Inside a mid-century home designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright protégé, Bestor Architecture reimagines a Los Angeles residence as a country retreat for contemporary family life. Originally designed in the early 1960s by Foster Rhodes Jackson, the house sits near Claremont, California, abutting state and national parks in the mountains. Led by Barbara Bestor, the project engages with a rich lineage of American architecture, treating Los Angeles as a place of ongoing experimentation and architectural dialogue.
Rather than approaching the residence as a fixed historic artefact, Bestor Architecture carefully distinguishes between what was original, what had been added over time and what could be introduced anew. Over the decades, the house had been extended in different ways, sometimes with Jackson’s involvement and sometimes without.
The house is shaped as an architectural promenade. From the driveway gate, the arrival sequence descends almost like a stream toward the parking area, where structured staircases and layered thresholds begin to unfold. Once inside, the circulation branches toward the kitchen, living room, dining room, lounge areas and outdoor rooms. These gathering spaces are balanced by six bedroom suites.
Bestor Architecture’s work is grounded in making the residence functional for contemporary use while preserving its experimental character. The studio occupies a more private zone, while a communal family room at the end of the spine also serves as a Pilates studio. Three unique guest suites are nearby, and the primary bedroom is reached by a Sam Maloof staircase. Around this room, the architects introduced a glass tree house and new deck, allowing occupants to stand among the trees.
Inside a mid-century home designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright protégé, materiality plays a central role in connecting past and present. Original concrete walls embedded with stone sit alongside hemlock and fir timber surfaces. Custom windows introduce curved inserts that bring shape and softness to the openings. These hard materials are balanced by the interior work of Zeb and Crunk, whose furniture selections bring comfort, colour and tactility to the home.
A key part of the project was the reuse and relocation of existing elements. Stained glass windows were salvaged and repatriated into new positions, while an original ceiling structure was transformed into a large light fixture above the dining room. For Bestor, this approach reflects a more contemporary way of practising architecture.
There’s a distinct sense of play throughout the residence. Its concrete, timber, glass and colour work together to create a home that feels experimental yet liveable. Inside a mid-century home designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright protégé, the design reveals the value of engaging with architecture across time, rather than replacing it. Through restoration, adaptation and additions, Bestor Architecture brings renewed comfort and clarity to a landmark modernist home.
Ultimately, history isn’t preserved as something static inside a mid-century home designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright protégé. It’s activated through contemporary life, shaped by family, guests and daily rituals. This is a house that honours Foster Rhodes Jackson’s original vision while allowing new layers to emerge.
0:00 – Introduction To Inside a Mid-Century Home Designed by a Frank Lloyd Wright Protégé
1:33 – Reimagining A Historic Home For Modern Living
2:35 – Walking Through An Architectural Promenade
5:03 – Materials That Balance Warmth And Modernism
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Photography by Yoshihiro Makino.
Original architecture by Foster Rhodes Jackson.
Architecture and interior design by Bestor Architecture.
Furniture by Zeb and Crunk.
Filmed and edited by O&Co. Homes.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Claremont, California, United States
The Local Project acknowledges the traditional territories and homelands of the Indigenous peoples in the United States. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our respective countries and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
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