Architecture Wednesday: Wystrach-Adams Residence

The last member of the famous Lloyd Wright dynasty, Eric Lloyd Wright, FLW’s grandson, is known for leaving his own personal mark on the modernist doctrine he grew up with, introducing emotion and sculptural eccentricity.  Though oftentimes the American modernist movement of the 1990s is overlooked, the Wystrach-Adams Residence, an Eric Lloyd Wright design, is at the forefront of this avant-garde natural compound in the lush hills of La Crescenta.

The home, built in 1992, is enveloped by a mountainous panorama, which inspired the curved lines found in both its exteriors and interiors. From the outside, what immediately catches the eye is the rounded roof, which juts out over the two levels of the home. Large balconies and uninterrupted glass windows anticipate what represents one of the cornerstones of the project: its connection with the surrounding nature.

On entering the home, visitors are greeted by a monumental double-height space sculpted in concrete, where not only the walls, but the staircase, the furniture and the large skylight, are gently curved. Most obvious a double-height concrete oval fireplace, which appears to “direct traffic” between the different rooms in the main level.

The home is crafted of wood, concrete, marble and cortex steel, with an abundance of bright copper accents and vibrant tiles; in addition, custom-built furnishings embrace the shapes of each room. Vaulted ceilings and exposed beams—always curved—provide the backdrop for glass doors, windows, and thirteen skylights to allow the light to take center stage. There are four bedrooms and four baths, with a large basement, spread out over 4600 square feet.

Added to this are almost 11,000 square feet of garden—with cedars, mulberries, pines and flowering trees, with a koi pond and a cascading fountain. There are three decks with built-in benches that stretch out into this exuberant natural oasis, as well as an ADU [accessory dwelling unit] with kitchen bath, living area and bedroom.

The home remains in its original, meticulously maintained but includes upgrades like 13 Velux replacement skylights with automatic solar blinds, waterproofing to the main and ADU roofs, fully owned permitted solar, EV charger, LED lighting throughout, and more. It recently sold for over its $3M asking price.

Talent seems to run deep in the FLW family …

As always, click to emBIGGERate …

Dwell