Pauline J. Lowe (1896–1983)[1] worked for the Bullocks Wilshire department store in Los Angeles,[2] and later was store manager at I. Magnin's Pasadena location.[3][4] She asked her friend Harwell H. Harris to design a small one-story home for her. The modernist residence built in 1934 on East Punahou Street in Altadena, California, for about $4000.[2] It was Harris's first independent project, after leaving the Richard Neutra office.[5] The house was considered stylish; it was featured in California Arts and Architecture[6] and other publications.[7][8][9] The design won honorable mention in a House Beautiful competition,[10] and its elements were copied elsewhere.[2]Frank Lloyd Wright "acknowledged his admiration" for the Lowe residence.[11]
The Lowe residence was built from redwood, and noted for its efficient use of a narrow lot, strategic shade placement, and earthquake safety features.[8][12] Among its distinctive features were 21 exterior doors,[5] some of them opening onto private exterior spaces for outdoor sleeping.[13] The distinctive doors were initially sliding doors inspired by Japanese design;[10][14] these were soon replaced with hinged doors, when Lowe complained about the original installations rattling in the wind.[15] Harris's original design called for a flat roof, but the house had a hip roof when built.[16]
2025 Eaton Fire
In 2025, the Pauline Lowe Residence was described by The New York Times as a "midcentury landmark,"[17] and by the Los Angeles Times as one of the "architecturally significant houses" destroyed in the Eaton Fire.[13][18]
References
^"Pauline Withey". The Press Democrat. 1983-05-01. p. 21. Retrieved 2025-01-26 – via Newspapers.com.
