CSH #1: 10152 Toluca Lake Avenue, North Hollywood- Architect: Julius Ralph Davidson

Hello again,

If you are still with me: kudos (this is by no means congratulatory, I am referring to the granola bar: they pay me to say it); it was never my attempt to give a lecture, but it hardly seemed appropriate to celebrate a monumental time in the history of design without paying respects to those who came before—so without further ado: a moment of silence (mind your hats gentlemen).     

… And we’re back. First published in the February 1945 issue of “Arts and Architecture” magazine, 10152 Toluca Lake Avenue was the first of the Case Study Houses. This residence, as originally designed by Mr. Davidson, was never build; however, a revised version of the plans would be constructed three years later. Both will be covered in this article: the former being the primary topic of discussion.

Originally this residence had no client, so someone with too much time on their hands, mocked up a hypothetical family with hypothetical expectations for a modern residence. This attractive family consists of: an older, independently professional couple, Mr. and Mrs. Abel, their teenage daughter who is frequently off at school, we’ll call Trudy, and everybody’s favorite: a live-in mother-in-law who we will affectionately refer to as Mrs. Vickers. The players are set, now for the stage.

For the interest of the reader, I have taken a few liberties with the narrative to follow: but what fun is life without a little imagination. You will notice that the characters and interactions are fictitious; HOWEVER, all observations in references to the architect, architecture and overall design aesthetics are absolutely true. If nothing else, these “faux-interviews” will serve to make the analyses of these homes a little less tedious and a little more tantalizing for the reader as well as the writer.

“Hollywood Hideout”

The weather is exactly how I remember it to be for North Hollywood at this time of year, so too was the traffic. Nevertheless, I continue up the sinuous walk of the Abel Residence. I am greeted at the door by a rather established-looking couple and am beckoned inward.

With a perpendicular garage, the house seems to 

embrace the visitor upon approach.

 Mrs. Abel, an accounts executive at a prominent California bank, offers to take my jacket: much to my relief. Her husband leads me into the living room directly off the entry where numerous books abound accompanied by stacks of dog-eared notes. Gregory Abel is a Professor of English at UCLA that can’t seem to get enough shelf space for this “extra-curricular” work. “Despite our best efforts, it would seem Jules [Davidson] and I were unsuccessful in accommodating for my ever-expanding literary collection,” Gregory quips standing amidst the ample shelving system now full to bursting, “The best laid plans of mice and men, I suppose.” Mr. Abel and I share a laugh at his Robert Burns reference and I am pleased with myself for having followed along.

The living room is expertly adorned with various pieces by: Eileen Gray, Corbusier and the Eames—their tubular steel components serving to accentuate the bountiful natural light pouring in from the floor-to-ceiling window at the rear of the house. Most notable in terms of the living room, is the way in which the ceiling edge is chamfered above the mantle with inlayed rail lighting allowing for a diffuse means of bathing the room with artificial light; when the generous California sun has set, that is.

The living room, aside from being quite accommodating of 

various activities, has a splendid view of the backyard and 

sports a curved ceiling above the fireplace that washes the 

room in diffuse lighting during the evening hours. 

 Next, we make our way into the modestly sized kitchen that Mrs. Abel says is perfect for her as she is admittedly a, “less-than-avid cook.” Gregory and I take a seat at the breakfast nook overlooking one of the houses three terraces. I inquire about the couple’s decision to commission such a house.

“It wasn’t easy parting with our loft in LA. We had grown accustom to snug quarter and proximity to our respective places of employment, but we are getting older and coming to terms with the idea of retirement. Trudy comes and goes in between semesters at USC and the arrival of my Mother-in-law brought new demands. We thought a change of scenery would go us some good.” Mrs. Abel brings over a tray of lemonade and chimes in, “But budget was a big concern. Being long-time renters, we were terrified of taking on a mortgage especially because at our age it would probably outlive us.”

With these things in mind, the couple commissioned local architect Julius Davidson who took to heart the needs and expectations of his new clients.

At first glace the home is a rather conventional one, composed of a wood structure set on a concrete slab. But, as the Abels point out, the magic is in the details. For the other components of the house Davidson utilized materials traditionally used for more industrial building typologies. Aluminum sheets for siding, plywood for cabinetry and other treatments, asphalt tile flooring, factory-made steel trusses for the roof and Formica countertops over which we share lemonade. “Davidson spared not expense in reducing the expense of the project,” Mr. Abel states with a smile.

Along with appeasing the couple’s desire for a relatively inexpensive house, the architect made several concessions for the programmatic elements of the house: some, the Abels had stipulated, and others the they didn’t even know they wanted.

A private suite on the second floor for Mrs. Abel’s mother with a separate terrace and balcony overlooking the entry, an office/ dormitory for daughter Trudy, and plenty of outdoor space for entertaining or gardening in the case of Mrs. Abel and her mother: who both possess green thumbs I am told.

The rear terrace with exposed structural steel trellis provides 

ample space for: dinner parties, sunbathing and gardening. 

“We brought our list of requirements to the architect thinking it would keep him busy, but he came back with a list of things we had not considered,” Gregory reminisces. Davidson went beyond the call of duty, not only complying with the couples demands but also: orienting the house diagonally on the site to maximize solar gain, providing for cross ventilation in every bedroom and placing the terraces in such a way that adjacent part of the building would protect against the prevailing winds. “Worse that ants at a picnic are strong winds,” jokes Mrs. Abel.

Mr. and Mrs. Abel’s shifting family situation and professional outlook prompted an endeavor into uncharted waters, but with the patient guidance and savvy design sensibility of architect Julius Davidson, it would seem the couple’s search for a change of scenery had done them plenty of good.

***

As mentioned earlier, Julius Davidson did not build his initial scheme for CSH #1; however, a revised version of the scheme was constructed on a different site three years later. What follows are various drawing produce by Mr. Davidson for the revision of CSH #1. 

The revised plans for CSH #1 by Julius Davidson

The front elevation for the revised CSH #1

The rear elevation of the revised CSH #1

   

There you have it, the first in a long line of houses that changed the American conception of home. I look forward to continuing our journey through the history of Modern Architecture in hopes that we may discover together what exactly constitutes good design.

Until next time