In January 1945, John Entenza, the editor of Arts & Architecture magazine, announced a program to design and build inexpensive, efficient model homes for the housing boom that would follow the war. The magazine acted as the client. It commissioned leading architects, published every design, and opened many of the finished houses to the public.
Over the next two decades the program produced 36 designs, and about two dozen were built, most of them in Los Angeles. They introduced steel frames, walls of glass, open plans and indoor-outdoor living to a wide audience, and photographs of them by Julius Shulman, above all of Pierre Koenig’s Stahl House, became the defining images of California modernism.
Today the surviving houses are among the most important modern homes in the world. Ten were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, joining the Eames House, which was already listed. They rarely come to market, and when one does, it is an event.
For Sale Now
Case Study Houses for Sale
Homes whose listings call them Case Study houses, updated from CRMLS throughout the day.
No Case Study House is on the market right now. They come up rarely, and often quietly. Homes by the program’s architects come up more often; see their pages below.
Homes are shown when the listing description calls the home a Case Study house. Mentions of the program as an influence, such as “Case Study inspired,” are left out. The description is the listing agent’s, so confirm a home’s history before you buy. Listings provided by CRMLS. “Listed by” identifies the listing agent and brokerage; Kyle Shutts and Arbor Real Estate are the advertising broker unless otherwise noted. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Inquiries are answered by Kyle Shutts, Arbor Real Estate.
The Architects
Case Study Architects on This Site
Each architect’s page covers their story, signature features and every home for sale that credits them.
1892 to 1970Richard NeutraNo. 20 · Nos. 6 and 13, never built
1922 to 1992Craig EllwoodNos. 16, 17 and 18
Pasadena, from the 1950sBuff & HensmanNos. 20 and 28
1925 to 2004Pierre KoenigNos. 21 and 22
1917 to 2004Edward KillingsworthNos. 23 and 25 · Apartment 2, never built
1913 to 1979A. Quincy JonesNo. 24, never built
The Houses
Every Case Study House That Was Built
In program order, with the year each was completed. Several have since been demolished or remodeled.
- No. 1Case Study House 1J.R. Davidson
- No. 2Case Study House 2Sumner Spaulding and John Rex
- No. 3Case Study House 3William Wurster and Theodore Bernardi
- No. 7Case Study House 7Thornton Abell
- No. 8Eames HouseCharles and Ray EamesA National Historic Landmark, open for tours by reservation.
- No. 9Entenza HouseCharles Eames and Eero Saarinen
- No. 10Case Study House 10Kemper Nomland and Kemper Nomland Jr.
- No. 11Case Study House 11J.R. Davidson
- No. 15Case Study House 15J.R. Davidson
- 16, 17 and 18Case Study House 16, 17 and 18Rodney Walker
- No. 16Salzman HouseCraig EllwoodCraig Ellwood →
- No. 17Hoffman HouseCraig EllwoodCraig Ellwood →Later remodeled beyond recognition.
- No. 18Fields HouseCraig EllwoodCraig Ellwood →
- No. 20Bailey HouseRichard NeutraRichard Neutra →
- No. 20Bass HouseBuff, Straub and HensmanBuff & Hensman →
- No. 21Bailey HousePierre KoenigPierre Koenig →
- 1950Case Study House 1950Raphael Soriano
- No. 22Stahl HousePierre KoenigPierre Koenig →Open for tours by reservation.
- No. 23TriadKillingsworth, Brady and SmithEdward Killingsworth →
- No. 25Frank HouseKillingsworth, Brady and SmithEdward Killingsworth →
- No. 26Harrison HouseBeverley David Thorne
- No. 28Case Study House 28Buff and HensmanBuff & Hensman →The last house of the program.
- Apartment 1Case Study House Apartment 1Alfred Beadle and Alan Dailey
Designed but Never Built
- No. 4Case Study House 4Ralph Rapson
- 5 and 12Case Study House 5 and 12Whitney Smith
- 6 and 13Omega and AlphaRichard NeutraRichard Neutra →
- No. 19Case Study House 19Don Knorr
- No. 24Case Study House 24A. Quincy Jones and Frederick Emmons, for Eichler HomesA. Quincy Jones →Joseph Eichler →
- No. 27Case Study House 27Campbell and Wong
- Apartment 2Case Study House Apartment 2Killingsworth, Brady and SmithEdward Killingsworth →
Buying a Case Study House
- Very few Case Study Houses ever sell. Most are privately owned, a few are museums or foundations, and several have been demolished or changed beyond recognition.
- Many listings say a home is “in the Case Study tradition” or by a Case Study architect. That can describe a fine modern home, but it is not a Case Study House; the program’s houses are numbered and well documented.
- Steel-and-glass houses need inspection for corrosion, glazing seals and roof leaks, by someone who knows modern construction.
- Ask whether the house is on the National Register or locally designated, and whether it is eligible for a Mills Act contract, which can lower property taxes in exchange for preservation.
- Value rests on the house’s significance and condition more than on nearby sales, so pricing takes judgment and an understanding of who buys these homes.
See also mid-century modern homes for sale, mid-century neighborhoods and historic homes.
Questions
Case Study Houses FAQ
Is a Case Study House for sale right now?
None are listed right now. They come to market rarely, often after quiet conversations. Ask Kyle Shutts to watch for one.
What was the Case Study House program?
A program run by Arts & Architecture magazine from 1945 to 1966, in which leading architects designed model modern homes that were published in the magazine and, in many cases, built and opened to the public. It produced 36 designs, and about two dozen were built.
Who started the Case Study House program?
John Entenza, the editor of Arts & Architecture, announced it in January 1945. The magazine acted as the client for each house.
Which Case Study Houses can you visit?
The Eames House in Pacific Palisades and the Stahl House in the Hollywood Hills offer tours by reservation. Most of the other houses are private homes.
Are any Case Study Houses in Orange County?
No. The nearest is Case Study House 25, the Frank House, by Killingsworth, Brady and Smith, on the canals of Naples in Long Beach. Most of the others are in Los Angeles and Pasadena.
Are Case Study Houses ever for sale?
Rarely. When one comes to market it draws buyers from around the world. Homes listed for sale that mention the program appear on this page, and Kyle Shutts can tell you when one is coming.
Meet Kyle
Kyle Shutts
Real Estate Professional
Whether you’re buying your first home, upgrading, or selling a high-value property, my goal is simple: to protect your interests, maximize your outcome, and make the experience as smooth and stress-free as possible.
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