California is filled with midcentury modern gems, from actress Dakota Johnson’s “extraordinatory” Los Angeles retreat to unique estates designed by renowned architects such as Richard Neutra.
But a home doesn’t need to be tied to a household name to hold a fascinating legacy.
Enter 1225 Oberlin Drive, a newly listed glass-walled Hillside dwelling designed by USC School of Architecture graduate Charles W. Walton.
The home has an asking price of $1.289 million—a sharp increase from the $329,500 it last sold for in 2002.
The 1962 home is a rare residential property from the underrecognized architect, whose work in Glendale, CA, focused primarily on libraries, schools, civic buildings, and commercial projects. Locally, he was known for his work on the Brand Library and Art Center, a modernist addition created with Raymond Jones.
The 1,305-square-foot home was designed to feel more spacious than it actually is, leveraging structure, glass, and elevation to incorporate the surrounding landscape into the property.
There’s less of a need for cluttered load-bearing walls in this home, where exposed timber quite literally does the heavy lifting while tongue-and-groove ceilings and glass panels in place of walls keep spaces open.
A source close to the property explains there’s a “tantalizing mystery attached” to the home, as it “is said to have been conceived by Walton as a kind of prototype for a larger housing initiative.”
Speculating that 1225 Oberlin may have been intended to be “the first of many” houses just like it, the source explains Walton could have been looking for a way to easily repeat Modernist homes, around the same time that legendary real estate developer Joseph Eichler successfully brought the style of architecture to the masses.
“Documentation confirming Walton’s larger plan has yet to surface,” the source continues. “So for now, it remains architectural lore.”
The entrance leads to an open living and dining area, which boasts a funky blue fireplace and a wall of windows flaunting impressive city views. The room is extended by an oversized covered deck, which effectively extends the living space to the outdoors.
To the right, a beautifully renovated ergonomic kitchen maintains the original 1960s charm of the home, but has introduced thoughtful new features. European-style cabinets and chef-grade appliances have brought the room to the present day without losing Walton’s original vision.
It’s worth noting the restoration of midcentury modern homes has become a tall order in recent years, with homeowners embarking on challenging quests to preserve the authenticity of the structures.
Between high demand for this architectural style and a struggle to source comparative materials, an intentionally updated modernist home is quite a find.
This particular home also has three bedrooms, although the listing notes the third room is a flexible space that could be suitable as an office, a den, or extension of the home’s public space.
The home’s lower level can also serve a multitude of purposes, from storage space to a home gym. There’s also additional exterior space on this level, ideally suited for gardening or other outdoor activities.
Additional amenities include an oversized single-car garage.
1225 Oberlin sits within the eclectic Glendale neighborhood of Adams Hill.
With winding roads and steep slopes, the area’s topography can be a challenge, but has lended itself to a very interesting mix of architectural styles ranging from charming tudors and English cottages to Spanish Colonial Revivals, which makes Adams Hill stand out from other pockets of Glendale that typically stick to a cohesive style.
It’s no surprise the area is home to creatives in a range of notable professions.
The street the hillside gem is on is also home to another experimental dwelling: architect Richard Banta’s H-shaped residence, also completed in 1962.
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