A warm, woody time warp goes on sale in Pasadena

In one of the more fortuitous pairings of the mid-20th century, a plywood company executive commissioned this three-bedroom Pasadena house from the prolific LA architect Lawrence Test. The brief, executed in 1949, specified an all-wood design, making abundant use of local, natural ply. Test framed the modernist cabin in marine-grade Philippine mahogany, plainly revealing its post-and-beam structure, now stained a verdigris shade. For the remainder, he followed his client’s wishes for a predominantly ply interior. Panels of ribbon-grade mahogany define the living, dining and study areas and stretch across the bedroom ceilings, while the walls of the bedrooms are faced in exposed elm and birch.

Hernly House, otherwise known as ‘the House With the Plywood Skin’, is currently on the market with The Value of Architecture for $1.64m.

The 161-square-metre project showcased the simplicity and ease of plywood construction. The wood was also hailed as an effective insulator at the time. Test built ventilators into the walls that could be opened for a cross breeze and closed in colder weather, eliminating the need for air conditioning for decades.

The distinctive floors were patched together in an oak mosaic. And the vintage kitchen features cabinetry with pegboard doors. The rustic design incorporated broad banks of glass that invite sunlight to stream through the spaces.

Legendary landscape architect Garrett Eckbo was enlisted by the client to plant the now-mature gardens on the gently sloping 930-square-metre site, framing a long pool deck and outdoor dining area.

The buyers will be the Pasadena property’s third owners in 75 years and will inherit a house in near original condition, its fixtures and fittings largely unchanged over the decades. Photos included with the listing show how little the interiors have changed since they appeared in Gebhard and Winter’s Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times and Architectural Forum.