Colin Firth and Julianne Moore weren’t the only stars with stand-out performances in Tom Ford’s A Single Man. Architect John Lautner’s Schaffer Residence also stole the film with its dramatic, kaleidoscope-like glass and redwood structure. Luckily for us, the 1949 home is currently on the market, providing new viewpoints of an architectural treasure.
Nestled at the bottom of a valley in Glendale, CA, this 1949 split-level home, designed primarily of redwood and glass, implements a convention of Frank Lloyd Wright (one of Lautner’s early influences), both inspired by its forested surroundings while seamlessly integrated into an organic landscape. Once again made famous in Tom Ford’s 2009 directorial debut, A Single Man, Lautner’s Schaffer Residence has been carefully restored and is currently listed through Crosby Doe Associates for a mere asking price $1,459,000.
Images: The John Lautner Foundation
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Comments (21)
Who knew modern could be so dark and depressing?
I love this place!
It's very beautiful in an overwhelmingly sad and gloomy way. Is it the dark wood? The heavy wood ceilings? The quality of the light?
A perfect background for the film, but not for me.
Yes, a perfect background for a film about a man who's seriously depressed.
Boy, did the owner luck out! Receiving a fee for the use of his house for filming and all the free publicity for the sale of the house! Sweet!
at first glance I thought the first picture was some sort of bizarre ping pong table.
and how can a house like that be depressing? you people must have never grown up in a trailer park.
The kitchen would make me crazy with that sink so far from the rest. It's really nice though.
Reminds me of a cousin's house, with similar wood, glass and light--but my cousin's house is peaceful and delightful, not dark and depressing like this. Like Dulcibella, I'd like to know --does anyone have insight into why this glory of wood and windows is so somber?
The listing photos look a bit better in terms of lighting and overall feel of the space. The ones above weren't exposed very well.
I love it; cooling shade is such a rare and precious commodity here in Los Angeles and its surrounding areas. This house looks cool and soothing, much more pleasant than the sun-baked box i live in now...
That kitchen counter looks like a ping-pong table!
It's sexy - I love it.
I have never both liked and disliked a place so much. I was struggling with how I felt until I read Ducibella's comment which sums my reaction perfectly:
"It's very beautiful in an overwhelmingly sad and gloomy way. Is it the dark wood? The heavy wood ceilings? The quality of the light?"
This space is soooo yummy!!! <3
The space is probably very dark inside, given the broad overhangs and smallish windows in most of the walls (excepting the ginormous revolving glass doors,natch).
Could I live there? No. Do I find it hauntingly beautiful? Yes.
Okay, maybe I could live there, but I think I'd only be able to do that if I exclusively wore ivory turtlenecks and camel-colored wool slacks and constantly had an old-fashioned full of scotch in my hand to make the atmosphere complete.
I agree with the rest of the commenters... it's absolutely gorgeous, but too dark for me to live there.
Maybe it's a photo issue... with all those windows, how could it be so dark?
I love mid-century homes and love all the character and quirks of this one (except the ping pong table counter top :).
Lautner's my least favorite modern architect, but I love the pivoting glass walls. It is a darker, more intimate take on modernism. I actually loved Julianne Moore character's house in the movie more though.
The house was tailor made for the Firth character. Literally tailor made - by Ford himself, I'm sure.
I love it! I don't find it too dark or depressing. I like the moody look. But yes, those listing photos linked to above would probably be more welcome here. I think it's a warm and cozy place. I wouldn't paint it all white or anything. I think I'd only like to change that ping-pong table counter-top.
Loved the movie, smitten with the house. I wish I had 1.5 million!