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1024 Armada Drive
Single Family Residence 
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1024 Armada Drive 
$4,599,000
Offered at
Pasadena, CA 91103
Los Angeles County
5
Beds
5
Baths
5,307
Sq Ft
13,874
Lot Sq Ft
1956
Year Built
The Gell-Mann Residence: William E. Blurock Architect. Set gently into the tree-lined edge of the Arroyo Seco, this two-story mid-century modern residence was built in 1956 and designed by California modernist architect William E. Blurock, FAIA, whose career shaped landmark civic and educational buildings across the…
The Gell-Mann Residence: William E. Blurock Architect. Set gently into the tree-lined edge of the Arroyo Seco, this two-story mid-century modern residence was built in 1956 and designed by California modernist architect William E. Blurock, FAIA, whose career shaped landmark civic and educational buildings across the state and around the world. Believed to be one of only a few private homes he ever designed, this striking mid-century residence is quietly tucked behind mature landscaping within Pasadena's storied, National Register-listed Prospect Historic District.The five-bedroom, five-bathroom home is anchored by an aspirational reverse floor plan that lifts the main gathering spaces to the upper level, where soaring living-room ceilings, a copper-clad fireplace, and a bespoke mid-century light fixture stretching the entire length of the living room wash the interiors in a welcoming, warm light. Custom millwork and walls clad in walnut and maple lend a natural richness to the residence. Walls of glass and a second-story balcony frame sweeping views of the Rose Bowl and surrounding canyons. A dramatic open-plan stairway becomes a sculptural centerpiece for the home, animated by inset colored-glass panels and highlighted by an architectural railing wrapped in wood and cork flooring.Below, the floor plan opens around a serene zen-style garden and an expansive pool, with a private pool house/guest studio completing a resort-like retreat built for modern California living. Flagstone, stucco and a subdued facade let the house belong effortlessly among the district's Craftsman and period-revival landmarks.The home carries a remarkable provenance as the longtime residence of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Murray Gell-Mann, who lived here during his most creative years at Caltech. The scientist who named the "quark" and reorganized our understanding of the building blocks of matter found his home in a house designed, quite literally, to lift its inhabitants toward the light and the view.More than a home, this is a rare convergence of California modernism, landscape, craftsmanship and intellectual history. Square footage was measured by PlantLab LA: House only-6006, Garage-454, Studio-153. Buyers to verify all permitted and possibly unpermitted spaces. The residence is ready to write its next chapter.
Facts & Features
Interior
Bedrooms & bathrooms
- Bedrooms: 5
- Bathrooms: 5
- Full bathrooms: 5
- 1/2 bathrooms: 0
Cooling
- Cooling: Central Air
Appliances
- Included: Dishwasher, Disposal, Refrigerator, Dryer, Washer
Features
- Flooring: Carpet, Wood
- Has fireplace: Yes
- Fireplace features: Living Room
Interior area
- Total structure area: 5,307 sqft
- Total interior livable area: 5,307 sqft
Property
Parking
- Total spaces: 5
- Parking features: Door Multi, Garage, Gravel
Features
- Stories: 2
- Pool features: In Ground
- Has view: Yes
Lot
- Size: 0.32 Acres
Details
- Parcel number: 5702023014
- Zoning: PSR4
Construction
Type & style
- Home type: Residential
- Architectural style: Mid Century Modern
- Property subtype: Single Family Residence
Condition
- Year built: 1956
Location
Mike Zwarg
Broker / Owner
951-528-0626
mike@mzhomes.us
mike@mzhomes.us
Listing Office: Compass · Listing Agent: JB An Fung · CRMLS
The property listing information on this website comes in part from the California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS) via Internet Data Exchange (IDX). Information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by the MLS, and all properties are subject to prior sale, change, or withdrawal. This data is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use, and may not be used for any purpose other than identifying properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Buyers should independently verify all information, including square footage, lot size, schools, and property condition.
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1024 Armada Drive, Pasadena, CA 91103
951-528-0626
mike@mzhomes.us
mzhomes.us
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