The house, a mid-century masterpiece, served as the primary residence of Ray Kappe, the late architect who co-founded the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). He designed the place himself in 1967.
Kap passed away in 2019, and his wife Shelly, who also co-founded SCI-Arc, died last year. Now the property is being sold by their family trust.
Tucked away on a hill in the Rustic Canyon neighborhood, the house floats above a natural spring that flows through the property and rests on six concrete columns sunk 9 meters into the ground. The 4,157-square-foot floor plan is spread over seven levels, with five bedrooms, five bathrooms, and free-flowing living spaces enveloped in redwood and glass.
One critic called it “a controlled explosion of space.” One architect called it ‘the ultimate tree house’. In 2008, when the LA Times Home section listed the 10 Best Homes in LAwith creations by Richard Neutra, Frank Lloyd Wright and Pierre Koenig, Stephen Kanner, past president of the LA Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, said Kappe’s “might be the greatest house in Southern California.”
(Cameron Carothers)
It is not a house that could be built today for a number of reasons. Firstly, the floating stairs and walkways that run through the property do not have handrails, which is now required under current building regulations.
The house also has a lot of glass. Too much glass, according to California’s modern building codes. The home’s skylights, clerestory windows and towering windows that take in the wooded landscape surrounding it make up about 50% of the floor plan – much higher than modern boundaries allow.
Outside, cantilevered decks and platforms overlook a pool, spa, sauna and cabana wrapped in eucalyptus, sycamore, oak and bamboo.
The 4,157-square-foot home is wrapped in concrete, redwood and glass.
(Cameron Carothers)
The end result is a striking space that feels completely unique, even in a region as architecturally eclectic as Southern California. In 1996 it was considered one LA Historical-cultural monument.
Ian Brooks of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties holds the listing. He said calls to view the property have been coming in non-stop since it was put up for sale.
“The Kappe residence will resonate with discerning buyers who value its architectural provenance, impeccable design and cultural significance – a rare opportunity to own a lasting piece of architectural history,” he said.
#Ray #Kappes #modernist #masterpiece #million #Pacific #Palisades