🏡 Flynn Ranch “House A” – Hollywood Hills Architectural Gem by Phillip Jon Brown

Address: 7740 Flynn Ranch Road, Hollywood Hills
Architect: Phillip Jon Brown, AIA
Year Built: 1987
Original List Date: July 22, 2014
Original List Price: $4,250,000
Square Footage: 5,700 sq ft
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 4 beds / 5 baths​Debbie Pisaro+1Debbie Pisaro+1

Nestled within the historic Errol Flynn Ranch, “House A” stands as a testament to modernist architectural vision. Designed by USC and MIT-trained architect Phillip Jon Brown, this residence was conceived as part of a private enclave of four modern estates, though only two were ultimately realized.​

The home’s design emphasizes privacy and integration with its park-like surroundings. A grand pivoting front door opens to expansive two-story public spaces, where light, built-ins, and varying floor elevations define distinct areas. The layout seamlessly connects to outdoor amenities, including a pool, spa, and patios, epitomizing the Southern California indoor-outdoor lifestyle.​

Tailored for entertainment industry executives, the residence features a theater equipped with 35mm projection capabilities and a wine cellar. The upstairs master suite offers sweeping vistas across the Valley to the San Gabriel Mountains, providing a serene retreat above the city.​

📆 Editorial Note

Originally published in August 2014. Updated in April 2025 with current context and refreshed content.

🏡 Gregory Ain’s Mar Vista Modernique: A Mid-Century Gem

Originally published in August 2014. Updated in April 2025 with current context and refreshed content.

Address: 3539 Moore Street, Mar Vista, CA
Architect: Gregory Ain
Year Built: 1948
Style: Mid-Century Modern
Neighborhood: Mar Vista Tract (Modernique Homes)
HPOZ Protected: Yes

Nestled in the heart of Mar Vista, this 1948 “Modernique” residence is part of a rare and cherished collection of homes designed by legendary Los Angeles architect Gregory Ain. One of only 52 homes in this progressive postwar tract, the Moore Street residence is a striking example of the era’s commitment to livable, functional, and beautifully understated design.

Originally envisioned as an affordable, modern alternative to traditional postwar housing, Ain’s Mar Vista tract featured minimalist lines, clerestory windows, open-plan interiors, and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions—decades before those became mainstream design ideals.

This particular home at 3539 Moore Street had been lovingly maintained, retaining many of its original features while offering subtle updates. It sold in 2014 for $1,250,000, a number that seems almost quaint today in a neighborhood that continues to surge in both demand and architectural relevance.

🧠 Why the Modernique Tract Matters

The Modernique Homes represent one of the few remaining examples of a truly architect-designed suburban development in Los Angeles. Ain worked with landscape architect Garrett Eckbo to create a vision of modernism that was accessible, modest, and deeply rooted in California's lifestyle. The homes’ layout and community-centered design are now protected under a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ).

In a city that’s constantly reinventing itself, these homes serve as a quiet, powerful reminder of what’s worth preserving.

🧭 Architectural Context + Your Real Estate Perspective

Gregory Ain is more than a name on the plans—he’s a significant figure in LA's mid-century movement. His work bridges function and form with clarity, and homes like this offer buyers something that goes beyond square footage: a piece of cultural history.

Looking for more like this?
Explore my Historic + Architectural Homes section, including the Feldman House in Beverly Hills, and current listings in neighborhoods like Los Feliz, Silver Lake, and Mar Vista.

🏡 Gregory Ain in Studio City: A Mid-Century Modern Classic Revisited

Address: 12306 Canton Drive, Studio City, CA
Architect: Gregory Ain
Year Built: 1950
Neighborhood: Studio City Hills
Sold Price (2014): $3,000,000
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 3 bed / 2 bath
Square Footage: Approx. 2,000 sq ft
Lot Size: ±12,000 sq ft

Tucked away in the hills of Studio City, this mid-century modern residence designed by Gregory Ain is a rare example of his residential work outside more well-known tracts. Completed in 1950, the home sits quietly off Laurel Canyon on a street with both privacy and architectural pedigree.

Ain, a Los Angeles–based modernist known for his focus on democratic design and restrained beauty, brought those same principles to this hillside home. The layout is clean and efficient, the materials intentionally honest, and the connection to the outdoors unmistakably Californian.

Though modest in scale compared to some of Ain’s experimental housing projects, the Canton Drive residence retains the soul of mid-century design: open plan living, natural light, warm wood elements, and a respect for topography. Homes like this are increasingly rare—especially in Studio City, where many lots are being redeveloped for larger-scale builds.

🧠 The Architect’s Imprint

Ain’s work was always more about how people live than how things looked. He believed in flexible space, built-ins that created function, and minimizing what he called “wasteful architecture.” In today’s market, where timeless design is being rediscovered and revalued, his homes are more relevant than ever.

Want to learn more about Ain’s work across LA? Check out the Feldman House in Beverly Hills and the Modernique Tract in Mar Vista.

