This $6 Million Modernist Showpiece on the Outskirts of L.A. Is a Slice of Retro Paradise
Though John Andre Gougeon is probably most remembered for designing innovative buildings like the Pasadena Presbyterian Church and a Cadillac dealership in Downey, the Buff, Straub & Hensman-trained architect also crafted some equally unique Southern California homes. One of these modernist gems just popped up for sale on the suburban outskirts of Los Angeles, in the quaint village of Sierra Madre. Ashleigh Rader of Compass holds the $6 million listing.
Tucked away down a curving gated driveway on a nearly three-acre hilltop parcel described in marketing materials as “one of the most captivating view lots in the San Gabriel Valley,” the visually arresting structure was built in the mid-1970s and last sold in May 2023 for just under $5.5 million—a million dollars over asking!—to longtime L.A.-based food wholesaler Michael Glick.
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The tomahawk-shaped Sierra Madre residence, which is known as the Heflin House, has five bedrooms and an equal number of baths in roughly 6,800 square feet of well-preserved living space on two levels adorned throughout with a wealth of wood and stone accents, tile floors, beamed ceilings, and copious built-ins. There’s an eye-catching sculptural staircase, and floor-to-ceiling walls of glass provide sweeping vistas of the mountains, city lights, and ocean beyond.
Especially standing out is a sunken fireside family room with integrated seating, plus a spacious kitchen outfitted with an eat-in island and a walk-in pantry. Other highlights include a wet bar-equipped dining room, an office, a wine cellar, and a steam/sauna room sporting a jetted tub. The primary suite comes complete with two closets, along with a luxe bath containing dual vanities, a snazzy soaking tub, and a glassy shower.
Outdoors, the woodsy grounds are laced with walking paths and host a sprawling lawn that flows to an inviting pool surrounded by a sundeck, as well as numerous patios and balconies ideally suited for alfresco lounging and entertaining. A detached carport with parking for up to four vehicles can also be found on the premises.
Glick, the owner and founder of Vesta Foodservice, clearly has a thing for groovy houses from the ’70s. Back in late 2022, he put another midcentury spread that once doubled as the TV-land residence of Vince Vaughn’s True Detective character Frank Semyon on the market for $12 million, but that Topanga Canyon property has not yet sold.
Click here for more photos of the Sierra Madre residence.
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