A Streamline Moderne home by jailbird architect William Kesling comes to market in Pasadena

Bauhaus design meets breezy Californian living at this Streamline Moderne home, designed by controversial American modernist William Kesling in Pasadena’s Poppy Peak Hills enclave.

Kesling was one of the most prolific architects of his generation, designing over 20 Streamline Moderne residences in and around Los Angeles in the mid-30s. While his architectural legacy is undeniable, he’s somewhat forgotten, thanks partly to his criminal record and subsequent relocation to San Diego. The architect served time in San Quentin in 1937 for fraud, and it was during this period that his design for 412 Glen Holly Drive was constructed by the John L Hudson Construction Company.

Photography: © Cameron Carothers

1 of 9

Also known as the Thomas J Atol Residence, the Pasadena property features a cruise-liner inspired exterior, characterised by sweeping horizontal lines, concrete, expansive decks and tiered gardens that fan out from the 2,106 sq ft home.

It’s quintessential Kesling at his finest, and modernist aficionados will appreciate the history of the three-bedroom home, whose sculptural form is a forerunner to the glass-wrapped modernism that emerged after WWII.

Living spaces are set across three hillside levels, with a top-to-toe layout putting the reception at the top. Kesling favoured open floor plans that flow onto a series of outdoor decks, tiered gardens, balconies and leafy patio spaces. The same crisp lines and glistening white forms of the exterior find expression across the interior of the home, too.

The Thomas J Atol Residence is for sale via Compass Realty and the George Penner team for $1.895m and is an opportunity to own a piece of LA’s modernist history.