📆 Editorial Note

Originally published in February 2014. Updated in April 2025 with current context and refreshed content.

🏗️ Trousdale Estates in 2014: The Year Development Hit a Turning Point

Originally Published: August 2014
Updated: March 2025
Category: Historic + Architectural Homes | Trousdale Estates

In the early 2010s, Trousdale Estates became the epicenter of a quiet storm—one where new wealth and architectural ambition collided with preservation and neighborhood identity.

By 2014, the demand for panoramic views and trophy homes had triggered a new building boom in Beverly Hills’ most iconic hillside enclave. Properties were being purchased for land value, original mid-century homes were disappearing, and ultra-modern estates were rising in their place. It was a transformative era—but not without tension.

🚧 The City Steps In: 2014 Construction Pause

After receiving an influx of resident complaints and safety concerns, the City of Beverly Hills temporarily paused construction activity in Trousdale Estates. What followed was a formal review and rollout of stricter regulations designed to protect both the community and its infrastructure.

⚖️ Key Regulations Introduced in 2014:

• Heavy Equipment Certification: Construction vehicles had to meet specific criteria and undergo additional inspections.

• Traffic & Routing Restrictions: Trucks could only access the neighborhood during designated hours via designated routes.

• Parking Enforcement: On-street construction parking was limited to preserve neighborhood access.

• Neighborhood Notifications: Homeowners had to be informed of disruptive activity in advance.

📄 View the original Trousdale Construction Measures PDF

🧭 Why It Still Matters in 2025

Many of today’s $30M+ homes in Trousdale Estates were built—or rebuilt—during this era. Some replaced mid-century homes by architects like Wallace Neff, Paul R. Williams, or Harold Levitt. Others integrated original structures into striking contemporary compounds.

This moment in 2014 marked a shift in how Beverly Hills approached hillside development, preservation, and the future of one of its most storied neighborhoods.

Want to see how the neighborhood has evolved? Don’t miss our companion post:
Trousdale Estates in 2025 →

🗂️ Editorial Note

This article was originally posted in 2014 and has been updated to reflect changes in policy, architectural context, and today’s market.

🏡 Mid-Century Modern Retreat in Mandeville Canyon

ddress: 2232 Westridge Road, Brentwood, CA
Architect: Unknown
Year Built: 1959
Original List Date: July 2, 2014
Original List Price: $3,695,000
Square Footage: Approximately 3,077 sq ft
Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 4 beds / 4 baths
Lot Size: Approximately 0.5 acres​

Perched atop a serene hillside in Brentwood's Mandeville Canyon, this 1959 mid-century modern residence offers panoramic views stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the city skyline. The home's design emphasizes indoor-outdoor living, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the interior with natural light and provide seamless access to the lushly landscaped grounds.​

The open-concept layout includes a gourmet kitchen equipped with a Wolf double wall oven, a 6-burner cooktop, a 48-inch Sub-Zero refrigerator, dual sinks, and custom walnut cabinetry. European ash wide-plank flooring extends throughout the home, complementing its clean architectural lines. Modern amenities such as dual tankless water heaters, a dual-zone HVAC system, and an iPad-controlled smart home system enhance comfort and efficiency.​

Outside, a saltwater pool and spa are surrounded by drought-tolerant landscaping, creating a private oasis ideal for relaxation and entertaining.​

📆 Editorial Note

Originally published in July 2014. Updated in March 2025 with current context and refreshed content.

🏡 Gregory Ain’s Feldman House: A Beverly Hills Mid-Century Masterpiece

Address: 1181 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, CA
Architect: Gregory Ain
Year Built: 1954
Neighborhood: Beverly Hills / Trousdale Area
Original List Price (2014): $4,700,000
Sold Price (2014): $3,000,000
Lot Size: ±¾ acre

Tucked into a wooded pocket of Beverly Hills, this mid-century gem—known as the Feldman House—was designed in 1954 by legendary architect Gregory Ain. Built during the rise of Los Angeles modernism, the home reflects the restrained elegance and environmental sensitivity that defined Ain’s work.

With walls of glass, a full-length great room, and a strong indoor-outdoor connection, the residence is a study in light, flow, and simplicity. The home sits on nearly ¾ of an acre and features Ain’s signature details: clean lines, built-in storage, warm materials, and passive design strategies that make the most of California’s climate.

🧠 Why Gregory Ain Still Matters

Gregory Ain (1908–1988) was deeply influenced by his social and political beliefs, designing homes that reflected values of functionality, community, and thoughtful architecture. His work—often overshadowed by more flamboyant contemporaries—has since become essential to understanding LA’s postwar design evolution.

Homes like the Feldman House are highly sought after not just because of their pedigree, but because of how livable and timeless they remain today.

Want to see more of Ain’s residential work across LA? Check out the Modernique Tract in Mar Vista and a rare hillside property in Studio City.

📆 Editorial Note

Originally published in February 2014. Updated in April 2025 with current context and refreshed content.