Noted architect James G. Pulliam originally designed this circa 1963 minimalist masterpiece as his personal residence. The home remains an exemplary example of his trademark understated style.
Pulliam’s career began in the offices of well-known modernist architects Richard Neutra and Welton Becket, who built many local landmarks, including the Capitol Records Tower and the Cinema Dome.
Highlights of his career include preserving the Los Angeles Central Library, designing the All-State Savings & Loan building, the student union at Cal Poly Pomona, and controlling how the 210 Freeway went through Pasadena. Joseph Giovannini, a former Los Angeles Herald Examiner architecture critic, said, “He believed in very rational, clean buildings that lent a certain crispness to the cityscape.”
His style is captured in this floating glass box set in the Linda Vista hills of Pasadena at the end of a cul-de-sac. The two-story residence sits with views of the San Gabriel Mountains, surrounded by verdant, mature trees and unparalleled privacy.
At 4,200 square feet, the house contains four spacious bedrooms, each with a serene greenery view and three-and-a-half stylish and updated bathrooms. Unforgettable architectural moments begin with a foyer entrance with a floating staircase and a center hallway cementing impeccable sightlines. Featuring a terrazzo-tiled fireplace, the living room is wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass and looks out to the enormous swimming pool.
Last sold in 2019 for 3.105 million, the residence at 1490 El Mirador Dr has sprawling grounds and includes a detached studio measuring approximately 86 square feet. The asking price for this defining piece of architecture is $4.550 million.
