The Only Home John Lautner Ever Built for Himself Is Listed for the First Time in Decades

Built in 1940 for a reported $4,500, the John and Mary Lautner House is now on the market for $1,590,000.

A rear view shows a cantilevered living room and a formerly enclosed walkway to the bedrooms. Lautner would go on to build several homes nearby, including the famous Reiner-Burchill "Silvertop" Residence down the street.

Before he became a monolithic figure in American architecture, John Lautner’s first significant solo project was a home he designed for himself and his first wife, MaryBud, just on the heels of a fellowship with Frank Lloyd Wright at Taliesin. Now, for the first time in decades, the Los Angeles property is up for sale.

Perched on a steep hillside in Silver Lake, the John and Mary Lautner Residence remains in nearly original condition. The redwood-clad home cascades down a steep slope—a challenge Lautner approached with the intention "to build something of the hill, rather than in spite of the hill." — Perched on a steep hillside in Silver Lake, the John and Mary Lautner Residence remains in nearly original condition. The redwood-clad home cascades down a steep slope—a challenge Lautner approached with the intention “to build something of the hill, rather than in spite of the hill.”

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Photo: Cameron Carothers

The home helped to establish Lautner’s name independent of his mentor, although Frank Lloyd Wright’s influence is evident throughout. Ribbon windows overlook treetops in the wood-clad living room, which also features a clay tile fireplace and an abundance of built-ins.

Photo: Cameron Carothers

Interesting features include the hexagonal shape that defines much of the multilevel living room and kitchen, as well as the formerly open deck that separated public and private areas. Windows surround the home on all sides, overlooking treetops and a private courtyard along the front. The property also retains many original details, including stained concrete floors, plaster walls, cabinetry, and plywood ceilings.

Shortly after the home’s completion, east coast architectural critic Henry Russell Hitchcock described it as “the best house by an architect under 30 in the United States” in California Arts and Architecture magazine.