Historic Modernism In Mar Vista, $1.6M

by Philip Ferrato

In terms of design and a radical rethinking of Postwar urbanism, the Modernique Homes by the pioneering L.A. Modernist Gregory Ain were groundbreaking in their day—and one of them is on the market and open this weekend.

Having worked with Richard Neutra for years and fully invested in California’s unique approach to the International Style, Ain designed the Mar Vista Tract, (dubbed the Modernique Homes for marketing purposes) in 1948 with Joseph Johnson and Alfred Day, architects he had been working with in Neutra’s office, plus a frequent collaborator, the landscape architect Garret Eckbo. Of 100 planned homes, only 52 were built. The L.A. Conservancy says it best, “In 2003, the Mar Vista Tract on the west side of Los Angeles became the city’s first designated historic district containing solely Modern-style, post-World War II homes. The designation was more than warranted, considering the development is an outstanding embodiment of architect Gregory Ain’s philosophy that modern architecture makes for better living and should be available to everyone.” It was a sentiment that sadly translated into Ain being politically targeted as a Socialist, singled out by J. Edgar Hoover as, “the most dangerous architect in America”.

A prime example of Ain’s well-considered simplicity, the Modernique Homes were intended primarily for returning servicemen and their families—a compact, flexible 3-bed, 1-bath house of only 1,100-square-foot—which appears much more spacious when inside. The garage, which was converted to a pottery studio, could easily regain its original use.

Go to the listing for additional details and images. Open on Sunday, March 9 from 2:00pm to 5:00pm, this is an outstanding opportunity to acquire an historic example of L.A.’s unique heritage, represented by veteran architecture specialist Brian Linder at Compass. For a really (really) deep dive into Gregory Ain’s contribution to LA’s architectural landscape, there’s this video from the Getty Center of a lecture by Anthony Fontenet, the author of Notes from Another Los Angeles: Gregory Ain and the Construction of a Social Landscape.