transit: Los Angeles Metro bus 602.]

Missed my first favorite place; check out Monday’s post .

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Comments (2).

Hannah Siller

September 10, 2020 at 8:47 am

I had no clue this existed and I’ve lived in Southern California my whole life. Might have to check it out.

Leo Carrillo State Beach's Tide Pools –

September 10, 2020 at 10:52 am

[…] I hope I convinced you to incorporate Leo Carrillo State Beach’s tide pools to your trip and life in Los Angeles. If you missed out on my other favorite things to do in Los Angeles, check out the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine and the Eames House. […]

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Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine

Leo carrillo state beach's tide pools.

Look inside this one-of-a-kind home during the Pasadena Heritage Spring Home Tour

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Tour the restored Case Study House No. 10 in Pasadena, the city’s only home designed for the landmark residential architecture experiment, as part of the Pasadena Heritage Modern Works Spring Home Tour on March 26.

The three-level home, constructed in 1947 on a sloping corner lot in the San Rafael hills, was designed by father-son architects Kemper Nomland and Kemper Nomland Jr.

It was meant to be an example of a simple, low-cost home for a middle-class family of adults in Southern California:

In “Case Study Houses: The Complete CSH Program 1945-1966,” the home is described as a light-filled property that blends indoors and outdoors: “Every effort has been made to incorporate the surrounding landscape with the living and dining area. … The generous use of translucent glass answers the demand for a feeling of openness and light without sacrificing any privacy.”

The self-driven tour will also include the Buff & Hensman-designed Arroyo del Rey house , shown above, located in the shadow of the 134 Freeway and historic Colorado Street Bridge; the Theodore Criley Jr.-designed Frank Thomas House; a second Buff & Hensman home known as the Hamlin House; the Altadena home that architect James DeLong designed for his parents; and the Belle Grove Apartments by Harold Bissner Sr., Harold Bissner Jr. and James Resh.

Guests will drive themselves to each location, where docents will offer tours and discuss the home’s architectural features and history.

What: Modern & More Spring Home Tour

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 26.

Cost: $40 to $45 in advance, $48 on the day of the tour.

Info: pasadenaheritage.org

Los Angeles Case-Study Houses: When Shelter Was an Art Form

1950s Buff, Straub & Hensman house in Pasadena remade for modern living

More Southern California home tours

Designers give Lloyd Wright’s Dorland house in Altadena a colorful, personal spin

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Lisa Boone is a features writer for the Los Angeles Times. Since 2003, she has covered home design, gardening, parenting, houseplants, even youth sports. She is a native of Los Angeles.

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Case Study House #16

Case Study House #16 is the only surviving, intact example of Craig Ellwood's designs for the Case Study House program.

Place Details

• Craig Ellwood Associates

Designation

• Private Residence - Do Not Disturb

Property Type

• Single-Family Residential
• Los Angeles

Case Study House #16 was the first of three houses in Arts & Architecture magazine’s Case Study House program designed by Craig Ellwood, a contractor with no formal architectural training. It remains highly intact today, and is the only surviving, intact example of Ellwood’s designs for the program; his built designs for #17 and #18 have both been altered through subsequent remodelling.

Ellwood was trained as an engineer and had a passion for using industrial materials and construction techniques in residential architecture. As a result, Case Study House #16 exhibits a highly rational design and is constructed of steel, glass and concrete.

Completed in 1952, the house was innovative in its use of exposed steel structural framing, and floor-to-ceiling glass walls took advantage of spectacular views. 

The one-story, flat-roofed residence was built on a flat pad in the hills of Bel-Air with magnificent views to the south and west. The layout and siting take into account the views and sun orientation, taking full advantage of both.

From the street the house presents itself as a glowing, floating glass pavilion. Translucent glass panels screen the house from the street, while frameless floor-to-ceiling glass walls in the living room merge with floors, ceilings, and a massive natural rock fireplace that extends through the glass to the covered patio.

View the National Register of Historic Places Nomination

Issues including Case Study House #16

Case study houses, related content, capitol records tower, glendale county building, casa de cadillac.