The Perfect Pasadena Post+Beam, $1.7M

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Where: 1695 Poppy Peak Drive, Pasadena
When: Saturday and Sunday, May 12 and 13, 2:00pm-4:00pm both days
Asking: $1,695,000 minimum bid
What: An early Post+Beam by Buff, Straub + Hensman overlooking a canyon, this c.1957 property, known as the Thomson Residence, was honored by the City of Pasadena in 2012 for its museum-quality restoration. In the Poppy Peak Historice District, it also qualifies for Mills Act tax reductions.

Buff, Straub + Hensman was among the pioneering postwar Southern California architectural firms, one that excelled at residential buildings, bringing a brand of woodsy Modernism to sites previously believed to be unbuildable. Founded in 1950 by Conrad Buff and Donald Hensman, the firm designed hundreds of California dream homes over five decades ranging from the early Post+Beam to a sophisticated residential Brutalism.

Here, this 3-bed, 3-bath classic is securely tied to a steep slope and set just below its street-level garage, giving it an unparalleled sense of seclusion in the canyon.

Not Lumberyard 101: The simple exterior stairway beautifully detailed; the front door is set invisibly into a pair of outscaled vertical panels.

What We Love: There’s no lawn.

Below, jumbo Noguchi Akari pendants are perfectly scaled for the volume, echoing the subtle Japanese influence in the timbering and slidling screens above the double-height space.

In the master suite, the exterior board and batten is duplicated inside.

What is plumBid? plumBid is Deasy Penner’s proprietary online auction platform, created to streamline disclosure, bids and acceptance of property offers while still working closely with agents. Learn more about it here.

More: Go to the property’s dedicated site for additional images, plus details and additional open house dates. Represented by Deasy Penner’s Jimmy Wilson.