Devastating Demolition?

Architect Craig Ellwood designed a home in 1950 for the Zimmerman family in Los Angeles. Called the Zimmerman House, the single-story, 2,770-square-foot residence, was a well-regarded example of mid-century modern architecture. Recently, actor Chris Pratt, who has starred in movies like Guardians of the Galaxy, and his wife purchased the house. But instead of preserving it, they demolished it to make way for a newer, larger home.

Mid-century modern architecture was popular from the 1930s to 1960s. The style emphasizes function, clean lines, and simple forms, as well as the use of industrial materials, like concrete, steel, and glass. Many of these homes were built in Los Angeles, and they are an important part of the city’s history.

Such homes are often torn down despite their architectural significance. That’s partly because they are smaller than homes people want to live in today. In fact, there are plans to construct a two-story, 15,000-square-foot home where the Zimmerman House once stood. The land many modernist homes were built on has become more valuable than the houses. The Zimmerman House was previously sold in 1975 for $205,000. Fifty years later, the current owners paid $12.5 million, mainly for the home’s impressive location.