Architect Irving Gill designed the Modernist style house in 1912. The house was designed in the same year Gill secured the job as Chief Architect for the city of Torrance, California, then under development by the Jared Sidney Torrance’s Dominguez Land Co. In addition to the commercial buildings, Gill planned to design 100 model homes for factory workers who wanted to live near their jobs. If successful, they would have been easy to duplicate throughout the district. Gill told the Los Angeles Herald in 1912 that “the whole secret” was “privacy and cleanliness.” One wall of each was built purposely without windows, and it faced the windowed side of the neighboring house, giving privacy to each family.
As for cleanliness, the houses were designed austerely, with few adornments. Their concrete floors sometimes were curved where they met the walls, eliminating crevices to promote easier cleaning. There were no baseboards, moldings, exposed beams or other design frills inside, and basic stucco walls outside. But they were not popular with their intended audience, who reacted with disdain for their plainness and lack of decoration, preferring the more romantic California bungalow. About ten of the model homes were built, located in the 1800 and 1900 blocks of Gramercy Avenue. Sadly, only one appears to have survived, located at 1819 Gramercy Avenue. Please do not use this image in any media without my permission. © All rights reserved.
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