
Los Angeles, California 90039
This High-Potential Investment Opportunity is a rare architectural Asset listed at a List Price of $2,099,999, which sits slightly above the $2,064,968 Fair Market Value. As an intact 1955 John Lautner masterpiece, the home features a Fair Condition Rating, necessitating a strategic renovation to modernize systems while preserving its iconic inverted-pyramid ceiling and mitered glass corners. With a large lot size and panoramic views, this property offers significant long-term appreciation potential. It is an ideal acquisition for Architectural Preservationists or Design-Focused Owner-Occupants.
Comparables within 1 miles sold in recently
| Address | Sold Price | Beds | Baths | Sq Ft | $/Sqft | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
★ 1949 W Micheltorena Street Subject 3 bd · 2 ba · 1,679 sqft · $1,230 | $2,099,999* List Price | 3 | 2 | 1,679 | $1,230 | - |
A 1953 Rockford Road Sold 2 bd · 3 ba · 1,844 sqft · $1,095 · 0.5 mi | $2,020,000 | 2 | 3 | 1,844 | $1,095 | 0.5 mi |
B 2452 Lanterman Terrace Sold 2 bd · 2 ba · 1,598 sqft · $1,478 · 0.5 mi | $2,362,000 | 2 | 2 | 1,598 | $1,478 | 0.5 mi |
C 2112 Duane Street Sold 3 bd · 2 ba · 1,454 sqft · $1,049 · 0.9 mi | $1,525,000 | 3 | 2 | 1,454 | $1,049 | 0.9 mi |
D 2502 Armstrong Avenue Sold 3 bd · 2 ba · 1,979 sqft · $1,200 · 0.7 mi | $2,375,000 | 3 | 2 | 1,979 | $1,200 | 0.7 mi |
E 2262 Panorama Terrace Sold 3 bd · 4 ba · 2,195 sqft · $1,064 · 0.3 mi | $2,335,000 | 3 | 4 | 2,195 | $1,064 | 0.3 mi |
F 2054 Kenilworth Active 3 bd · 3 ba · 1,542 sqft · $1,232 · 0.1 mi | $1,900,000 List Price | 3 | 3 | 1,542 | $1,232 | 0.1 mi |
* Subject property listed price vs sold prices of comps.
Property is moderate renovation needed.
This 1955 John Lautner home is a well-preserved architectural landmark, but strictly based on condition criteria, it is 'Fair' due to its age (>70 years) and original, dated state. The kitchen and bathrooms feature 1950s-era cabinetry and appliances that, while historically intact, lack modern efficiency and systems updates.
The property has a large lot size, which is more than 4 times of its living area. lot size in square feet = 7493, living area = 1679.
Designed by legendary architect John Lautner, this 1955 residence is an intact masterpiece offering immense historical value and a rare opportunity for architectural stewardship.
The home features signature Lautner elements, including a dramatic inverted-pyramid ceiling, mitered glass corners, and seamless terrazzo flooring that integrates the interior with the wooded landscape.
Being in original, intact condition since 1955, the property likely requires significant capital investment to modernize infrastructure and systems while preserving its architectural integrity.
At 1,679 square feet, the home's compact footprint and specialized layout, including an integrated artist studio, may not suit buyers looking for expansive modern living spaces.
First Offering. John Lautner, FAIA, Architect | The Rosemary and Joseph Baldwin Residence, 1955. An original, intact work by one of the 20th century's most inventive architects, offered for the first time in seventy-one years. After six years as a Taliesin Fellow under Frank Lloyd Wright, Lautner settled in Los Angeles in 1939 and went on to create such landmarks as the Chemosphere, the Sheats-Goldstein Residence, and the Elrod House. Their bold structure and embrace of landscape redefined California modernism. The Baldwin Residence marks a pivotal moment in that career: its siting, spatial progression, and detail recall Wright, even as they reveal Lautner's own emerging voice. Designed for commercial artist Joseph Baldwin and his wife, Rosemary, the house occupies a tree-filled lot on coveted Micheltorena Street, also home to Lautner's celebrated Silvertop, with views to the Hollywood Hills and the San Gabriel Mountains. A subtle, winding entrance descends to a carport tucked below the house, preserving privacy and turning arrival into a gradual reveal. Where most hillside homes rest on heavy bracing, Lautner balanced his on slender posts anchored by shear walls, so it seems to float above the slope. Brick and redwood plank siding, meanwhile, settle it naturally into its wooded setting. Inside, skylights wash the entry foyer in daylight. Terrazzo flows from the entry through the kitchen and out to the art garden, joining interior and exterior in one seamless surface. Beyond is the family room, the heart of the home, rising beneath a dramatic inverted-pyramid ceiling. Triangular clerestory windows echo its geometry and draw light deep into the space. Floor-to-ceiling glass meets at a mitered corner, opening the room to the treetops and leading out to a wraparound deck suspended over the slope. A brick fireplace grounds the room; behind it, an artist's studio bathed in north light was conceived for Joseph Baldwin's work. A parquet-floored corridor leads to three bedrooms and two baths, set apart from the main living space to balance open, shared living with quiet privacy. Each bedroom retains its original built-ins, designed as part of the architecture itself and a hallmark of Lautner's belief that structure and furnishings are one. An authentic piece of Los Angeles architectural history and a rare stewardship opportunity that may not come again. Photography by Cameron Carothers.
No exterior & parking available.
No sensitive facilities data found.
| Feature | Subject | Average Home |
|---|---|---|
| Beds | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Baths | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Square foot | 1,679 | 1,670.836 |
| Lot Size | 7,493 | 6,152.156 |
| Price | $2.10M | $1.34M |
| Price per sq ft | $1.3K | $807 |
| Built year | 1955 | 1941 |
| HOA | $0 | $238 |
| Days on market | 14 | 56 |
Oct 26, 2026
$2,099,999
Initial Listing