Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT

PROJECT: Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the SINAY HOUSE

REQUEST: Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument

OWNER: Mark A. Haddawy 7764 W. Torreyson Drive Los Angeles, CA 90046 OWNER’S Anna M. Brooks REPRESENATIVE: 1109 Fourth Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90019

RECOMMENDATION That the Cultural Heritage Commission:

1. Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument per Los Angeles Administrative Code Chapter 9, Division 22, Article 1, Section 22.171.7

2. Adopt the report findings.

S. GAIL GOLDBERG, AICP Director of Planning [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Ken Bernstein, AICP, Manager Lambert M. Giessinger, Preservation Architect Office of Historic Resources Office of Historic Resources Prepared by: [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] ________________________ Edgar Garcia, Preservation Planner Office of Historic Resources Attachments: October 14, 2008 Historic-Cultural Monument Application ZIMAS Report

CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION HEARING DATE: December 18, 2008 TIME: 10:00 AM PLACE: City Hall, Room 1010 200 N. Spring Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012

CASE NO.: CHC-2008-4400-HCM Location: 1861 N. Heather Court Council District: 5 Community Plan Area: Bel Air-Beverly Crest Area Planning Commission: West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council: Bel Air-Beverly Crest Legal Description: Lot 36 of TR 10926

Sinay House CHC-2008-4400-HCM Page 2 of 3 FINDINGS

1) The subject building “embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type

specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction” as an example of International Style residential architecture.

2) The building is associated with a master builder, designer, or architect, as a work by

master architect Richard Neutra.

CRITERIA The criterion is the Cultural Heritage Ordinance which defines a historical or cultural monument as any site (including significant trees or other plant life located thereon) building or structure of particular historic or cultural significance to the City of Los Angeles, such as historic structures or sites in which the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community is reflected or exemplified, or which are identified with historic personages or with important events in the main currents of national, State or local history or which embody the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction, or a notable work of a master builder, designer or architect whose individual genius influenced his age.

SUMMARY Built in 1947 and located in the Franklin Canyon area immediately adjacent to the City of Beverly Hills, this two-story residence exhibits character-defining features of International Style architecture. The flat-roof building appears to be irregular in plan. Two perpendicular walls, one at full height and the second at half-height, shield the entry steps that lead to the recessed entry door. The primary façade and exteriors are sheathed in stucco with redwood casement windows, forming a dominant design element: a horizontal ribbon extending along all the building’s elevations. The northeast bifurcated façade features an L-shaped sheet-metal-covered overhang and floor-level metal strip vents at the northend. Windows are fixed transom casement windows. An attached two-car garage is located on the southwest corner of the building. Adjacent to the southwest wall of the house is the balcony, which features a sliding glass wall, overhanging shed roof with recessed lighting strips, and steps that lead to the north portion of the cement-paved rear yard. Additional steps reverse down to the lower deck and rear entrance to the garage. The subject building is the work of master architect Richard Neutra (1892-1970). Neutra was a noted and influential architect of twentieth century modern architecture. Neutra graduated from the Technical University in Vienna in 1918, while studying under Adolf Loos. Neutra worked briefly with famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright and Rudolph Schindler, until he established his own practice in 1926. In 1929, Neutra designed and built the Lovell Health House, which was the first completely steel framed house to be built in the United States. Neutra was first recognized in 1932 by the New York Museum of Modern Art in the premiere International Style Show. Neutra was also known for his 1946 Kaufmann Desert House with its innovative design, as well as for his participation in the early Case Study House Programs. The proposed historic monument is notable as a significant design of Neutra and for its use of modernist International Style design elements. It received first prize in the House & Garden’s Annual Architectural Awards on December 11, 1947.

Sinay House CHC-2008-4400-HCM Page 3 of 3 Neutra designed the home for furniture marketing innovator Joseph Sinay, who founded RB Industries in 1956. The company became publicly owned and grew to more than 77 stores located in California and six other states. Along with his wife, the Sinays were awarded with the Judah L. Magnes Medal from the Society of the Founders of the American Friends of Hebrew University. Later additions to the proposed Sinay House historic monument include alteration of the bathrooms, rear sliding walls, and kitchen cabinets, sink, and dinette. The rear yard has been paved in cement, with a railing placed adjacent to it. The balcony deck has been replaced with removable pallets of spaced boards and the stairs have been redesigned with no spacing between each step. DISCUSSION The Sinay House successfully meets two of the specified Historic-Cultural Monument criteria: 1) “embod[ies] the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction” and 2) is associated with a master builder, designer, or architect.” As a residential building designed in the modern International Style by famed master architect Richard Neutra, the property clearly qualifies for designation as a Historic-Cultural Monument based on these criteria. BACKGROUND At its meeting of November 6, 2008, the Cultural Heritage Commission voted to take the application under consideration. On December 4, 2008, the Cultural Heritage Commission toured the subject property.

Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT

PROJECT: Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the SINAY HOUSE

REQUEST: Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument

OWNER: Mark A. Haddawy 7764 W. Torreyson Drive Los Angeles, CA 90046 OWNER’S Anna M. Brooks REPRESENATIVE: 1109 Fourth Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90019

RECOMMENDATION That the Cultural Heritage Commission:

1. Take the property under consideration as a Historic-Cultural Monument per Los Angeles Administrative Code Section because the application and accompanying photo documentation suggest the submittal may warrant further investigation.

2. Adopt the report findings.

S. GAIL GOLDBERG, AICP Director of Planning [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Ken Bernstein, AICP, Manager Office of Historic Resources Prepared by: [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] ________________________ Edgar Garcia, Preservation Planner Office of Historic Resources Attachments: October 14, 2008 Historic-Cultural Monument Application ZIMAS Report

CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION HEARING DATE: November 6, 2008 TIME: 10:00 AM PLACE: City Hall, Room 1010 200 N. Spring Street

Los Angeles, CA 90012

CASE NO.: CHC-2008-4400-HCM Location: 1861 N. Heather Court Council District: 5 Community Plan Area: Bel Air-Beverly Crest Area Planning Commission: West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council: Bel Air-Beverly Crest Legal Description: Lot 36 of TR 10926

Sinay House CHC-2008-4400-HCM Page 2 of 3 SUMMARY Built in 1947 and located in the Franklin Canyon area immediately adjacent to the City of Beverly Hills, this two-story residence exhibits character-defining features of International Style architecture. The flat-roof building appears to be irregular in plan. Two perpendicular walls, one at full height and the second at half-height, shield the entry steps that lead to the recessed entry door. The primary façade and exteriors are sheathed in stucco with redwood casement windows, forming a dominant design element: a horizontal ribbon extending along all the building’s elevations. The northeast bifurcated façade features an L-shaped sheet-metal-covered overhang and floor-level metal strip vents at the northend. Windows are fixed transom casement windows. An attached two-car garage is located on the southwest corner of the building. Adjacent to the southwest wall of the house is the balcony, which features a sliding glass wall, overhanging shed roof with recessed lighting strips, and steps that lead to the north portion of the cement-paved rear yard. Additional steps reverse down to the lower deck and rear entrance to the garage. The subject building is the work of master architect Richard Neutra (1892-1970). Neutra was a noted and influential architect of twentieth century modern architecture. Neutra graduated from the Technical University in Vienna in 1918, while studying under Adolf Loos. Neutra worked briefly with famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright and Rudolph Schindler, until he established his own practice in 1926. In 1929, Neutra designed and built the Lovell Health House, which was the first completely steel framed house to be built in the United States. Neutra was first recognized in 1932 by the New York Museum of Modern Art in the premiere International Style Show. Neutra was also known for his 1946 Kaufmann Desert House with its innovative design, as well as for his participation in the early Case Study House Programs. The proposed historic monument is noted for being a design of Neutra and its use of modernist International Style design elements. It received first prize in the House & Garden’s Annual Architectural Awards on December 11, 1947. Neutra designed the home for furniture marketing innovator Joseph Sinay, who founded RB Industries in 1956. The company became publicly owned and grew to more than 77 stores located in California and six other states. Along with his wife, the Sinays were awarded with the Judah L. Magnes Medal from the Society of the Founders of the American Friends of Hebrew University. Later additions to the proposed Sinay House historic monument include alteration of the bathrooms, rear sliding walls, and kitchen cabinets, sink, and dinette. The rear yard has been paved in cement, with a railing placed adjacent to it. The balcony deck has been replaced with removable pallets of spaced boards and the stairs have been redesigned with no spacing between each step. CRITERIA The criterion is the Cultural Heritage Ordinance which defines a historical or cultural monument as any site (including significant trees or other plant life located thereon) building or structure of particular historic or cultural significance to the City of Los Angeles, such as historic structures or sites in which the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community is reflected or exemplified, or which are identified with historic personages or with important events in the main currents of national, State or local history or which embody the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style

Sinay House CHC-2008-4400-HCM Page 3 of 3 or method of construction, or a notable work of a master builder, designer or architect whose individual genius influenced his age. FINDINGS Based on the facts set forth in the summary and application, the Commission determines that the application is complete and that the property is significant enough to warrant further investigation as a potential Historic-Cultural Monument.