Hi Gorman - yes it is, kind of - here is the story written by Robin Young for the Claremont Courier - on the Padua Hills Art Community - link to full story: www.claremont-courier.com/articles/news/t13008-padua 4003 Padua Hills Millard and Mary Sheets Millard and Mary Sheets had built their home in Padua Hills, three miles north of Claremont in 1942. They had moved to Claremont following Mr. Sheets’ completion of art school in 1929 at Chouinard School of Art in Los Angeles and his appointment at Scripps College in 1932, taking over a fledgling art department at the age of 24. Mr. Sheets is perhaps most famous for the architecture and mosaic designs of more than 40 Home Savings & Loan buildings, built throughout the greater Los Angeles area. The Sheets home was designed and built in a style and with materials that were ahead of their time. The home featured high ceilings and a flat roof, giving the building a sleek look. The view overlooked the canyons and mountains to the north with citrus groves to the south as far as one could see. The house was constructed using rammed earth, a method with which Mr. Sheets had been experimenting. He decided on this type of construction for the Padua home because there was a large amount of adobe clay soil on the property. This method required building of inner and outer vertical forms for each wall of the house, into which damp adobe clay was then placed. The clay was then rammed with pneumatic hammers and compacted into a solid wall. Once the outer forms were removed, the remaining structure would be self-insulating and structurally sound. In 2003, the Grand Prix fire swept through the foothills above Claremont, destroying all but three homes in Palmer Canyon, just north of Padua Theater. The fire continued south and roared down Via Padova, destroying the Sheets’ home. Dr. Gerald and Barbara Friedman, working from the original Sheets’ plans, had the house rebuilt. The past and current residents of Padua Hills recognize its role in fostering and housing - literally -a great many artists and craftsmen whose work is now part of private and museum collections around the world. It is a place, still, of wild beauty, native flora and fauna, and thoughtful design that make its location a breathtaking one. -Robin Young
Well done! Looking forward to revisiting Claremont with eyes anew.
Love the music!
Thank you!
You're welcome!
One of the best documentaries on modern architecture, thank you 🙏🏼.
Glad you enjoyed it!
My In law's, the Hansch's, owned one of the Neutra homes in Padua Hills.
Is the Millard Sheets house still standing? All of the footage shows it from the past.
Hi Gorman - yes it is, kind of - here is the story written by Robin Young for the Claremont Courier - on the Padua Hills Art Community - link to full story: www.claremont-courier.com/articles/news/t13008-padua
4003 Padua Hills
Millard and Mary Sheets
Millard and Mary Sheets had built their home in Padua Hills, three miles north of Claremont in 1942. They had moved to Claremont following Mr. Sheets’ completion of art school in 1929 at Chouinard School of Art in Los Angeles and his appointment at Scripps College in 1932, taking over a fledgling art department at the age of 24. Mr. Sheets is perhaps most famous for the architecture and mosaic designs of more than 40 Home Savings & Loan buildings, built throughout the greater Los Angeles area.
The Sheets home was designed and built in a style and with materials that were ahead of their time. The home featured high ceilings and a flat roof, giving the building a sleek look. The view overlooked the canyons and mountains to the north with citrus groves to the south as far as one could see.
The house was constructed using rammed earth, a method with which Mr. Sheets had been experimenting. He decided on this type of construction for the Padua home because there was a large amount of adobe clay soil on the property. This method required building of inner and outer vertical forms for each wall of the house, into which damp adobe clay was then placed. The clay was then rammed with pneumatic hammers and compacted into a solid wall. Once the outer forms were removed, the remaining structure would be self-insulating and structurally sound.
In 2003, the Grand Prix fire swept through the foothills above Claremont, destroying all but three homes in Palmer Canyon, just north of Padua Theater. The fire continued south and roared down Via Padova, destroying the Sheets’ home. Dr. Gerald and Barbara Friedman, working from the original Sheets’ plans, had the house rebuilt.
The past and current residents of Padua Hills recognize its role in fostering and housing - literally -a great many artists and craftsmen whose work is now part of private and museum collections around the world. It is a place, still, of wild beauty, native flora and fauna, and thoughtful design that make its location a breathtaking one.
-Robin Young
What happened to affordable beautiful house design ?? Sigh! Prefab elements and other labor / cost saving elements.