Frank Lloyd Wright's Sturges House In LA Faces Demolition Risk

(MENAFN- USA Art News) The Sturges House, the sole Usonian home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Los Angeles, is currently at risk of demolition due to severe deterioration, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy.

Earlier this summer, the Conservancy added the residence to its 2026 Watch List of endangered architectural landmarks. The organization noted that the house, situated on a Brentwood Heights hill, faces“demolition by neglect.” Despite its official designation as a Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM), there are fears that its state of disrepair could necessitate its removal.

The 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom, one-bathroom home was commissioned by Lockheed engineer George Sturges and his wife, Selma, after they saw Wright's Jacobs House in Madison, Wisconsin, in a January 1938 issue of Architectural Forum. Wright apprentice John Lautner oversaw its construction, which concluded in 1939. While Wright's Los Angeles work from 1919 to 1923 included landmarks like the Hollyhock House and Ennis House, experimenting with textile-block concrete, the Sturges House is unique as the area's only Usonian example, a utilitarian style developed during the Great Depression.“We see Usonian houses much more frequently in the Midwest and East, as well as in Northern California,” said Barbara Gordon, director of the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy.

The Sturges family sold the property in 1951, and it changed hands three times over the subsequent 15 years, as reported by the L.A. Conservancy. In 1967, Adventures of Superman actor Jack Larson and director James Bridges purchased the house, along with its original furniture. The couple, known for their art collecting, lived there until Bridges's death in 1993, when the house achieved HCM status. Larson resided in the home until his death in 2015.

The property was put on the market in 2016. The El Segundo-based nonprofit All Right Now Foundation acquired it for $1.85 million in December 2016, according to Zillow. Since then, deferred maintenance has led to extensive damage. The redwood facades are deteriorating, exposing the steel beams that support the 21-foot cantilevered deck. Overgrown vegetation presents a wildfire hazard, and the carport is rotting. The All Right Now Foundation website states:“The house is occupied by full-time tenants who also serve as caretakers.” However, Gordon noted that“In recent years, neighbors have reported seeing wildlife entering the house.” In June, the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy indicated that its attempts to“establish meaningful engagement with the owner have largely gone unanswered.” Robert Brisco, CEO of All Right Now, did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to his company, Internet Brands.

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (LADBS) issued a Notice of Code Violation to the Foundation on July 1, providing 30 days to either comply or submit a remediation plan, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy. The LADBS currently lists the matter as“Under Investigation.” The Los Angeles Conservancy encourages individuals to contact L.A. City Council member Traci Park to express their concerns.

Source: Artnet News

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