A Breezy ’60s Duplex in Long Beach Asks $1.05M

In a leafy Long Beach neighborhood, a modernist post-and-beam duplex by architect Clifton Jones Jr. combines two mirror-image homes.

Located in Long Beach's Los Cerritos/Virginia Country Club neighborhood, the duplex occupies a 7,306-square-foot lot.

Not long after graduating from USC in 1960, architect Clifton Jones Jr. was eager to put his education to work on his family’s property in Long Beach, California.

Located in Long Beach's Los Cerritos/Virginia Country Club neighborhood, the duplex occupies a 7,306-square-foot lot.

One of 42 such homes in Long Beach’s Cerritos Circle garden apartment complex, the duplex occupies a 7,306-square-foot lot.

Peter McMenamin

Held by the Jones Family since the 1940s, the property had been used for decades as pasture and training facilities for their thoroughbred racehorses (the paddock was even converted into a victory garden during WWII).

A new door is paired with frosted glass to preserve privacy while allowing light to pass through.

A new door is paired with frosted glass to preserve privacy while allowing light to pass through.

Peter McMenamin

The rock garden landscaping continues from the carport into the front courtyard.

The rock garden landscaping continues from the carport into the front courtyard.

Peter McMenamin

See the full story on Dwell.com: A Breezy ’60s Duplex in Long Beach Asks $1.05M
Related stories:

  • An Award-Winning Home With a Prefabricated Metal Shell Asks $2.3M
  • You Can Own an Entire Island in Belize For Under $500K
  • One of Richard Neutra’s Stilt Homes in L.A. Hits the Market at $1.4M

Similar Posts

  • Taula House

    Taula House is a single-family residence designed for a multi-generational family in the Preston Hollow Neighborhood of Dallas, Texas. The name “Taula” House is derived from the Sanskrit word meaning “Balance.” Guided by the Hindu architecture principles of Vastu shastra, this modern dwelling expresses a balance between traditional beliefs and contemporary ideologies of design. Symmetry, directional alignments, spatial geometry, and delicate detailing were all paramount to the design success of the project. The exterior façade is clad with precast concrete, weathered steel, and dark grey basalt stone. Accents of Brazilian Ipe siding, polished stucco, and zinc composite panel complete the material palette ensemble. The shroud of textures and natural hues are enhanced throughout the day, as the sunlight dances and dapples across each elevation. Ribbons of steel framed glass spread in large vertical and horizontal expanses. Taula House’s structure consists of a steel perimeter frame to support the lateral load of the large precast concrete panels. The 53 unique panels extend full height, with no horizontal joints, and some reach over 30 feet tall. Wood trusses provide clear spans, creating the opportunity for the interior of the house to have no load-bearing walls. A minimalist approach to interior finishes focuses attention on the architecture and precise detailing of the house. Highlights of the exterior palette make their way into the house with a refined use of weathered steel panels and basalt stone floors and walls. The monumental stair at the entry of the house is prominently featured behind a 20-foot tall curtain wall of glass. The stair’s steel structure employs a double-cantilevered switchback design clad with white oak treads. Overall, Taula House reflects the family’s love for entertainment and the importance of peaceful seclusion. There is a graceful mix of public and private – both gathering and intimate spaces. Bold expression and materiality is not lost on this house, yet there is calmness in the beauty.